Australia v England 4^th ODI Tuesday 14^th December 2008 Howell Oval, Penrith

England retained the Ashes at 4.37 p.m. when Luke Sugg scored the winning run to give the visitors an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.

Australia won the toss for the fourth time but decided to bat. They gave debuts to Corey Heberley and Lawrence Anag while England kept an unchanged team.

The new opening pair of Heberley and Mark Haskett were soon separated when Heindrich Swanepoel bowled Haskett . Michael Zannis was bowled by Luke Sugg and when Heberley was run out the Australians were in trouble at 79-3. Nick Haydar was joined by his captain Peter Robinson in a stand of 176 in 24 overs which ensured that Australia made a competitive total. Robinson used the reverse sweep to good effect although Haydar was not at his most fluent. Again good England fielding restricted the pair who both made fifties. England once again bowled an unacceptable number of wides. Robinson was eventually run out by Swanepoel while Haydar remained unbeaten on 87 in a total of 264-5.

 Defending a total of under 300 Australia had no option but to take early wickets. Robinson and Lindsay Heaven bowled the first ten overs and by the fifth over England were in the unfamiliar position of having lost both Andy Powers and Nathan Foy at 39-2 both bowled by Heaven.  A century stand between Sugg and Matt Dean and another between Sugg and Gavin Dean gave England a comfortable victory with 4.1 overs to spare.

England were always ahead of the required rate and sensible batting meant that the Australians ran out of options despite another disciplined bowling performance. Shots behind the wicket using the pace of the ball nullified the effect of the quicker bowlers.

Man-of-the-match Sugg finished unbeaten on 112. His first international century was a riskless model of concentration . His second century partnership of the series with Gavin Dean shows the depth of England’s batting and the rapid improvement in Dean’s  game.

Both teams enjoyed the excellent facilities at Howell Oval where Penrith Council were instrumental in providing hospitality.

The last match of the series takes place at Bankstown Oval tomorrow.

Australia v England 3^rd ODI Sunday 14^th December 2008 Barker College

The second match at King’s School was washed out on Friday after England had again lost the toss and reached 28-0 in the 28 balls allowed by the weather.

The third match at Barker College saw England gain a convincing victory by 135 runs and go 2-0 up in the series.

Matt Dean lost the toss for the third time in the series and England made a steady start after being put in. Australia opened their attack with Cameron Roles and Chris Bertuch who between them bowled 14 wides in three overs. When Matt Dean departed for 26 bowled by Bertuch,  Andy Powers was joined by Nathan Foy and their stand of 104 in 9 overs threatened to put the game beyond the Australians. Foy was in dazzling form hitting powerfully all round the wicket favouring mid off. When Powers was run out for a typically robust 68 the game swung again with the first-ball dismissal of Luke Sugg shortly followed by the departure of Gavin Dean leg before to Lindsay Heaven for 2. Foy powered on dominating a stand of 73 with John Garbett. With few runs coming from the other end he scored successive boundaries off Bertuch  but was run out after reaching 200. England finished on 370-8.

In reply Nick Haydar and Brett Wilson put on 74 for the first wicket before Wilson was sensationally run out by a direct hit from Sugg which was typical of an excellent England fielding performance. At this point Australia were up with the required rate. Haydar batted through to the 36^th over for a second successive hundred with good support from Mark Haskett who scored 37 in a stand of 97.

With the introduction of Roy Turnham in the 33^rd over, his spell of 4-0-17-2 saw off any late challenge and when Haydar was stumped by Dan Field the Australians had an impossible task finishing on 235-6.

Both teams had a problem with bowling wides  in this match especially Australia who slipped from their impressive bowling performance in the first match.

Neither team will want to be dependent on the batting performance of one man. Man-of-the match Nathan Foy who also bowled eight overs and held onto a catch asked Richie Benaud for some bowling tips when introduced to the great man along with the other players during an elongated drinks break.

The teams, officials and a small but enthusiastic crowd enjoyed the magnificent facilities at Barker College before moving onto the Howell Oval at Penrith for the fourth match of the series.

   3rd Ashes Scorecard   

                                          Australia v England 2nd ODI - Rained off

Australia v England 1^st  ODI Wednesday 10^th December 2008 Waitara Oval, Waitara

Despite a disastrous start England comfortably won the first game of the series by 33 runs. Australia won the toss and inserted England who immediately lost captain Matt Dean bowled by Lindsay Heaven. Nathan Foy joined Andy Powers and they took control until Powers was smartly caught by Nick Haydar. When Foy was bowled by Moxly for 74 off 37 balls just before the drinks break with the score on 118-3 England were  briefly in trouble as Luke Sugg and Gavin Dean took time to establish the rate of the previous pair. Their stand of 118 put England back in it at a run-a-ball. The rate was continued for the remainder of the innings despite a disciplined Australian bowling performance. England finished on  315 which left the game wide open. 

 Nick Haydar and Brett Wilson shared an opening stand of 115 taking advantage of some wayward England bowling regularly finding gaps in the field. When Luke Sugg spectacularly ran out Wilson Australia  were already behind the required rate. Sharp fielding and four more run outs further restricted the rate as no other batsman were able to dominate.   Man-of-the-match Haydar was run out for 105 in the 39th over. He drove effortlessly through the cover s and flicked off his legs through square but lacked support.

With the second match taking place at the Kings School in Parramatta on Friday Australia will be determined to get back in the series as both teams will be keen to address their deficiencies.

1st Ashes Scorecard

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So the final game was the basement battle, Metro traveling to Northants, and the loser would prop the table up.

 Northants batted and mustered a respectable 143 all out. Metro faltered and fell short at 124 all out. So Metro finished last, they will of course take their Cup victory as solace, but remarkable none the less.

 So here is how it finished –

Winners – South Wales Dragons

Played 9 won 3 drew 6 123 points

Cruel victims of the weather early, but consistent when they took to the field, unbeaten and worthy champions, congratulations!

2^nd Warks Bears

Played 9 Won 3 Drew 5 lost 1 112 points

Another strong season for the Bears, the reversal at Dragons cost the title, but formidable opponents always

3^rd London Sports

Played 9 won 3 drew 4 lost 2 109 points

What a revelation London were this season, after stuffing Sussex on Day 1 they went on to show they were true contenders, 30 more runs in their last game against Dragons and they would have nicked it, I am sure the Essex lads are rightfully proud of their season.

4^th Sussex Sharks

Played 9 won 3 drew 4 lost 2 108 points

The Sharks again showed some real promise and their out cricket was as good as anyone. The batsmen didn’t have such a great season until the last game, if it all clicks next season who knows?

5^th Birmingham

Played 8 Won 2 Drew 2 Lost 4 77 points

Left it till the 2^nd half of the season, but came good. Excellent fielding side with lots of potential another batsan and could push for honours next year

6^th Northants

Played 8 won 3 lost 5 64 points

They were good or bad, never in between. Played all 8 so lucky with the weather. Good wins against London, Metro and a miracle escape against Birmingham, all bode well for next year.

7^th Metro

Played 8 Won 2 drew 1 lost 5 61 points

A season they will probably want to forget, but the second half of the season saw them blood new young players and this should stand them in good stead for next year,

 It has been a great season despite the awful weather, with 4 teams in the hunt for the title and it could have gone any way.

News

3rd - Blind International England v West Indies

2nd  Blind international  England  v West Indies Moseley C.C. Solihull

Moving on to Moseley England gave debuts to Gavin Dean and Roy Turnham with Dave Powers having his first game of the series. West Indies were unchanged.

Taking the field with two sets of brothers (Deans and Powers) the second match in the three-match series saw records tumble as England won the toss and posted a mammoth 474-2 in their 40 overs. Having scored 179 the previous day (an international record for a partially sighted Englishman) Andy Powers shared a record opening partnership of 330 with Nathan Foy in 26 overs with Foy out hitting his wicket for 192 immediately before the second drinks break. His breathtaking 87-ball knock included just one boundary and some confident running by Powers and Foy’s runner Dan Field.

Rather than just being a repetition of yesterday’s triumph, Powers deliberately hit the ball in new areas with a much larger percentage of his runs coming straighter or finer on the leg side rather than through mid wicket although Foy pummelled the mid wicket region in between delicate cuts to fine leg.

The West Indian fielding was as proficient as yesterday but the targeting of new areas left them unable to stem the flow. Forte again bowled some testing deliveries and his figures of 8-0-81-1 including the wicket of Powers stumped by Phillip in his last over showed him to be the pick of the bowlers.

West Indies made an aggressive start in their uphill task with Sheldon Phillip and Ricardo Manning adding 69 in 14 overs before Manning was run out by a spectacular direct throw from just inside the boundary from Luke Sugg. Phillip departed at 88 stumped by Field heralding a period when four wickets fell for ten runs in four overs.The collapse was started in Garbett’s fifth over when he dismissed Phillip and Cummins the latter to the first of Matt Dean’s three catches. Garbett finished with impressive figures of 8-0-32-3. after which a smart bit of work from substitute Dave Allen ran out Yohan Alexander. 

Despite some spirited resistance from Kerwin Casimir and Mosi Andrews in an unbroken stand of 36 in 14 overs, West Indies could only muster 167 from their 40 overs.

England’s fielders supported their bowlers and each other but disappointingly more wides were bowled. Contributory factors such as fitness and concentration are being addressed as the squad prepares for the next venture – a trip down under in the winter.

Another enthusiastic gathering including many Moseley club members stayed to see the awards ceremony before the two teams move to Harborne C.C. in Old Church Road, Harborne tomorrow (Tuesday).

With the series outcome settled both teams may be tempted to make changes which should result in a competitive finale.

Man of the Match awards :

B1 : John Garbett 8-0-32-3

B2 : Matt Dean 47* , 3 catches and 2-0-7-0

B3 : Luke Sugg 51*, 6-0-23-0 and a run out.

Moseley CC are to be thanked for their hospitality, superb facilities and the interest shown by their members throughout the day.

England v West Indies Series Updates

1^st  Blind international  England  v West Indies King Edward’s School, Edgbaston The inaugural series between England and West indies began in sunny conditions in the impressive grounds of King Edward’s School.

England had built a new younger squad after the 2006 World Cup and were hoping to improve on a 5-0 series defeat to India in the Midlands last year.

West Indies who took part in their first World Cup in 2006 were undertaking their first overseas series.

England won the toss and decided to bat. New captain Matt Dean came in at the fall of the first wicket to join Andy Powers. Together they added 263 against a determined bowling attack and an athletic fielding side. It was a dream start for new captain Dean. After a contained start he scored heavily through mid-wicket and with boundaries hard to come by he ran impressively with Powers. They romped along at eight an over  during the middle of the innings and then gradually accelerated. When Dean was bowled by the persistent Tremaine Forte for 115, Luke Sugg immediately kept up the tempo with a quick-fire 27 off 17 balls. During this time Andy Powers maintained the intensity of his innings scoring all round the wicket but especially in front of and behind square on the leg side. The relative scarcity of lofted drives showed both a lack of bounce in the bowling and Power’s determination to play a long innings.

After playing on for 179 he returned to much vocal appreciation from a sizeable crowd.

Faced with the daunting task of amassing 392 to win at more than eight an over, West Indies were initially bogged down by a tight opening spell from Heindrich Swanepoel and Nathan Foy. Ulric Andrews and Ricardo Manning stood out among the visiting batsmen with Cheryl Grifith adding a dogged 18 in 65 minutes to hold the innings together. Andrews 46 in 40 balls included 5 boundaries and the left-handed Manning with 49 in 68 balls played some of the most attractive shots of the day in particular a classy drive though mid off for four.

England’s support bowlers acquitted themselves well with totally blind debutant John Garbett returning the impressive figures of 8-0-51-1.

In the remaining two matches England will be looking to improve the tidyness of their bowling.

In a competitiveness match played in excellent spirit the West Indians impressed everyone with their excellent outcricket. Mention should be made of the tall Tremaine Forte who led the attack and finished with the best figures in the match of 8-0-60-3.

Man of the match awards were presented at a dinner provided by the school immediately after the match. The management and players from both sides are endebted to the school for their wonderful hospitality and use of their magnificent facilities.

B1 : Nathan Foy 16 & 8-0-33-1

B2 : Matt Dean 115 & 1-0-5-0

B3 : Andy Powers 179 & 8-0-51-1

The second match takes place tomorrow (Monday) at Moseley C.C. at Streetsbrook Road in Solihull.

BCEW Presentation and Celebration Day' for Saturday 20th September 2008, at Leamington Spe Cricket Club.

The day will be made up of two 20/20 matches. Firstly, between the BCEW National League Champions and a BCEW 
Select XI (domestic rules), and secondly, between the England team and another BCEW Select XI (international rules). 
Presentations will be made to league champions, runners-up, and players-of-the season. Most importantly, the bar will be open!

England Blind Cricket Team will play the West Indies

Dates and venues for the West Indies tour [all 10.30am start]:

Sunday, 3rd August 2008

Monday, 4th August 2008

Moseley Cricket Club 
Streetsbrook Road
Solihull
Birmingham
B90 3PE

[click here to view map]

Harborne Cricket Club 
Old Church Rd
Harborne
Birmingham
B17 0BE

Miles Northwood,
International director,
Blind Cricket England And Wales.


European Regional Development Director,
World Blind Cricket Council.


Contacts:
Email:

Home Phone: +44 (0) 1234 783039
Mobile: +44 (0) 7825 517013
Skype: milesn