YMCA V Phoenix 19/07/08


There were several changes to the Phoenix line up for this latest away match. Mitchell, Langford-Smith, Neill, Gargya, McDonald and Kumar were replaced by Plunkett-Cole, Dickeson, Masud Ahmed, De Jongh, Wardell and Cavanagh but overall the side was a bowler light. Again Captain Flanagan won the toss and chose to bat first.

The skipper made a slightly improved 13 before he fell to E Ahmed and Plunkett-Cole acquitted himself adequately on what the score book provisionally indicated was his first team debut. He survived an eyeball to eyeball confrontation with the home wicket keeper after one prolonged but unsuccessful appeal. Edwards had to bear a lot of responsibility for keeping the scoreboard going as Plunkett-Cole was followed by short innings from Ancher, Dickeson and Kelly and the big Barbadian’s partnership with Graham Flanagan saw him pass 50 before he was run out. Masud Ahmed batted sensibly at No. 8 with 31 from 40 balls and De Jongh and Cavanagh both made 6 with the big Scot striking what was for him a rare boundary. Wardell was undefeated on 14 but the final total of 186 was disappointing.

The home side’s chase got off to a bad start when Cavanagh removed McCoy and Minch. Ancher got rid of Alan Lewis. Wilson-Moore and Dunk added 30 but were dismissed by consecutive deliveries from Conor Kelly and Captain Flanagan. Thus former Phoenix stalwarts Beacroft and Nandi found themselves together at the crease with the score on 54 for 5. This pair who had taken 1 wicket each in the Phoenix innings stuck to their task in determined fashion and brought the home side back into the game with a stand of 81 in 78 minutes. Beacroft struck one six and five fours in his innings of 38 but when he was out YMCA still needed 52 to win. Nandi and Ahmed pushed the score along nicely and when Edwards removed Ahmed YMCA were still favourites to get the remaining runs. However, the dismissal of Nandi and Armstrong by Captain Flanagan gave Phoenix a chance and the tension mounted as Edwards prepared to bowl the last over. The home side secured victory when Harte hit two boundaries from the first two deliveries.

Men of the Match

Phoenix batting K Edwards 51 Masud Ahmed 31

YMCA bowling Armstrong 3-32 Dunk 2-14 Ahmed 2-38

Phoenix bowling R Flanagan 3-29 Cavanagh 2-22 Ancher 2-39

YMCA batting R Nandi 45 P Beacroft 38