Whitney Moore (B), Phoenix v. CYM

A game of wildly fluctuating fortunes, with the bookies going mad and everyone nail-biting. The CY innings was dominated by a 2nd-wicket stand of 117 beween Donal Vaughan (82) and Kenny McDonald (59). Later, a valuable 39n.o. from Abram Coetzee helped the visitors to 243-7 off their 50 overs. Rory Flanagan took 2-35 and Conor Kelly 2-58. Phoenix bowled 22 wide balls.

The CY score was solid stuff, but didn’t look enough on a track which, although slow enough to make the batsmen work, was reliable enough to take a lot of the risk out of shot-making.

Such a judgement seemed ridiculous when Phoenix went into lemming mode, soon arriving at 46-5 with still 200 to get, and only the much-bruised skipper Rory Flanagan showing much. But then the cavalry arrived in the form of younger brother Graham and the redoubtable David Langford-Smith. They proceeded to put on 127 and looked as if they’d win the match on their own. The belated arrival of Micahel Lax to the attack was greeted with immediate success: his first ball got Graham for a seriously good 43. DL-S continued for a while but then succumbed when on the 75 which was to turn the match. Help from Conor Kelly’s 20 got Phoenix to within 26 of the target when number 11 Steve Neill arrived to join Paddy Conliffe. The bets were now definitely on CY, but this last pair were having none of it and saw Phoenix home with 2 balls to go. Ken Brennan, Michael Launders and Michael Law each took 2 wickets.

An exciting game which, along with a barbecued whole pig and a bouncy castle, made for a really festive day in the Park.