A week after securing promotion to Division 1, the FGCW boys put the icing on the cake by emerging victorious in the end-of-season 6-a-sxide competition. Femi Olayiwole led the squad to victories over Lagos Indians, a strong Ibeju-Lekki team, and GCI II before clinching the final against Lagos Indians II.
It was almost a clean sweep of honours for the old boys, with Obo Omoigui named man of the the final, Amen Edebor as Keeper of the series, Friday Udoh as Fielder of the series and A-Roy bowler of the series and cricketer of the series. This performance may have made one or two of the other division 1 teams take note of our impending arrival. We do not inted to make up the numbers.
The Old Students meeting the next day in Uyi Akpata's house was a fitting venue for us to showcase our achivements, and added to a very enjoyable occasion
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Sunday, 24 May 2009
No vacancy
It all came down to the last game. We had to beat our promotion rivals, Ibeju Lekki 2, by a convincing margin in order to secure the division II championship and a spot in next season's 1st division.
The TBS oval was in top condition, the FGCW players gathered from far and wide. We won the toss and decided to bat. The first half of the innings was watchful, bordering on pedestrian, punctuated by the fall of two wickets. Amen Edebor joined Roland Ilube with the score just past 60, and the pair carried on from where they had left off in the last match, pushing things along to the 90 run mark. Then it was time to put the pedal to the metal as the skipper decided he was tired of running and so would hit some boundaries. The next ten overs produced nearly a hundred runs as the pair tucked into the ILCC2 attack. Roland finally departed for 88, but if our opponents thought their problems were over, they were to be disappointed. Obo Omoigui proceeded to despatch the ball with clinical precision, compiling a brutal 65* as we took our total to 279-5 off our 50 overs.
Faced with the run mountain that we had constructed, Ibeju's batsmen never really got into their stride, and Friday Udoh (4-24) swung the new ball well to effectively decide the game in the first 10 overs of their reply. Femi Oduyebo took two at the other end and it was left to Michael Agbiboa - The Delta Express - to wrap things up with the last 3 wickets. All out for 66 and victory by 213, yes I said 213 runs.
A few weeks ago the sponsor of the Ibeju team had told me that there was no vacancy for promotion to division 1 this season. He was right, this championship was always going to be ours from the start of the season.
The TBS oval was in top condition, the FGCW players gathered from far and wide. We won the toss and decided to bat. The first half of the innings was watchful, bordering on pedestrian, punctuated by the fall of two wickets. Amen Edebor joined Roland Ilube with the score just past 60, and the pair carried on from where they had left off in the last match, pushing things along to the 90 run mark. Then it was time to put the pedal to the metal as the skipper decided he was tired of running and so would hit some boundaries. The next ten overs produced nearly a hundred runs as the pair tucked into the ILCC2 attack. Roland finally departed for 88, but if our opponents thought their problems were over, they were to be disappointed. Obo Omoigui proceeded to despatch the ball with clinical precision, compiling a brutal 65* as we took our total to 279-5 off our 50 overs.
Faced with the run mountain that we had constructed, Ibeju's batsmen never really got into their stride, and Friday Udoh (4-24) swung the new ball well to effectively decide the game in the first 10 overs of their reply. Femi Oduyebo took two at the other end and it was left to Michael Agbiboa - The Delta Express - to wrap things up with the last 3 wickets. All out for 66 and victory by 213, yes I said 213 runs.
A few weeks ago the sponsor of the Ibeju team had told me that there was no vacancy for promotion to division 1 this season. He was right, this championship was always going to be ours from the start of the season.
Sunday, 3 May 2009
Finally...some cricket
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.
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.
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
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