Hoboes CC innings.
With no sign of the promised rain, and not a cloud in the sky, Estonia won the toss and put the visiting side in to bat. Shiva and Ramsden were selected to open the bowling. Shiva opened from the Arena Bar end and his lively pace seemed not to bother the two openers who played their shots from the off. Ramsden wasn’t having much luck from the Stable end and was dispatched for a four and a six in his opening over. Before either bowler had finished their third overs, the opening bat had notched up his fifty. The run rate was huge and a big total was looming. Both Ramsden and Shiva were taken off.
The bowlers looked shell-shocked, the fielders demoralized and the batsman happy. Brookes and Heath were brought on to bowl and it was Brookes who made the much needed breakthrough. Putting one in driving territory for the left hander, he hoisted the ball to the boundary. Underneath was Shiva who had time to check his feet in relation to the boundary and setting himself for a superb catch. His scream signaled that he was delighted, and it wasn’t long before the bangra boy was body popping with the rest of the team as the batsman departed back to the clubhouse. The lefthander made a superb 83 and looked set for his ton until Rob and Shiva put an end to it.
Barry was brought on at the stable end and settled down the run rate with some fine line and length bowling. At the other end, Heath was proving hostile and generated some real pace that the batsman did well to deal with. The run rate was still ticking on. Hoboes CC's opener still refused to get out and he made his way to this fifty was a smart square cut. Captain Barry decided to bring on the medium swing of Mike Skype and the decision was justified as Mike clean bowled the number three with a great delivery. He did it again the very next ball. This one popped up and the batsman couldn’t get his bat away in time, edging to Oliver behind the stumps.
The Estonians were on a high now and sensed that there was light at the end of the tunnel. Barry had an LBW turned down and was unfortunate to see some singles turned into fours due to the generous outfield. Cometh the hour cometh the Mike. Tucking the batsman up and giving the ball plenty of movement he got his third wicket of the day. He may look awkward in the field, but he proved that he is best out in the middle finishing the match with superb figures of 3-18. As his reputation grows, so does his fan club. Its not often you see Mike without a young girl or two cheering him on.
At the other end Mike Tiffin was having an arduous time, being swept for fours as his line strayed. His next two overs were much tighter and the newcomer proved he is going to be a very useful asset to the team. Robin and Andrus were then brought on to have a go at the Hoboes CC batsman. Robin bowling around the wicket and giving the ball plenty of air had the bowlers confused and forced them to play some very unorthodox shots and at times he had them in trouble. His hypnotizing run up kept the batsman guessing and he finished his two overs with everything to be proud of.
Andrus kept to his useful length and line and it wasn’t long before the batsman reached too lazily for a ball on a length and edged it to the keeper giving a fine wicket for Estonia’s homegrown boy. The batsman was out for 73 and the score was an ominous 221 with four overs to go.
The final few overs saw Ramsden and Heath brought back into the attack, Ramsden ineffectual, and Heath tight. Andrus proved that what he can do with the ball on the wicket, he can also do with it in the outfield. Throwing from the boundary, he scored a direct hit with the batsman nowhere to be seen. The last over from Heath was a good one and he finished the innings with figures of 0/24 of his six overs.
The final score was a large total, possibly the largest we have seen at the Hippodrome venue, but the Estonian players could take heart that they managed to grab the match by the scruff of the neck after the first ten overs and got themselves playing real cricket.
Estonia Innings
Estonia had a daunting target to reach, but the pressure was off and Oliver and Mike Tiffin arrived at the crease with a sense of purpose. Hoboes CC had showed what they could do with the bat, and now it was their bowlers turn to show what they could do with the new ball. Block hole bowling was the order of the day for the opening pair and they soon had Oliver in trouble, getting one to stay low and leaving the umpire no choice but to raise his finger LBW.
Mike Tiffin soon followed clean bowled, but with Barry and Heath at the crease, the score gradually moved on. The hostile bowlers once again took a liking to Barry, peppering him with short balls and risers to his elbows. Barry fought valiantly despite his injured hand and drove to the boundary for four before lofting a catch just as he looked settled.
Tim was getting in with two lovely boundaries, but out in similar fashion, pushing a shot off his legs, looking to get a single, but only getting out for 10. Ramsden arrived at the crease and was determined to put his 0 of the last match to bed. He faced a very hostile bowling attack, being hit on the back and constantly having to duck the short ball. It was the spinner who he took to though, hitting the unfortunate Maggs, despite getting lots of turn, for 21 in one over.
Shiva saw Ramsden's intent and looked to follow suit. Unfortunately he was bowled middle stump after having too long to think about the shot he was going to play. Deciding to hit straight, he change his mind at the last minute and played way across the line. Mike Skype came to the wicket boosted by his bowling performance. It looked as if he was going to perform with the bat too, hitting his first delivery for four before getting bowled by the ever dangerous spinner for only 4 runs. Ramsden had time for another 6 before he too was bowled by the pace of McQueen for 30.
The spin of Maggs, the like never seen before on the Hippodrome wicket was having the Estonians in all sorts of trouble. He bowled both Andrus and Andres, the latter describing the spin bowling as ‘very sneaky’. Being sneaky is definitely the way forward, with the off spinner finishing the match with 4-34. Brooks and Dungay came to the crease and both played some lovely shots, most notably Dungay who smashed a cover drive of arguably Hoboes CC's fastest bowler. Dungay was caught spectacularly for 11 and Brookes was left to carry his bat for the second match in succession for 12.
Estonia may have been soundly beaten, but can be proud that they can raise their game when they are playing a team of the highest quality. Never before have the team been so tired after a game and this just shows that 100% commitment is being put into the match. With the season still in its infancy, the improved performance, commitment and camaraderie can only work in Estonia’s favour to ensure that this defeat was their last.
Estonia m.o.m : Andrus. Great all round performance with the ball in what is possibly the most skillful match he has played in.
Estonia man of series. Mike Skype. Great batting on day one, and lovely bowling on day two.
Article written by James Ramsden
| Estonian 1st XI Vs Hoboes XI |
| 1-Innings Match Played At Hippodrome, 05-Jul-2007, |
| Hoboes XI Win by 133 runs |
| Toss won by |
Estonian 1st XI |
| Player / Match |
ECA:Kambre, Andrus |
| Hoboes XI 1st Innings 6/250 Closed (Overs 35) |
| Batsman |
Fieldsman |
Bowler |
Runs |
4s |
6s |
| Hoboes #1 |
c Oliver Slovodetsk |
b Andrus Kambre |
73 |
0 |
0 |
| Hoboes #2 |
c Siva Arunachalam |
b Rob Brookes |
83 |
0 |
0 |
| Hoboes #3 |
|
b Mike Bevan |
19 |
0 |
0 |
| Hoboes #4 |
|
b Mike Bevan |
4 |
0 |
0 |
| Hoboes #5 |
c |
b Mike Bevan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Hoboes #6 |
not out |
|
40 |
0 |
0 |
| Hoboes #7 |
run out Andrus Kambre |
|
15 |
0 |
0 |
| Hoboes #8 |
not out |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
| extras |
|
(b4 lb0 w11 nb1) |
16 |
|
|
| TOTAL |
|
6 wickets for |
250 |
|
|
| Bowler |
O |
M |
R |
W |
wd |
nb |
| Siva Arunachalam |
4 |
0 |
25 |
0 |
- |
- |
| James Ramsden |
6 |
0 |
52 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Tim Heath |
6 |
0 |
24 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Mike Tiffin |
3 |
0 |
30 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Jason Barry |
6 |
0 |
30 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Rob Brookes |
3 |
0 |
23 |
1 |
- |
- |
| Mike Bevan |
3 |
0 |
18 |
3 |
- |
- |
| Robin Hazlehurst |
2 |
0 |
26 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Andrus Kambre |
2 |
0 |
18 |
1 |
- |
- |
| Estonian 1st XI 1st Innings 10/117 All Out (Overs 0) |
| Batsman |
Fieldsman |
Bowler |
Runs |
4s |
6s |
| Oliver Slovodetsky |
lbw |
b |
4 |
0 |
0 |
| Mike Tiffin |
|
b |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| Jason Barry* |
c |
b |
7 |
1 |
0 |
| Tim Heath |
c |
b |
10 |
2 |
0 |
| James Ramsden |
|
b |
30 |
1 |
3 |
| Siva Arunachalam |
|
b |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Mike Bevan |
c |
b |
4 |
1 |
0 |
| Andrus Kambre |
|
b |
4 |
1 |
0 |
| Andres Burget |
|
b |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Rob Brookes |
not out |
|
12 |
2 |
0 |
| Martin Dungay |
c |
b |
11 |
2 |
0 |
| extras |
|
(b12 lb1 w15 nb2) |
30 |
|
|
| TOTAL |
|
10 wickets for |
117 |
|
|
|
