After the debacle of the aborted game against IPCC, the ensuing rigmarole of the disciplinary committee and multiple changes to the fixture list, the rules of the competition, and the very meaning of life itself (or so it seems), I was beginning to think that we would never play any cricket ever again.
However, we finally got back on the field yesterday against the boys from Ibadan (IMCC). The way things are set up at the moment, it was crucial not only to win the game but also to make sure of maximum points. A brilliant start by Femi Oduyebo (3-7 in 5 overs) saw our opponents reduced to 8-4 after 6 overs, and some people started wondering how we were going to occupy ourselves for the rest of the day, but cricket is cricket and aided by some indifferent change bowling, the IMCC 5th wicket pair compiled a useful 50 partnership to ensure that a total would be posted. The introduction of spin eventually brought the breakthrough and Emmanuel Olowookere finished up with 3-25 as IMCC finally came to a halt at 118.
Losing both your openers in the first three overs is generally not the best way to set about chasing down any target, but this was the position we found ourselves in as our reply got under way. When the two Femis departed within 3 balls we were 34-4 and in danger of not getting any points, let alone the maximum 5 required. It was a situation that required some Warri-style grit and this was supplied by the old boy pairing of Roland Ilube (51*) and Amen Edebor (21), who dug in carefully before picking their shots. They took the score past 100 before Amen departed with the finishing line in sight, and it was left to another old boy, Obo Omoigui, to guide the ship home in the company of his exhausted captain.
So there is one chapter left to be written in the chase for promotion. It is in our hands.
Sunday, 3 May 2009
Monday, 30 March 2009
And they ran away...
The much anticipated start of the super league was a bit of an anticlimax for us as our opponents, the Indo-Pakistan Cricket Club, abandoned the match after only 16 overs, following a dispute with the umpires which boiled over at the first water break. I always tell people that I learn something new every time I play this game and this was definitely a new experience for me...standing at the crease waiting to bat while the opposition file out of the ground like rats leaving a sinking ship.
The last few weeks have been rather surreal with all sorts of happenings...real and imaginary... off the field, but precious little action on it. The upshot of all this is that we face an uphill task now to realise our promotion goal; only the maximum 10 points from our last two games will guarantee us top spot, so we need to focus on our cricket and put everything else out of our minds. After the season we can deal with those matters.
So on to IMCC next week, before the final showdown against the Lekki boys over Easter weekend. Strap in, it's going to be a rough ride.
The last few weeks have been rather surreal with all sorts of happenings...real and imaginary... off the field, but precious little action on it. The upshot of all this is that we face an uphill task now to realise our promotion goal; only the maximum 10 points from our last two games will guarantee us top spot, so we need to focus on our cricket and put everything else out of our minds. After the season we can deal with those matters.
So on to IMCC next week, before the final showdown against the Lekki boys over Easter weekend. Strap in, it's going to be a rough ride.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Waiting Waiting...
It's been almost a month since our last game, and still we don't know who we are up against in the Division II play-offs. The boys are restless and ready to go, a lot of words have been spoken, but now we want to get back to action on the field.
There has been almost as much activity off the field as on the park, and not all of it has been constructive in my view. Cricket in Nigeria has been around a long time, but we still have a long way to go in terms of how we run the game. Anyway, we hope that things progress, and if we can improve the organisation and structure, the cricket will improve too.
In the immortal words of Paddy.. "It is break over...." Those that know, know the rest
There has been almost as much activity off the field as on the park, and not all of it has been constructive in my view. Cricket in Nigeria has been around a long time, but we still have a long way to go in terms of how we run the game. Anyway, we hope that things progress, and if we can improve the organisation and structure, the cricket will improve too.
In the immortal words of Paddy.. "It is break over...." Those that know, know the rest
Saturday, 28 February 2009
End of Round One
The Fegocowosa Cricket Club ended the first phase of their league campaign today with a comprehensive 8-wicket victory over bottom-of-the-table Howzat Dolphins. All we can do now is wait and see who will join us in the four-team second phase which will determine who ultimately gains promotion to Division 1.
Slightly worryingly, the Delta boys were again slow out of the blocks after having been asked to bowl by their opponents. However once Tade made the first breakthrough, Femi Olayiwole (2-30) and Friday Udoh (4-19) worked their way steadily through the brittle Dolphins batting line-up. Friday in particular was in good form, carrying on from where he had left off at the recently concluded National Sports Festival. Dolphins were dismissed for a round 80 in the end and Friday then showed his all round skills, leading us home within just 8 overs with an unbeaten 27, despite the loss of two quick wickets at the other end.
So the first task is complete, pretty much according to plan apart from the hiccough against Ibeju Lekki 2, but now we get down to the business end of proceedings, and we will need to tighten up all aspects of our game in order to achieve our goal.
Slightly worryingly, the Delta boys were again slow out of the blocks after having been asked to bowl by their opponents. However once Tade made the first breakthrough, Femi Olayiwole (2-30) and Friday Udoh (4-19) worked their way steadily through the brittle Dolphins batting line-up. Friday in particular was in good form, carrying on from where he had left off at the recently concluded National Sports Festival. Dolphins were dismissed for a round 80 in the end and Friday then showed his all round skills, leading us home within just 8 overs with an unbeaten 27, despite the loss of two quick wickets at the other end.
So the first task is complete, pretty much according to plan apart from the hiccough against Ibeju Lekki 2, but now we get down to the business end of proceedings, and we will need to tighten up all aspects of our game in order to achieve our goal.
Sunday, 15 February 2009
Spinners put the train back on track
After the debacle in the last match, it was important for the boys to bounce back in today's game against the youthful Unilag team. Skipper won the toss and urged the boys to make full use of the 40 overs available, but it was a case of "do as I say not as I do" as he found himself back in the pavilion in just the 3rd over. With three wickets down in the first ten overs, it seemed like the guys were still suffering with a hangover from the last match, but Femi Oduyebo reeled off his third score of 60+ in succession, ably supported by the lower-middle order, and a 24-run flurry from Erabor - making his debut for the season- took us to a commanding total of 267-8.
It seemed like the bowlers expected the Unilag boys to roll over and die, as they bowled without consistency and purpose in the first 15 overs, enabling the students to put together a 90-run opening stand. Femi Olayiwole finally made the breakthrough with a sharp caught & bowled, and then it was over to the spinners. Emmanuel worked his way steadily through the Unilag batting card, finishing with a tremendous return of 6-30, while Roland squeezed them from the other end. It was left to CY Djebah to bring things to a close, his first and only delivery causing panic amongst the last pair, resulting in a sharp run-out to give us a 128-run victory
It seemed like the bowlers expected the Unilag boys to roll over and die, as they bowled without consistency and purpose in the first 15 overs, enabling the students to put together a 90-run opening stand. Femi Olayiwole finally made the breakthrough with a sharp caught & bowled, and then it was over to the spinners. Emmanuel worked his way steadily through the Unilag batting card, finishing with a tremendous return of 6-30, while Roland squeezed them from the other end. It was left to CY Djebah to bring things to a close, his first and only delivery causing panic amongst the last pair, resulting in a sharp run-out to give us a 128-run victory
Saturday, 31 January 2009
The wheels come off
Until today, everything had been going according to plan for the Fegocowosa team. Today at Unilag, the wheels came off in spectacular fashion. A combination of bad organisation, indisciplined bowling and reckless batting saw us collapse to a 30 run defeat against our main rivals, Ibeju-Lekki 2.
It is never a good idea to start a game with 8 players, and an even worse idea to finish it with just 10, but a mixture of poor communication, environmental sanitation and external forces meant that this was how approached what was by far our most important game of the season.
Ibeju's total of 156-9 was thanks in no small part to the generosity of our bowlers, who donated 43 wides to the Ibeju cause, and only Femi Oduyebo could hold his head up high after a pitiful batting performance which saw us dismissed for 126.
Our future is still in our hands, as we will get an opportunity to redeem ourselves in the return fixture, but we will have to learn from this defeat if we are to seize that lifeline.
It is never a good idea to start a game with 8 players, and an even worse idea to finish it with just 10, but a mixture of poor communication, environmental sanitation and external forces meant that this was how approached what was by far our most important game of the season.
Ibeju's total of 156-9 was thanks in no small part to the generosity of our bowlers, who donated 43 wides to the Ibeju cause, and only Femi Oduyebo could hold his head up high after a pitiful batting performance which saw us dismissed for 126.
Our future is still in our hands, as we will get an opportunity to redeem ourselves in the return fixture, but we will have to learn from this defeat if we are to seize that lifeline.
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
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