Lack of runs grounds Service stars at Lord’s
NEW STAR
OPENER Tpr Russell Emmanuel (LD) has been a huge success in his first year of Army cricket. The left-hander underlined his potential with scores of 41 against the Royal Air Force and 31 against the Royal Navy at Lord’s
IN THE WICKETS
AFTER posting 135-6 in a cautious opening innings, the Army bowlers set about making inroads into the RAF batting line-up. The light blues struggled under the pressure of a run chase and crumbled to 80 all out in reply
FINE SUPPORT
ALL-rounder Capt Steve Booth (RA) proved to be a reliable back-up to the Army’s opening attack. The officer took two wickets against the RAF and then added a Navy scalp to his haul in a disciplined bowling performance
MIXED FORTUNES
INCONSISTENT batting contributed to the Army’s downfall at Lord’s. After successfully defending 135-6 against the RAF, the Service stars stuttered to a lowly 116 all out in their match with the Navy
WINNING START
THE Army looked set for a day to remember at Lord’s after completing a comprehensive victory over the RAF. But the team lost its way in the final and the Navy celebrated a famous win at the home of cricket
T20 SCOREBOARD
Inter-Services Twenty20
Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
July 27, 2010
ARMY vs RAF
Army 135-6 (Emmanuel 41, Senneck 31no, Dixon 29)
RAF 80 (Hudson 3-19, Dixon 2-4, Booth 2-22)
Army won by 55 runs
RAF vs NAVY
RAF 141-7
Navy 144-9
Navy won by one wicket
ARMY vs NAVY
Army 116 (Emmanuel 31, Hudson 17no, Houghton 16)
Navy 117-6 (Hudson 2-19, Wade 1-12, Senneck 1-16)
Navy won by four wickets |
Report: Richard Long
Pictures: Steve Dock
A BELOW-par batting performance from the Army’s big hitters shattered hopes of victory in this year’s Inter-Services Twenty20 cricket final at Lord’s.
After posting a meagre total of 116 all out the impetus was firmly handed to the Royal Navy who, after a flurry of early wickets, recorded a fine win at the world famous venue.
With both teams easily beating the Royal Air Force in the day’s earlier matches, the onus was on the Army to post a commanding score and pile pressure on their Senior Service rivals ahead of the run chase.
But opening batsman SSgt Ian Dixon (30 Sig Regt) was dismissed for four and when Sgt Dan Webb (Defence School of Intelligence) – who scored 60 from 40 deliveries in last year’s Lord’s clash – was run out for just a single, the Army found themselves on the back foot.
LBdr Murray Heyns (RA) and Rfn Michael Lewis (2 Rifles) both departed for six, meaning hopes of a big score were left on the shoulders of Tpr Russell Emmanuel (LD).
The hard-hitting left-hander smashed two booming sixes and three fours before he was caught in the deep off spinner WE (SM) Matthew Thompson (HMS Raleigh) for a brisk 31.
Skipper Maj Alex Senneck and Sgt Stu Houghton (both R Signals) tried to repair the damage with some middle-order resilience but the wickets kept tumbling as the Army fell well short of a competitive total.
The Navy made a nervous start in response as pace bowlers Senneck and LCpl David Wade (R Signals) claimed a wicket each from miserly four-over opening spells.
Capt Steve Booth (RA), who finished with figures of 1-22, and spinner Lt James Hudson (RSA Larkhill), with 2-19, continued to exert pressure and at the end of the 16th over the run chase was stuttering at 74-5.
With time running out, the Navy’s middle-order cut loose and Dixon’s two-over burst leaked 30 runs as the momentum quickly shifted.
Some big hits from Cpl Alvin Pollard (Cdo Logs RM) left three runs needed from the final over, a target that was easily reached.
After winning the toss and batting first against the RAF, the Army posted 135-6 from their 20 overs.
Emmanuel, in his first season of representative cricket, led the charge thanks to a rapid 41 from 34 deliveries, while Dixon smashed five fours on his way to a knock of 29.
Senneck ensured the innings ended with a flourish courtesy of an unbeaten 31.
The RAF rarely threatened in response and economical bowling from Hudson (3-19), Booth (2-22) and Dixon (2-4) saw them crumble to 80 all out.
Lord’s was hosting the Twenty20 competition for the first time having previously staged the Centenary Cup match between the Army and Navy.
However, plans are now in place for the tournament to become a regular fixture on the cricketing calendar.
Speaking afterwards Senneck (pictured left) told SoldierSport his side were honoured to have the opportunity of playing at the ground but said results ultimately put a dampener on the day.
He said: “It was disappointing. It was a great event and we had two close matches but we came up short.
“There was great excitement and a sense of privilege within the camp. The Marylebone Cricket Club gave the event its full support, so to miss out on a victory is a real blow.
“We did not score enough runs against the Navy first up and, as well as we bowled, we just didn’t have the score we needed.”
Army manager Lt Col Phil King (RLC) echoed Senneck’s comments and said the team is now determined to bounce back from the defeat and win in style next year.
“Overall we are very disappointed,” he added. “The aim of the season is to win the Inter-Services, which we have failed to do.
“When it came down to it our batting unit did not produce enough runs and that was a surprise really.
“In the lead-up matches they had been posting some massive totals against much stronger teams.
“But when it came down to the pressure of the Inter-Services competition they did not produce.
“Maybe they need to review the way they play certain types of bowling.
“We are now facing lots of spin. We need to improve and learn how to score off good deliveries.
“However, the standard of bowling and fielding was superb throughout.
“We had no right to, but we took the Navy to within three balls of winning the game.”
Army eye winning return
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