Willoughby 2nds Vs Abington Phoenix

I did mention at the end of the last match report that sniko and ball tracking would be available for the final against Abington but unfortunately it was only installed at 1 end as we had to endure another display of blatant cheating and bad sportsmanship for the 2nd time in as may years to finish runners up. Usually I try and be impartial as possible in match reports but this is now the 3rd time Abington have had no shame in these antics. Again, if we had a league umpire things would have been much different and a much more competitive game.

Apart from a few stragglers the team were there on time with no Phoenix players in sight by 11.30. Even worse the pitch wasn't marked and was given a quick cut, probably with a flymo the day before. The wicket didn't look as bad as a month prior but played twice as bad and got worse as the game progressed, that's why it looked like dogshit and they still wanted to bat first. They claimed it has been rolled but there were hundreds of craters from the previous games.

By 12.15 we were all waiting for the opening batters as they hastily wheeled on the football line making machine and were dipping the nearest thing that resembled a paint brush to finish off marking the pitch. Anyway, Phoenix were quickly pegged back to 61 for 6 with 2 of the dangerman back in the pavilion, Faris who scored 120 last week out for 22 an Nikhil 4. As they were staring down the barrel it was imperative that Robin wasn't given out being 1 of the 3 chaps who average over 50 in the league. He was caught twice on the back foot but as the technology wasn't at that end he had a reprieve. He put on a match winning partnership of 72 in the space of 10 overs. Robin did walk from a edge behind for 64 but I think I lost count how many times he was out by that point. At 132 for 7 Abington managed to accumulate runs and finish 172 all out from 39.1 overs. Again, I lost count of the amount of run outs and stumpings at the one end no technology was available. It was a carbon copy of last year at Carrib, all the decisions happened at the end their umpire was at. Rees Moor 3 for 41 and Ryan Lines 4 for 36.

After tea the wicket was terrible by the 10th over, balls were pitched up and either flying over your head or keeping low. Anshul Satsangi was unfortunate to play on and after Sean Thornton got some rhythm back got a bit of a shooter for a well made 31. Things were tough out there, Phoenix drafted in a few lads who played a few games and were good enough to keep Jerry Rose the leading wicket taker in the division to first change. Their bowling was as you would expect the best we have faced this season, and on a minefield it wasn't pleasant batting. Jimmy Andrews found that out as he got a snorter off a full length and nearly wore one in the face. The only other resistance was Matt Sutton (20) and just to add insult to injury for the 2nd year in a row got hit square in the stomach and was triggered LBW. Willoughby CC were 97 all out. Jerry Rose with 3 for 10 and Subash Manuel 3 for 6, this was when the pitch basically became unplayable by the 2oth over.

We didn't stay long to witness the gloating and over exuberant celebrations of a team who influenced such a result. A curry was awaiting back at the clubhouse. Steve Porter did eventually arrive straight from work during the innings and wasn't quite prepared for a late spat of autumnal sunshine. It was quite chilly during dusk and he did a job of heating the clubhouse.

It's time to move on to next season, preferably without Abington Phoenix.