Tour Report
Click here for match scorecards
Game 1 v Marsa CC on Saturday 29/03/08
Brooklands were awarded the toss and batted first.
Batting first on a warm Malta morning after 2 days of rain, Pearson and
Woodage were keen to get the tour off to a flying start. A steady start
followed with the medium paced Marsa attack bowling tight lines but when
the change bowlers entered the attack the shackles came off and the paid
had added 75 before Elliot ran himself out for 29 in the 17th over. A
great start. JP was next out at a time when it looked like he was going
to dominate the remainder of the innings, he had made 78 when he was on
the end of a rather curious LBW decision. 121 for 2 in 26 overs then
represented a good platform to push on from. A J Hart joined Dan
Darbyshire who made 13 before missing a straight one with the score on
132 in the 29th over. Our hopes of a big score centred around A J, but
with the score at 166 in the 35th over he was stumped any hope of 220
plus went with him. The ritual sacrifice of batsmen in pursuit of quick
runs followed as Olly Bowden (16), P Clowes (8), S Johnson (9), W
Pidgeon (7), W Mitchell (1) and S Zurawski out, LBW, for a golden duck
after there skipper coughed at the end of his follow through, came and
went. Dom Booth was left on 0 not out as Brooklands posted 200 for 9 in
there 40 overs. A very respectable effort.
A J Hart and Steve Johnson took the new ball for Brooklands and A J made
early inroads as Sacco was caught behind. In what was to be the first of
a few hostile spells A J also accounted for Marsa’s number 3, Edwards,
who had to retire hurt having been hit on the wrist. Sean Zurawski (3 0
20 0) came on 1st change and struggled to make best use of the
facilities, Paul Clowes on the other hand dismissed Grima early in his
spell and ended up with 4 1 10 1. The introduction of Elliot Woodage
further turned the screw, he bowled superbly to finish with 8 3 19 4 and
by the end of his first spell Marsa were in all sorts of trouble at 90
for 6 (effectively 7). Brooklands then decided to keep the game alive by
introducing Dom Booth (2 0 19 0) and Olly Bowden (4 0 36 1) into the
attack. Marsa’s Chris Naudi swatted away with abandon as he dispatched
long hop after full toss to the boundary. Olly did though pick up the
wicket of Ali leaving Marsa 104 for 7. Hewitt joined Naudi at the crease
and as Marsa got closer Brooklands got twitchy. Amongst the carnage,
Wills Mitchell (5 0 16 0), bowled a very tidy spell. Hart (6.1 0 30 2)
and Johnson (6 0 22 1) returned to the attack and frankly wilted under
the assault from Naudi. Hewitt was dismissed by Johnson with the score
at 172 and the game was finally up when A J had Naudi caught on the edge
by Johnson for 82. Leaving Marsa 177 all out and 24 short of victory.
The man of the match award went to Elliot for his 4 – 19. Hopefully some
lessons were learnt for the following day about where to bowl at batsmen
who are coming after you. Three of our bowlers (Sean, Dominic and Olly)
conceded 75 runs from 9 overs which we must not let happen again.
Brooklands 200 for 9 in 40 overs BEAT Marsa 177 all out in 38.1 overs by
23 runs.
Game 2 v Marsa on Sunday 30/03/08
Brooklands won the toss and elected to bat.
Marsa showed 10 changes from yesterday and there bowling attack looked
much sharper. Pearson and Clowes opened today and again got us off to a
flyer. 90 runs had been added by the 22nd over when Clowes was out for
32. We then proceeded to get a little bit stuck in the middle overs
although JP got his 2nd 50 in consecutive before eventually holing out
for 64. In the 10 over period after drinks Brooklands added just 27 runs
as JP and Olly Bowden (15) struggled. A J (10) brought some short lived
impetus but it took Harry Routledge, promoted to number 5, to score 10
off 4 balls to really get us going again as the last 8 overs produced 66
runs. Dan Darbyshire scored 8 whilst Luke Maitra (14), Mike Roberts 11*
and George Drakonakis 11* played unselfish innings for the good of the
team. After our mid innings stutter that we made 212 for 7 in 40 overs
was a credit to the depth of the team.
A very sore A J took the new ball with nervous George. A J was simply
outstanding as he bowled hi 8 overs straight through. Bowling at times
to an 8 – 1 field his pace and bounce was to much to handle. His figures
of 8 1 37 1 do not by any means do him justice and I’d say 30 of those
runs were scored behind square. George (4 0 20 1) struggled and at
drinks (15 overs) Marsa were 73 for 3 and well placed. The spirit in the
Brooklands camp was sadly lacking and it took a few choice words to gee
the lads up. Straight after drinks Dan Darbyshire pulled off a wonderful
pick up and throw on the boundary edge to run out yesterdays destroyer
Chris Naudi. A truly terrific piece of work. Jack Bagshaw (4 0 11 2)
bowled superbly from ball 1 and Mike Roberts (8 3 12 2) also helped
reign Marsa in. Marsa eventually limped to 119 all out in 32.2 overs
meaning that since the drinks break Brooklands had bowled 17.2 overs and
taken 7 for 46. A top effort. Clowes (2 1 2 1), Wills Mitchell (4 2 4 0)
and entertainingly, H Routledge (2.2 0 18 2) all backed up the other
bowlers manfully.
The man of the match award went to J Pearson for his 2nd 50 in 2 days
and generally, the first 15 overs of Marsa’s innings aside Brooklands
could be happy with there days work.
Brooklands 212 for 7 in 40 overs BEAT Marsa 119 allout in 32.2 overs by
93 runs.
Click here to see an article which appeared in Tuesday's Malta Times
Game 3 v Beeston and Toton CC on Tuesday 01/04/08
Brooklands won the toss and elected to bat.
Mike Roberts and Paul Clowes opened up to day and we got off to another
flying start. Mike Roberts was first out with the score on 84 having
scored 39. Will Pidgeon then joined Paul Clowes as the pair added 58 in
just 8 overs before Clowesy went for a well made 53. Pidge was run out
by Steve Johnson when he had 51, but Johnno atoned for this by making a
well made 31. After 30 overs Brooklands had amassed 169 for 2 and had a
great platform to push on. Luke Maitra (20 came and went but once again
Harry came off smashing 22 in no time. Elliot made a quick 9 and George
was run out to leave us with 238 for 8 off our allotted overs. A
fantastic effort against a new team for us, who had arrived on the
island on Sunday and not been to bed since….
Beeston set off in pursuit and this time George (8 1 21 3) was the star
of the show. Bowling briskly and bending his back it was nice to see him
take 3 of the first 4 wickets to fall. Johnno was a little bit out of
sorts in the wet (yes it rained) and finished with 4 0 14 0. Sean
overcame his problems of Saturday to finish with 4 0 11 1 whilst Jack
Bagshaw again bowled a superb spell of 4 0 9 1. Special mention here for
Luke Maitra whose 5 overs of off spin cost just 5 runs. This was the
first time Luke had bowled in a game and he did so with aplomb. Dom
Booth also bounced back from Saturday with 7 0 22 2 whilst Elliot (6 1
12 1) and Mike Roberts (2 1 1 0) brought some quality to proceedings.
Beeston batted out there 40 overs and ended the game 97 for 9, some 141
runs short!
A huge win then against a poor/pissed Beeston side. An excellent batting
performance was rounded off by a clinical bowling performance well done
everyone.
Brooklands 238 for 8 in 40 overs BEAT Beeston and Toton CC 97 for 9 in
40 overs by 141 runs.
Game 4 v Beeston and Toton CC on Wednesday 02/04/08
Brooklands won the toss and elected to bat.
The final game of another successful tour and all eyes were on remaining
unbeaten and extending our record to 12 wins out of 12 over 3 tours.
George and Dan Darbyshire opened up and were a little becalmed until the
10th over when Dan smashed 16 and got us going. Dan was first out for 39
with the score on 66. George was joined by Olly Bowden who smashed a
full toss to a fielder and was dismissed for 15. Harry (9 in 5 balls)
came and went whilst JP (run out for 3) and Luke Maitra (run out for 15)
supported George in his quest for a first senior 50. A J (27*) walked in
with 10 overs to go and with George added 75 in the last 10 overs.
George batted on and on and on…. Eventually batting throughout the
innings for a magnificent 79*. A wonderful achievement this for a
relatively young lad and the pats on the back he received from all were
very well deserved. So Brooklands racked up 219 for 5 in 40 overs.
Beeston’s batting was no better than the previous day, in fact they only
lasted 28 overs today. Steve Johnson (4 1 5 1) opened up with Elliot (8
2 27 1) whilst A J (6 1 14 3) again bowled with fire to a 7 – 2 field.
Mike Roberts chipped in with 5 0 14 1 and amazingly JP ended his tour
career with the stunning figures of 3.2 0 9 3. Unbelievable. Luke bowled
1 0 3 0 and Beeston were all out for 76. Another win then for Brooklands
who completed another unbeaten tour and still have a 100% record on the
island of Malta. Come on the bears.
Brooklands 219 for 5 in 40 overs BEAT Beeston and Toton CC 76 allout in
28.2 overs by 143 runs.
In summary then - Another fine unbeaten tour by Brooklands. Our strength
in depth and standards came to the fore from a group that I thought may
struggle a little before we went out there. Some good batting
performances from JP, Paul Clowes, Will Pidge and George were supported
by strong bowling performances by A J, George and Elliot. Our fielding
standards were good, if not quite reaching the heights of previous
years. The team spirit was excellent and
the lads behaved themselves as they should.
Pete Staley
