It would be the hosts who would come out on top over the course of the weekend, closing out their own campaign in style with a pair of emphatic 6 and 7-wicket victories respectively.
After Saturday’s toss was decided via boat race in which the Penguins were comprehensively swept aside, hardened veteran Anthony Van Blerk bravely shook off any lingering personal demons to take up the reigns of captaincy in the 25-over clash.
Entrusting Sajal Gaur with making early in-roads with the new ball, Van Blerk’s faith was rewarded early as the fresh-faced youngster ripped through the defenses of Tommy Gay (2) in the 3rd over. Fellow opener Patrick Eastwood (15) looked well-set before he was rather unfortunately trapped LBW as Michael Flowers picked up his first scalp of the weekend to leave the score reading 32/2 after 8 overs.
After copping several body-blows earlier in his innings, Ric Corbett (36*) gratefully dined out on some filth before bringing up his retirement with a monstrous six down the ground in the 11th over. Christian Stobbs (38*) and Al Buset (10) combined for a solid 28-run stand before Livermore removed the latter post drinks break, Flowers providing the safe pair of hands at long-on.
David Wilson (16) will have been disappointed with the manner of his dismissal in the 20th before Jagsir Brar struck twice in the 23rd as the Penguins threatened to clean up the tourists within the allotted overs. Rufus Ruthie (9*) and Tim Underwood (6*) put together a handy 14-run partnership at the backend however as the pair capitalized on the host’s lofty average age in the field to bolster their teams score to a competitive 154/8 at the innings’ close.
With recent chases proving tricky on the new ACG wicket, The Penguins will have hoped for a steady start as they looked to go 1-0 up in the series. Sami Pir (36*) provided anything but, however, as the tiger lit up the ACG in a truly astonishing innings that included four fours as well as a pair of meaty sixes to get his side off to a roaring start. Wetherell (15) provided a handy cameo before Eastwood removed the opener with the help of a sharp Corbett grab in the covers as the scoreboard rollicked along at 58-1 after a mere 6 overs.
After the early fireworks, a sense of calm was restored as Michael Rhys Thomas (11) and namesake Flowers (35*) combined for a somewhat sedate 25-run stand, much to the disdain of a concentrated boisterous section of the crowd before the former was controversy stumped by Stobbs on the stroke of drinks.
A quick-fire 15 from skipper Van Blerk following the 15 over drinks break settled any nerves before Sunny Bowry (13) and Flowers edged their side ever closer to with a 23-run partnership before Brar (4*) finished off the job with a boundary in his first delivery faced, the host’s claiming a comfortable 6-wicket victory with an over to spare.
Year-long teetotaler Flowers made use of his re-found youth in picking up a well deserved MOTM award for his stingy 1-13 from 5 overs as well as a vital 35 runs with bat. Pir’s power-hitting display also proved instrumental in setting the tone for a successful run chase.
Corbetts knock of 36* from 32 and Eastwoods figures of 1-16 from 5 were the stand-out performances in defeat.
RAMPANT KNOCK
An early start beckoned the following morning for both sides as the hosts looked to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead whilst the tourists looked to end their visit on a high in leveling the series.
Returning skipper Brar quickly quickly quashed any disappointment of losing the toss as he rose early to remove Adrian Ashman (0) in just the second ball of the innings. His opening partner Gaur struggled to find his radar before Wetherell produced a stunning one-handed catch at gully to remove Eastwood (0) to leave the visitors reeling at 13/2 after 2 overs.
With both openers back in the hut without troubling the scorers, Corbett (30*) looked to get his side back on track early in his innings only to sky one in the direction of Gaur at mid-off. Fortunately, the BHC man had picked his fielders well as Gaur fluffed his lines only for teammate Anoop Kotwale to shell the rebound much to the bemusement of players and crowd alike. Wasting little time in punishing the comedy of errors, Corbett swiftly brought up his retirement of just 20 balls faced.
Al Buset (25) and Stevie ‘Stu’ Stevenson (4) continued to take the early initiative away from the hosts with a 30-run stand before the Livermore and Craig Morgan combined to remove the former in the 12th before Kotwale found his redemption in the 15th, cleaning up Stevenson with the score now 88/4.
Wickets continued to fall with regularity as Livermore tempted Ruthie (1) the following over with batsman well on his way back to the club house by the time Morgan removed the bails. David Wilson (26) provided some much needed resistance for his side before becoming Morgan’s third stumping of the day in the death over, Flowers adding another scalp to his name. The Penguins would close out the innings well as they restricted the hosts to 116/8 from the allotted 20 overs.
Chasing slightly less than a run-ball for victory, Penguins returnee Rishi Sadarangani (31*) wasted no time in showing everyone what they had been missing.
In a rampant knock which rivaled Pir’s previous days exploits, the Penguins’ opener struck three trademark sixes well over the long-on fence en route to a 17-ball retirement, much to his teammates delight. The less said about Seemant Raju’s (1) innings the better, whilst Wetherell (32*) somewhat flew under the radar before he too brought up his retirement just prior to the half-way stage.
Following the drinks break and requiring just 47 runs from the final 10 overs, Morgan (33) picked his moment to strike in the 12th unleashing a barrage of boundaries as he became the third Penguin to retire. Eastwood ensured his side went down fighting with a pair of late wickets but the damage had already been done as the hosts reached the 117-run target with more than 5 overs to spare, thus clinching both the match and series in the process.
Sadarangani was the grateful recipient of the oppositions MOTM award for his explosive innings with Morgan a close second for his 33 from 14 as well as claiming three stumpings.
Flowers’ 3-20 and Livermore’s 2-11 with ball proved pivotal in restricting the opposition to a sub-par score whilst opposing players Corbett and Eastwood showed their class once more in defeat with efforts of 30 from 20 balls faced and 2-12 from 4 overs respectively.
A special mention to Van Blerk and Raju who remained rock solid in their efforts throughout the course of the weekend both on and off the field whilst Buttercup Bowry ensured lengthy fine sessions were enjoyed by all.
The Patong Penguins and the ACG team would like to extend their gratitude to the British High Commission for creating a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and are already looking forward to next year’s shenanigans.