Theale & Tilehurst 3rd
XI vs Fleet 3rd
XI
3rd September 2011
Third XI: To Destiny – Third Times a Charm
As the congregation shivered in the cold, the Abbey echoed with the
sound of 300 singers and musicians, the Thirds were about to be crowned
kings of the 9th division. The sons of Douai mounted the steps to the
tower alone, seized the crown in their own hands, held it aloft and
brought it to rest at final resting place for 2011 at Douai.
The build up to the game was immense, with much talk and speculation
over the last two weeks. This would be the third season in a row where
the Thirds would fight for promotion on the final day of the season,
the first of the three which would be fought at Douai – entering the
lion’s den – Fleet. The top of the table was neck and neck with T
and T in third place trailing Newbury by 5 and Fleet by 3 points.
All the big questions of the day would finally be settled.
The Toss
Alan won the toss and decided to bat, giving us a chance at maximum
points, promotion and being champions (alternative for ‘be champions’)
depending on how Newbury got on.
Our Innings
Me and Aggz got things under way. It was a steady start with equal
nerves on both sides but soon things settled down once the early runs
started to flow. After the early singles I hit my first boundary to
take me past the Third XI record for the most runs in a season, a
record previously set by Hammad Ali in 2009. With this small milestone
out the way I was encouraged by Aggz to focus on the task at hand. Aggz
decided he would play the anchor role and rotate the strike so that I
could play with greater freedom. Together we got the team off to a
flying start. I soon reached my third 50 but not before I strained my
hamstring. This eventually led to the unfortunate run out of Aggz
after we had put on 70 for the first wicket. Ironically he then had to
come out as a runner for me right after I had just run him out,
strangely I let him walk back to the pavilion before reluctantly
calling him back. But thank you for your help the last 19 of my runs
are yours pal! Rob Dimmack made his first outing for the Thirds and
took a few overs to get used to the pitch, surviving a stumping chance
which would later prove to be costly for Fleet. We scored freely and
brought up the hundred and put on 50 partnership for the second wicket
before I was out caught off the bowling of Mehdi who was about to be
introduced to his new best friend, one Osman Mahmood.
While Osman was finding his feet, Rob started to impose himself on the
Fleet bowling. He found the boundary at regular intervals hit 4 sixes
in his combined boundary total. He powered his way to 50 and Fleet
started to run out of ideas as they became more and more desperate.
Osman became the target of Mehdi and his sharp words as his leg
spinners were not that deadly on this occasion, the banter between the
two lasted all day as neither was going to back down. In the meantime
Rob continued his strong hitting but was stopped just short of a
century as he was caught on 96. The third wicket partnership of 103 put
us in firm control of the game as we were 224 for 3 with plenty of
overs and batting left to come. Os and Raj then put on a 47 run
partnership to cement a decent score. Osman reached his 50 just
before the end of our innings as he carried on from his good form the
week before against the wild geese. We finished just 1 run shy of 300,
a target which would no doubt send a strong message to Fleet, who had
no option but to chase the runs if they were to gain promotion.
Their Innings
We started with the old ball, as Raj and Mark looked to make early in
roads. Neither was successful but did create some early pressure. Mehdi
hit a lofted drive to mid-off where new friend (no longer best friends
at that stage, but still on speaking terms) Osman was stationed.
Unfortunately Os didn’t quite take the catch. Rob and Osman then took
the new ball. Rob bowled with good pace and unsettled the batsman.
Mehdi who had previously scored a ton against us in the earlier match
was the first to fall victim to Rob as he tried to pull a ball which he
couldn’t keep down. Robbo completed a good running catch on the square
leg boundary. With their best batsman out the game was wide open for T
and T. Osman bowled with good control and mesmerized the Fleet line up
as he looked ‘’unplayable’’ (to borrow a phrase from his new friend)
while the ball was swinging. He ripped through the top and middle order
as he racked up 5 wickets, which included 2 clean bowled dismissals.
When Goward was dismissed by Osman it exposed a worried looking line up
who never looked like they were going for the win. Rob picked up
another wicket as he and Osman took a well-deserved break after taking
7 wickets between them.
Imran and Rob Why came on late in the day two try and claim the
remaining 3 wickets to complete the win. Rob troubled the batsman as he
took 2 wickets one caught at slip where I had been stood all day seeing
Andy flying around behind the stumps in his usual cat like manner. The
second was clean bowled. However the last wicket would prove to be a
drag, Rob could have sealed the game but for my drop catch at slip and
a drop from Alan at midwicket. However it only took one ball from the
man with the golden arm Raj Puri who bowled Lindsay to complete the
win.
By 7:30pm Douai was silent. We knew we had secured promotion but still
had no idea how Newbury had got on. It only took one phone call from
Alan to the Newbury skipper to confirm the result of their game. It
soon became clear that Wokingham had held Newbury to a draw and with
our 25 pointer we had topped the table.
The sons of Douai had mounted the steps to the tower alone, seized the
crown in their own hands, held it aloft (dropped it 2 or 3 times for
the last wicket) and had finally brought it to rest at Douai Abbey, the
Home of the Champions, where we remain undefeated all year.
Congratulations
Well done to all on a great performance all year, I am delighted for
you; you have decorated your winners’ medals with an immortal glory,
there’s not a team we haven’t beaten in convincing fashion. With that I
present to you my last match report, it been good fun! The powers that
be of the T and T web page have proclaimed that I am the sole obstacle
to the re-establishment of peace on the T and T website. Now someone
take care of that Dougie Bollinger!!
Be Champions – Arsalan – signing out!
Early Reaction to the win:
Paul Ager: ’’2nd XI promoted, 3rd XI win to be
champions...fantastic, season long effort by many...congratulations to
us all.’’
Osman Mahmood: ‘’Double promotion... 2s go up as runners up and 3s are champions!!! Well done fellas... Party time :-)’’
Indy Narwal ੴ:‘’Promotion for 2s and 3s - great effort!!! :D’’
Phil Jenkins: ‘’3s win batting first to secure promotion - well done guys’’
Osman’s friend: ’’ᔣ”%%% grrrrrrr I hate you Oss – shake your own hand!!’’
Backrow: Indy Narwal, Arsalan Ahmed, mark Mason, Raj Puri, Osman Mahmood, Andy Shotter (wk), Rob Dimmack
Frontrow: Paul Ager, Paul Robinson, Alan Why(c), Imran Mahmood, Rob Why
| THEALE AND TILEHURST CC SCORECARD |
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| Home Team |
Theale & Tilehurst 3 |
Away Team |
Fleet 3 |
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| Date of Match |
3rd Sept 2011 |
Played at |
Douai Abbey |
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Team |
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Result |
Team |
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| Result |
Theale & Tilehurst 3 |
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beat |
Fleet 3 |
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| 1st Innings of |
Theale & Tilehurst 3 |
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Name |
How Out |
Who |
Bowler |
4's |
6's |
Score |
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| 1 |
A Ahmed |
ct |
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B Mehdi |
8 |
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69 |
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| 2 |
P Ager |
run out |
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2 |
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19 |
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| 3 |
R Dimmack |
ct |
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A Dugay |
7 |
4 |
96 |
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| 4 |
O Mahmood |
Not Out |
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4 |
1 |
56 |
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| 5 |
R Puri |
ct |
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R Le Get |
2 |
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17 |
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| 6 |
P Robinson |
st |
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R Le Get |
2 |
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11 |
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| 7 |
I Mahmood |
bowled |
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R Le Get |
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0 |
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| 8 |
R Why |
ct |
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A Dugay |
1 |
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6 |
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| 9 |
A Why |
dnb |
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| 10 |
A Shotter |
dnb |
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| 11 |
M Mason |
dnb |
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Byes |
8 |
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Leg Byes |
6 |
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Wides |
9 |
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No Balls |
2 |
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Extras |
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25 |
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Wickets |
7 |
Total |
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299 |
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| Bowling |
O |
M |
R |
W |
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| 1 |
R le Get |
15 |
1 |
93 |
3 |
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| 2 |
P Forkan |
5 |
1 |
25 |
0 |
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| 3 |
G Smith |
9 |
2 |
41 |
0 |
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| 4 |
B Mehdi |
11 |
0 |
56 |
1 |
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| 5 |
A Dugay |
12 |
1 |
72 |
2 |
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| 6 |
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| 7 |
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| 8 |
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| Fall
of Wicket |
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Score |
Outgoing Bat |
Stand of |
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| 1 |
70 |
2 |
70 |
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| 2 |
121 |
1 |
51 |
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| 3 |
224 |
3 |
103 |
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| 4 |
271 |
5 |
47 |
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| 5 |
288 |
6 |
17 |
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| 6 |
288 |
7 |
0 |
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| 7 |
299 |
8 |
11 |
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| 8 |
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0 |
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| 9 |
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0 |
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| 10 |
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0 |
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| 2nd Innings of |
Fleet 3 |
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Name |
How Out |
Who |
Bowler |
4's |
6's |
Score |
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| 1 |
B Mehdi |
ct |
P Robinson |
R Dimmack |
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32 |
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| 2 |
A Goward |
ct |
R Puri |
O Mahmood |
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43 |
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| 3 |
K Archibald |
bowled |
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O Mahmood |
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0 |
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| 4 |
M Petto |
ct |
P Ager |
O Mahmood |
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3 |
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| 5 |
R Forkan |
ct |
P Ager |
O Mahmood |
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10 |
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| 6 |
S Aberdeen |
bowled |
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O Mahmood |
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13 |
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| 7 |
G Smith |
ct |
I Mahmood |
R Dimmack |
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0 |
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| 8 |
A Dugay |
ct |
A Ahmed |
R Why |
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24 |
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| 9 |
R Le Get |
Not Out |
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24 |
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| 10 |
Paul Forkan |
bowled |
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R Why |
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2 |
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| 11 |
C Lindsay |
bowled |
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R Puri |
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16 |
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Byes |
9 |
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Leg Byes |
1 |
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Wides |
5 |
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No Balls |
4 |
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Extras |
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19 |
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Wickets |
10 |
Total |
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186 |
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| Bowling |
O |
M |
R |
W |
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| 1 |
M Mason |
7 |
1 |
41 |
0 |
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| 2 |
R Puri |
5.1 |
0 |
14 |
1 |
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| 3 |
R Dimmack |
10 |
1 |
39 |
2 |
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| 4 |
O Mahmood |
9 |
1 |
28 |
5 |
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| 5 |
I Mahmood |
8 |
0 |
31 |
0 |
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| 6 |
R Why |
6 |
0 |
26 |
2 |
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| 7 |
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| 8 |
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| Fall
of Wicket |
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Score |
Outgoing Bat |
Stand of |
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| 1 |
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0 |
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| 2 |
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0 |
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| 3 |
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0 |
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| 4 |
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0 |
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| 5 |
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0 |
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| 6 |
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0 |
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| 7 |
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0 |
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| 8 |
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0 |
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| 9 |
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0 |
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| 10 |
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0 |
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