Season 14 round-up

FIRST-CLASS STATISTICS

NAME	MTCHS	RUNS	AVE	H.S.	WKTS	AVE	B/B
Matt O’Shea	10	1132	70.75	136	-	-	-
Steve Lothrop	9	709	54.54	368	-	-	-
Graeme Jeremy	9	738	49.20	178	-	-	-
John Simpson	9	587	39.13	180	1	100.00	1/23
Michael Prince	7	434	36.17	92	-	-	-
Graham Ferdinand	9	320	29.09	85*	19	34.37	5/65
Chris Kotzo	1	27	27.00	27	1	39.00	1/26
Pete Moller	3	104	20.80	45	-	-	-
Rohana Ahad	10	253	16.87	35	36 cts	7 stmps	-
William Downing	4	114	14.25	23	-	-	-
Stephen Harding	4	64	10.67	26	6	38.33	3/18
Mike Legg	1	19	9.50	18	1	109.00	1/82
Allan Blott	4	31	4.43	23	3	109.00	2/115
Chris Hayward	10	42	3.00	15	51	11.80	9/20
Carlos Hibbert	7	21	2.10	9*	18	33.22	4/35
Eddie Ayres	10	8	0.83	4*	39	27.49	5/85
Tim Fox	3	0	0.00	0	2	152.50	1/49

PARTNERSHIPS

1. O’Shea & Prince 200
2. O’Shea & Jeremy 193
3. Jeremy & Simpson 242
4. Simpson & Lothrop 462
5. Lothrop & Ferdinand 99
6. Ferdinand & Ahad 61
7. Lothrop & Hayward 56
8. Ferdinand & Harding 80
9. Blott & Hibbert 37
10. Lothrop & Ayres 44

ONE-DAY STATISTICS

NAME	MTCHS	RUNS	AVE	H.S.	WKTS	AVE	B/B
Matt O’Shea	15	815	101.88	156*	-	-	-
Pete Moller	3	133	66.50	83	-	-	-
Graeme Jeremy	13	389	64.83	101*	-	-	-
Geoff Kenny	7	259	64.75	109	-	-	-
Steve Lothrop	11	229	45.80	64*	-	-	-
Michael Prince	11	263	32.88	114	-	-	-
Ron Stearman	9	78	26.00	56*	2	6.00	2/12
William Downing	3	40	20.00	37	-	-	-
Rohana Ahad	15	97	16.50	41*	23 cts	2 stmps	-
John Simpson	6	31	15.50	16*	0	-	0/71
Graham Ferdinand	12	60	6.20	29	5	60.00	2/1
Chris Hayward	13	15	5.00	9	18	15.67	6/27
Chris Kotzo	2	5	5.00	5	1	66.00	1/66
Eddie Ayres	14	10	3.33	7	32	14.34	7/5
Allan Blott	6	6	3.00	6	2	88.00	2/13
Tim Fox	10	6	2.00	4	27	9.63	5/7
Stephen Harding	7	2	2.00	2*	5	63.80	1/39
Carlos Hibbert	4	1	-	1*	3	4.67	3/6
Mike Legg	4	-	-	-	3	67.00	2/15

PARTNERSHIPS

1. Kenny & O’Shea 233
2. Kenny & Moller 163
3. Jeremy & Lothrop 118
4. Lothrop & Ferdinand 69
5. O’Shea & Stearman 95
6. Lothrop & Ahad 53
7. O’Shea & Hayward 16
8. Hayward & Harding 8
9. Ahad & Fox 5
10. Ahad & Ayres 19

T20 STATISTICS

NAME	MTCHS	RUNS	S/R	H.S.	WKTS	R/R	B/B
Chris Hayward	8	4	200.00	4	18	5.33	4/13
Matt O’Shea	9	573	189.11	131*	-	-	-
Pete Moller	5	145	183.54	101	-	-	-
William Downing	3	18	180.00	10*	-	-	-
Rohana Ahad	11	23	176.92	14*	23 cts	-	-
Geoff Kenny	6	238	173.72	109	-	-	-
Michael Prince	6	263	164.38	122*	-	-	-
Graeme Jeremy	7	292	156.99	74	-	-	-
Ron Stearman	5	74	134.55	49*	-	-	-
Steve Lothrop	7	145	125.00	42	-	-	-
Graham Ferdinand	10	29	111.54	17*	12	5.26	3/3
John Simpson	5	35	87.50	20*	-	-	-
Eddie Ayres	7	1	25.00	1	9	6.50	3/27
Allan Blott	3	1	0.00	0	3	9.82	2/10
Tim Fox	9	0	0.00	0	15	6.76	3/22
Carlos Hibbert	3	-	-	-	11	4.57	6/11
Chris Kotzo	2	-	-	-	4	2.67	2/2
John Branson	1	-	-	-	0	8.00	0/32
Kieran Strou	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mike Legg	4	-	-	-	7	7.44	4/23
Stephen Harding	8	-	-	-	20	5.25	4/9

PARTNERSHIPS

1. Kenny & O’Shea 239
2. O’Shea & Jeremy 122
3. Moller & Stearman 106
4. Prince & Stearman 96
5. Jeremy & Simpson 60
6. Prince & Ahad 31
7. Ahad & Hayward 4
8. Ahad & Blott 3
9. –
10. Ahad & Ayres 1

FIRST-CLASS LEAGUE VI, DIVISION 21

TEAM	P	W	L	D	BAT	BOWL	PTS
Blue Balls	10	9	0	1	47	30	207
Xerox XI	10	5	2	3	35	28	145
T&N Crusaders	10	4	4	2	28	28	120
Putney CC	10	3	4	3	26	26	106
NUTs	10	2	7	1	17	24	73
The Walkers	10	1	7	2	21	20	63

ONE-DAY LEAGUE IV, DIVISION 20

TEAM	P	W	T	L	PTS	Net R/R
Bubbles Best	14	13	0	1	52	54.27
The Jewelers	14	11	0	3	44	33.00
Hales	14	10	0	4	40	28.96
T&N Crusaders	14	9	0	5	36	26.24
Moos	14	7	0	7	28	16.37
Vanha	14	4	0	10	16	-20.89
Jillian Within Temptation	14	1	0	13	4	-66.54
Douglasdale CC	14	1	0	13	4	-71.42

WORLD T20 LEAGUE VI, DIVISION 448

TEAM	P	W	T	L	PTS	Net R/R
Ravi at Hyd	11	11	0	0	44	84.78
T&N Crusaders	11	10	0	1	40	60.18
Naruto’s XI	11	9	0	2	36	61.08
Klunkalush CC	11	8	0	3	32	39.08
Ferndale Flyers	11	7	0	4	28	6.95
EC Knight Riders	11	5	0	6	20	3.67
Tegalteam	11	5	0	6	20	-16.32
Werrington CC	11	4	0	7	16	-29.64
DDCC	11	3	0	8	12	-17.57
Lahore Badshahs123	11	3	0	8	12	-43.02
TeamS	11	1	0	10	4	-83.77
Noon Raiders	11	0	0	11	0	-65.42

SOUTH AFRICA CUP

Round 1 – Argentina Basel 44/0 beat Crusaders 41 all out

Semi-final – Uff CC 172 beat LBW 143

Semi-final – Synergy 243/2 beat Black Forest 242/8

Final – Uff CC 248/5 beat Synergy 233

Awards Banquet – season 14

The Awards Banquet for season 4 has been scheduled for this Saturday at the T&N Smeda Stadium Banquet Hall in the clubhouse.

At this banquet the club will honour those who have excelled throughout the season.  There will also be an Academy graduation ceremony as well as announcements for changes in the new season.

The agenda is as follows:

17h00  Registration

18h00  Supper and Video Highlights package

18h45  Academy Graduation

19h15  Dessert

19h15  Captain’s report

19h30  Manager’s report

19h45  Awards ceremony

20h15  Announcements for next season

20h30  Adjourn

Crusaders thrash Putney

Having been thrashed by an innings by Putney Cricket Club in their initial first-class encounter this season, the Crusaders were looking to rectify that result in their return match at Putney Cricket Ground. The pitch was enticing for the fast bowlers, and the speed trio of Eddie Ayres, Carlos Hibbert and Allan Blott were licking their lips to get an opportunity to bowl. They were not disappointed as the home side put the Crusaders into bat first.

Putney’s first innings was dismal as they were carted out for 88 thanks to some excellent fast bowling by Ayres(3/24), some precise swing bowling from Graham Ferdinand(2/7), and some inspirational spinning by Chris Hayward(3/8). Audie was the only one to offer any resistance with 23*

Crusaders took to bat and masterfully put all expectations of another large defeat to rest as a record fourth wicket partnership of 462 between John Simpson(180) and Steve Lothrop paved the way to an immaculate total. Firstly it was Prince’s 54 and Jeremy’s 62 that began the domination after O’Shea fell for 19. But Simpson and Lothrop batted for the better part of a day as they took the bowling to all parts of the ground. Lothrop made a whopping and career best 368 before being adjudged in front against Geldenhuizen, but by then the damage was done and the lower order just hung around long enough to get the Crusaders to 796 all out.

Putney fought hard for the draw, thanks mostly to Smuts’ fighting 62, but with the wicket offered the seamers immense assistance, the home team could not manage more than 196. Hibbert capped a good match with 3/46, Ayres took 3/57 and Hayward contributed with 3/20 in 10.1 overs. Crusaders won by an innings and 512 runs and there was no doubt as to who the man-of-the-match was.

The team was: O’Shea(c), Prince, Jeremy, Simpson, Lothrop, Ferdinand, Ahad(wk), Hayward, Blott, Hibbert, Ayres. 12th: Kenny.

Surprise, but deserved, victory for Crusaders

In a one-day league match this week, the Crusaders hosted top of the log The Jewelers on a dusty wicket, perfect for the spinners. Captain Matt O’Shea won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first, hoping to make first use of the conditions.

Eddie Ayres ousted opener Upton in the first over for a duck and much excitement was created from that wicket. However, the enthusiasm died somewhat as Lentin(66) and Stearman(112) put on 178 for the second wicket before Chris Hayward trapped Lentin in front at the start of his second spell. Just 5 runs later, both Stearman and Chikosi(11*) ended up at the same end after poor calling by Chikosi, and Stearman was run out, causing a batting collapse. The next 8 wickets fell for just 24 runs as Eddie Ayres(4/51) and Tim Fox4/24) took control of the innings in their final spells, limiting The Jewelers to 203 all out.

Having never beaten The Jewelers, this was a perfect opportunity to correct that record, although O’Shea warned of complacency during the break, reminding his team that these were all very experienced bowlers who were not sitting at the top of the table for nothing.

O’Shea took the lead in the chase and hit the ball to all parts of the park as he shared in the opening stand of 151 with Michael Prince. Prince was bowled by Naipaul for 52, but the damage had already been done and the rest was just a formality. O’Shea reached his century off 103 balls with a beautiful six off Robinson, hit right over his head, and finally ended the innings on 122*. Graeme Jeremy contributed well with 24* off 19 balls in the 2nd wicket stand of 55, giving the Crusaders a massive victory by 9 wickets.

Manager Neville Smeda had much to say after the game about the pre-match preparations, “We had such a big selection issue, mostly regarding our batting order. We knew that experience would be a big factor against such a top-rated team that we were divided between keeping our tried and tested, or bringing in experience. In that regard we were juggling the names of Prince and Kenny to open, with the former showing the experience and Kenny being the man in form. Then we were unsure of Simpson or Stearman in the middle order, with Simpson having played very little one-day cricket this season. I’ll be the first to admit that I pulled captain Matt aside right after the toss and told him that I think I may have messed up on leaving John Simpson out as experience is key in matches like this. The rest is history”.

O’Shea added, “What a way to end the week, three enthralling victories. I just don’t have words to describe the excitement in the camp right now”.

The team was: Prince, O’Shea(c), Jeremy, Lothrop, Stearman, Ferdinand, Ahad(wk), Hayward, Harding, Fox, Ayres. 12th: Simpson.

Final T20 week round-up

The Crusaders completed their T20 league matches this week with another 100% week of victories, ensuring their 2nd place finish just 4 points behind the winners.

The first obstacle was to overcome a weakened Lahore Badshahs123 team. The task was minimal as the match was wrapped up within 20 overs. Lahore won the toss and elected to bat first on a green top, and their batsmen were outdone by the quicks with Ayres picking up 2/5, Hibbert 2/14 and Blott 2/10. Hayward chipped in at the end with 3/17, giving him the player of the match award. Prince(30*) and O’Shea(32*) knocked the runs off in the 6th over of their innings, leaving them victory by 10 wickets.

The final T20 match of the season was against Noon Raiders and captain O’Shea was more than happy to elect to bat on a belter of a wicket. Openers Geoff Kenny and O’Shea batted through the entire innings before Kenny was caught on the mid-wicket boundary for 109 off the last ball of the innings, assisting O’Shea(130*) in getting to 239/1 after 20 overs. Noon Raiders stood very little chance of reaching the target and were bowled out in the 11th over for 55. Tim Fox led the charge with 3/22 and was well-supported by Graham Ferdinand(3/3). Chris Kotzo, in a rare apperance for the Crusaders 1st XI, bowled beautifully to take 2/2 in 7 balls, once again showing that there is no substitute for experience. O’Shea took the player of the match award and took great delight at finishing 2nd in a competition that his side has traditionally struggled in.

“I’m thrilled. We have not played well in T20 cricket, but this season we made a concerted effort to improve on our skills, and it has paid off. To finish second in a group of 12 teams, its something special and the entire team has gelled well together this season”.

So near to first win against Xerox XI

After a heavy defeat the week before against Xerox XI in a first-class league match, the return match showed greater excitement at the T&N Smeda Stadium in front of a daily average of nearly 10,000 spectators.

Crusaders captain Matt O’Shea won the toss and elected to bat first on a wicket he was hoping to utilize his spinners on to full effect on the final day. The innings began nicely with an opening stand of 67 between O’Shea and Michael Prince, before the latter was adjudged LBW for 28. Graeme Jeremy followed 2 balls later, and a replay of the previous week’s batting collapse seemed imminent. That was not to be as John Simpson(43) steadied the ship in a 3rd wicket partnership of 92. After a silly run out of William Downing(14), Graham Ferdinand took complete control of the situation as he played a cautious knock of 85* with 11 fours and a six. He did not receive much support from the lower order, but a reasonable total of 359 was posted shortly before the close of day 1. O’Shea commanded in the batting department again with a brilliant 136, while Spilsbury bowled with utmost accuracy to claim 5/28 from 22 overs.

The Crusaders bowlers could not have asked for a better start to day 2 as they had Xerox XI reeling on 18/5 thanks to a whirlwind opening spell from Carlos Hibbert and Eddie Ayres. With the bowling change came a break in the wicket-taking as Mabaso(91*) and Rudd(53) added 120 for the 6th wicket to take their team towards the follow-on target. The target was not reached as Hibbert’s second spell cleaned up the tail as he finished with a career-best 4/35, aided by Ayres’ 3/61 to leave Xerox XI all out for 195.

The second innings for the visitors was a tougher one for the Crusaders bowlers as big partnerships were put together between Spilsbury(115), Anterpen(92) and Corby(83). Hibbert looked fatigued as he took to a second straight day of bowling and his figures of 0/95 in 20 reflected the stamina issue. Ayres was once again the star as he picked up a disciplined 5/85, backed up by Ferdinand’s 3/83. Amazingly only 4 wickets were taken between the two quality spinners in both innings’ on a wicket suited for the spin.

Needing 265 to win in 69 overs, the Crusaders began the chase well on the final day with O’Shea(102) and Prince(32) showing again their command at the top of the order. The turning point of the match came when John Simpson was bogged down by Spilsbury, causing him to go into a shell and decrease his batting intensity. Simpson’s 18 off 66 balls caused a panic in the latter part of the order as Ferdinand(35*) and Rohana Ahad(35*) were required to take greater risks. Disappointingly, the Crusaders fell 17 runs short as they ended the match on 248/5.

The match was drawn and Spilsbury took the player of the match award after his century and tight bowling really made the difference in the result.

O’Shea said after the match, “Prior to this match we were hoping to get away with a draw, which is what we achieved. But to get so close to a win, literally within an over or two, against such a quality side that has always beaten us, it causes an uneasy feeling in the stomach. I hope we play them next season and look forward to another excellent battle”.

Fast bowler Eddie Ayres also commented on the intensity of the match, “This is probably the most intense first-class match I’ve ever played in as we came so agonizingly close to beating our arch-nemesis. I’m glad it got as close as it did, although of course I would have preferred the win”.

The team was: O’Shea(c), Prince, Jeremy, Simpson, Downing, Ferdinand, Ahad(wk), Hayward, Harding, Hibbert, Ayres. 12th: Moller.

Next week the Crusaders return to BT20 action before their return match away against the Walkers, a team they beat very convincingly at the beginning of the season.

Rookie keeper gets signed

With the departure of Marc McVeigh last season, Rohana Ahad has share a large amount of weekend cricket, serving as the sole wicket-keeper at the club. 

After realizing Ahad’s concerns about burnout, Crusaders management decided to scout the local high schools for a wicket-keeper who could serve as understudy to Ahad.

After looking at 13 wicket-keepers, Daniel Neuhoff was the one picked as being the best prospect for a future at the Crusaders. 

Chris Kotzo, who was on the scouting committee, said about Neuhoff, “Despite only being seventeen, Daniel bats maturely and we were definitely looking for a gloveman who could bat.  Daniel keeps very well to spinners, which is especially useful considering the quality of spinners we have in our ranks”.

Until Neuhoff matriculates, he will play exclusively in weekend friendlies, along with the other 17-year old in the camp, Doug Daniel.  Both will be enrolled in the Crusaders Academy next season.

Amazing finish to weekend friendly

In what certainly became the best weekend friendly of the season for the Crusaders, another touring West Indies team, Phils Phrashers, visited the T&N Smeda Stadium in an exhilarating one-day friendly. Matt O’Shea captained the weekend XI and had no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss.

O’Shea(30) and Geoff Kenny opened with a run-a-ball stand of 52 before O’Shea was bowled by Bancroft while trying to swipe one over cover. Pete Moller joined Kenny and the pair put on 119 for the 2nd wicket before Kenny too was bowled, ending on a patient 77. Moller’s cautious 72 was just what John Simpson(57* off 49 balls) needed to increase the run rate, and he was aided by William Downing’s 43* off 31 balls. The Crusaders ended their 50 overs on 294/3, amazingly with only one six being hit the entire innings.

Phils Phrashers began their innings brilliantly with Buller making light of Hibbert and Legg’s consistent line. Unfortunately for the visitors, Buller was the only one to offer resistance as nobody except Arnold(39) at number 8 joined in any effective partnership. Stephen Harding’s leg-spinners were the trick in the middle order as he bowled consistently well to finish with 4/49 in his 10 overs. Teenager Doug Daniels bowled with very little control and was the reason why Buller was able to etch his team ever close. It was in the 48th over where the game changed for Phrashers who were completely in charge, as the number 11, Wheat, opted to take a single on the last ball of the over. This would mean having to face Hibbert in the penultimate over, and what an over it was. Five dot balls and one boundary resulted in 11 being needed off the final over to be bowled by John Simpson. Once again Buller made the mistake of taking a single shortly after reaching his 150, leaving Wheat with 3 balls to get the required 3 runs. Simpson bowled with immense control, allowing only a single to be taken in the final 3 deliveries, giving the Crusaders victory by 2 runs.

Both teams agreed that this was definitely a finish worth savoring, and the intensity of the match was unbelievable for the 2203 spectators who showed up. A memorable victory thanks to some consistent bowling by the home team.

The team was: O’Shea, Kenny, Moller, Simpson, Downing, Strou, Neuhoff(wk), Daniels, Harding, Legg, Hibbert. 12th: Prince.

 

Win completed in 2 hours as Crusaders walk away unhappy with quality of opposition

In an extremely disappointing one-day match at the T&N Smeda Stadium, the home team thrashed the visiting Douglasdale Cricket Club within 2 hours of play. Opting to bat first, the visitors posed no threat against the fast bowlers, and one should consider whether Douglasdale is a viable opposition in such a competitive league. They could only manage a total of 41, which allowed for excellent limited-overs figures for Tim Fox(4/5) and Chris Hayward(3/8). Needing only 33 balls to pull off the 10-wicket victory, Geoff Kenny(22*) and Matt O’Shea(21*) did it in style.

O’Shea had very little good to say about the match, “Just pathetic. No disrespect to the players on the other team, but they should not be allowed in this particular league where the competition is great. While we are happy with the 4 log points and some good bowling figures, very little was achieved in terms of performance improvement”.

The team was: Kenny, O’Shea(c), Jeremy, Stearman, Prince, Ferdinand, Ahad(wk), Hayward, Harding, Fox, Ayres. 12th: Downing.

 

Hayward spins Crusaders to huge victory

The Crusaders played host to Moos in a one-day league match. Moos captain won the toss and chose to field first on another spinner-friendly wicket, hence the Crusaders once again opting to go with two spinners.

The opening stand of 122 between Michael Prince(48) and Matt O’Shea(71) was a solid start for the remainder of the batsmen to cash in. Graeme Jeremy played a gem of an innings with 70 off just 56 deliveries, once again showing his aggressive intent after good starts from the openers. Steve Lothrop at number 4 scored a solid 64* off 58 balls, allowing the total to reach a challenging 268/3.

Moos batsmen tried to play positive, and this was especially evident in Malan’s 80, but too much uncertainty against the spinners proved their downfall as they were dismissed for 151 in the 38th over. Chris Hayward’s career-best of 6/27 was backed up by an economical 1/18 from Eddie Ayres and 1/15 from Graham Ferdinand. The spinner picked up the best player award as the Crusaders were seen home by 117 runs.

O’Shea said after the match, “Chris [Hayward] knows no boundaries and seems to improve with every match. It is a true pleasure to stand in the slips and not have to worry about where the next wicket is coming from because he is so effective with his off-spinners. And at just 21, I expect to see a lot more of him at this club”.

The team was: Prince, O’Shea(c), Jeremy, Lothrop, Stearman, Ferdinand, Ahad(wk), Hayward, Harding, Fox, Ayres. 12th: Downing.