2017
Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf 2017
23/09/20 12:52
“I have seen the future and it works”, so said Lincoln Steffens on visiting the Soviet Union in 1919. A similar observation might be made of the Bar Cricket Club as last night saw a new captain leading from the front with bat and ball and brilliantly managing the varied bowling resources at his disposal to steer to victory.
Much like the Merseyside derby in recent years, this was a crucial mid-table fixture with both teams having ambitions to join the big boys with qualification for the LMS play-offs. Outgoing captain Harthan had erred in failing to be able to count to 8 and a last minute appeal was sent out to Charlie Austin to complete the Bar’s team. Adnan and Shaban opened. Adnan looked a bit out of sorts and, having already been dropped, fell on his 5th ball for 1. Shaban and Clarke then continued steady progress against a decent JRAG attack. The real drama, however, was happening off-field. Word had got back to the dressing room that the umpire, who happened to be South African, was going to restrict Shaban and Adnan to 2 overs each rather than the usual 4 on the basis that they were “Ringers”. Shaban and Adnan have been 2 of our more regular players this season and we were somewhat taken aback to hear them described as ringers. Whilst the fact that they converse in Punjabi with limited English might make it obvious they are not practising Barristers, the Bar team has had numerous other guest players not in possession of a Practising Certificate over the years without incident. The irresistible conclusion was that this was blatant racial and / or religious discrimination and we would not stand for it. It would also have had the effect of significantly weakening an already thin bowling attack.
Meanwhile the Bar’s innings continued with runs being steadily accumulated. Shaban 47/39, Clarke 43/41 and Sinker 16/16 all contributed, with Harthan 6/4*, Armstrong 1 / 2 and Jones A 2/1* playing cameos at the end. The Bar’s total of 118 looked a little under-par.
At the Interval Harthan strode over to confront the Umpire. Harthan had already composed a speech in which he would inform said Umpire that Aigburth 2017 was not 1930s Germany, 1960s Alabama or 1980s Johannesberg and that the Bar were prepared not to take to the field in solidarity with our teammates. It transpired however that this was simply an application of LMS Rules. Shaban and Adnan are also registered with an ‘A’ Grade team (the Scouse Sloggers) and ‘A’ Grade players were limited to 2 overs when playing ‘B’ Grade cricket. Something of a compromise was reached permitting Shaban to bowl 4 overs on the basis that he was an ever-present in our squad and an occasional with the Sloggers, however the restriction on Adnan remained in place.
The Bar opened with their strongest bowlers. Shaban (4-13-2) Adnan (2-6-0) and Clarke (4-17-1) were all at their impressive best. On many occasions a lack of supporting bowlers has cost the Bar however on this occasion the change bowlers were, just about, up to the task. The Bar’s fielding left something to be desired with dropped catches, misfields and overthrows. At one point Armstrong wailed at his teammates in frustration only for him to then drop one and put off the better positioned Adnan on another catching opportunity. Harthan took a stumping off Armstrong’s bowling to maintain his position at the top of the keeping stats, Austin took 2 wickets on his bowling debut which perhaps look better in the book than they did in real life.
Going into the final few overs the game was still in the balance. Clarke had had the good sense to save himself and Shaban for the final 2 overs and both held their nerve. A slogger with a decent eye had come in but it was too little too late for JRAG. On the penultimate ball quick reactions from Harthan stopped a skidding ball from going for 4 byes. It was then conveyed to the field that a 6 off the last ball would win the match for JRAG. In the event 2 runs were scored and the Bar celebrated victory, many thought by 4 runs. Harthan was delighted to be roundly congratulated on his “match winning” stop of the 4 on the penultimate ball, however felt obliged to point out that at that stage 11 runs had been required and that JRAG’s only chance of victory arose only under the LMS “Home Run” Rule whereby a 6 off the final ball scores 12 (ask Aid Rogers). Therefore, in the absence of a piece of fielding equipment left on field which the ball might hit whilst the batsmen ran 2, Harthan’s stop had made no material difference whatsoever.
This victory sets the Bar up for a run to qualification for the play offs, which I expect will clash with Whitewell or the Circuit Match in any event.
MoM: Tom Clarke
Much like the Merseyside derby in recent years, this was a crucial mid-table fixture with both teams having ambitions to join the big boys with qualification for the LMS play-offs. Outgoing captain Harthan had erred in failing to be able to count to 8 and a last minute appeal was sent out to Charlie Austin to complete the Bar’s team. Adnan and Shaban opened. Adnan looked a bit out of sorts and, having already been dropped, fell on his 5th ball for 1. Shaban and Clarke then continued steady progress against a decent JRAG attack. The real drama, however, was happening off-field. Word had got back to the dressing room that the umpire, who happened to be South African, was going to restrict Shaban and Adnan to 2 overs each rather than the usual 4 on the basis that they were “Ringers”. Shaban and Adnan have been 2 of our more regular players this season and we were somewhat taken aback to hear them described as ringers. Whilst the fact that they converse in Punjabi with limited English might make it obvious they are not practising Barristers, the Bar team has had numerous other guest players not in possession of a Practising Certificate over the years without incident. The irresistible conclusion was that this was blatant racial and / or religious discrimination and we would not stand for it. It would also have had the effect of significantly weakening an already thin bowling attack.
Meanwhile the Bar’s innings continued with runs being steadily accumulated. Shaban 47/39, Clarke 43/41 and Sinker 16/16 all contributed, with Harthan 6/4*, Armstrong 1 / 2 and Jones A 2/1* playing cameos at the end. The Bar’s total of 118 looked a little under-par.
At the Interval Harthan strode over to confront the Umpire. Harthan had already composed a speech in which he would inform said Umpire that Aigburth 2017 was not 1930s Germany, 1960s Alabama or 1980s Johannesberg and that the Bar were prepared not to take to the field in solidarity with our teammates. It transpired however that this was simply an application of LMS Rules. Shaban and Adnan are also registered with an ‘A’ Grade team (the Scouse Sloggers) and ‘A’ Grade players were limited to 2 overs when playing ‘B’ Grade cricket. Something of a compromise was reached permitting Shaban to bowl 4 overs on the basis that he was an ever-present in our squad and an occasional with the Sloggers, however the restriction on Adnan remained in place.
The Bar opened with their strongest bowlers. Shaban (4-13-2) Adnan (2-6-0) and Clarke (4-17-1) were all at their impressive best. On many occasions a lack of supporting bowlers has cost the Bar however on this occasion the change bowlers were, just about, up to the task. The Bar’s fielding left something to be desired with dropped catches, misfields and overthrows. At one point Armstrong wailed at his teammates in frustration only for him to then drop one and put off the better positioned Adnan on another catching opportunity. Harthan took a stumping off Armstrong’s bowling to maintain his position at the top of the keeping stats, Austin took 2 wickets on his bowling debut which perhaps look better in the book than they did in real life.
Going into the final few overs the game was still in the balance. Clarke had had the good sense to save himself and Shaban for the final 2 overs and both held their nerve. A slogger with a decent eye had come in but it was too little too late for JRAG. On the penultimate ball quick reactions from Harthan stopped a skidding ball from going for 4 byes. It was then conveyed to the field that a 6 off the last ball would win the match for JRAG. In the event 2 runs were scored and the Bar celebrated victory, many thought by 4 runs. Harthan was delighted to be roundly congratulated on his “match winning” stop of the 4 on the penultimate ball, however felt obliged to point out that at that stage 11 runs had been required and that JRAG’s only chance of victory arose only under the LMS “Home Run” Rule whereby a 6 off the final ball scores 12 (ask Aid Rogers). Therefore, in the absence of a piece of fielding equipment left on field which the ball might hit whilst the batsmen ran 2, Harthan’s stop had made no material difference whatsoever.
This victory sets the Bar up for a run to qualification for the play offs, which I expect will clash with Whitewell or the Circuit Match in any event.
MoM: Tom Clarke
MCS 2017
23/09/20 12:51
Coming just 2 days after victory at Whitewell and 2 days before our semi final play-off against Action CC, this was always going to be a bit of a dead rubber. The Bar were guaranteed a 3rd place finish whatever the outcome and MCS Dynamos were similarly unable to alter their placing. MCS Dynamos were bolstered by loanees Danny Bowers and Ryan Kyffin, familiar faces from “The Sixers” franchise, and both played big roles in the Dynamo’s total of 156. It would be unfair to say that it was just the Ringers though. Carden, a Dynamos regular, scored an unbeaten 50 and judging by the reaction / celebration this was unfamiliar territory for him. Prior and Clarke were the pick of the Bar’s bowling.
New captain Clarke went for experience with his opening pair in Harthan and Prior. However, a somewhat pedestrian pace to the innings saw the required run rate creeping up and the game drifting away from the Bar. Prior scored 13 at SR of 65%, Harthan ended with 51 at SR 121.43%. Alex Jones was the pick of the batsmen with 36 at SR 150%. King struck an impressive 6 towards the end. There was an unseemly incident when Prior did not move when called through for an easy single by Harthan resulting in Harthan yelling “f#*#*n-well run” at Prior as he scrambled to get back to the bowler’s end. What Harthan had failed to appreciate was that Prior had failed to offer a shot (for the second time in his Innings) and that the appropriate shout would have been to “f#*#*n-well offer a shot”, particularly in view of the LMS format and match situation. Harthan apologised afterwards, not for the insult, but for the fact it was on the wrong grounds.
On the positive side this was good practice for the Bar’s important impending play-off game(s).
New captain Clarke went for experience with his opening pair in Harthan and Prior. However, a somewhat pedestrian pace to the innings saw the required run rate creeping up and the game drifting away from the Bar. Prior scored 13 at SR of 65%, Harthan ended with 51 at SR 121.43%. Alex Jones was the pick of the batsmen with 36 at SR 150%. King struck an impressive 6 towards the end. There was an unseemly incident when Prior did not move when called through for an easy single by Harthan resulting in Harthan yelling “f#*#*n-well run” at Prior as he scrambled to get back to the bowler’s end. What Harthan had failed to appreciate was that Prior had failed to offer a shot (for the second time in his Innings) and that the appropriate shout would have been to “f#*#*n-well offer a shot”, particularly in view of the LMS format and match situation. Harthan apologised afterwards, not for the insult, but for the fact it was on the wrong grounds.
On the positive side this was good practice for the Bar’s important impending play-off game(s).