Wake me up before you go-go...After going to bed when it was starting to go light it seems a miracle that we were able to locate, walk to and catch the ferry from Tallinn-Helsinki at 7am.
The majority of the group caught up on some valuable sleep while others cured their hangovers with fresh sea air.
The skipper picked the two teams for the plate and the main trophy competition and little did we know as we arrived at the SKK cricket ground the drama ahead of us.
Tour match 2: Helsinki Sixes Plate Competition.
Six-a-side five-over matches. Kaisaniemi Ground, Helsinki
Match 1 Carmel B v Finland VI B
Carmel B team captain Andy Abraham won the toss and elected to field but series of rusty bowling performances meant 40 extras were conceded as the Finns reached a total of 53 all out.
Although a good run out by wicketkeeper Roddy Brooks following a fine throw from
Tom Horne was one of the positives of the fielding.
Andy Pierce played some cultured strokes from while Gaz Roberts also batted sensibly to give Carmel a comfortable victory
Match 2 Carmel B v Phoenix CC
Carmel lost the toss and again fielded first against an experimental team which contained some Finland internationals, except they were women, in a side of four females and two men.
Phoenix hit a meagre 33 runs and were all out in the 4th over as two run outs including superb direct hit from Tim Hill put Carmel in a position to keep their 100 per cent win record.
Carmel B coasted to an easy win off seven balls, including a no ball 6 (10 runs) off the first ball and a no ball 4 (8) in the same over as skipper junior Abraham hogged all of the strike and the runs leaving Brooks at the other end without facing a ball!
Match 3 (Plate Final) Estonia B v Carmel B
The final group game of the round robin tournament was also designated as the final and skipper junior again won the toss and elected to field.
This game was to proving to be a much tougher affair as the two Estonia B openers amassed 71 without loss with only Junior Abraham not bowling any extras, as his over went for only five runs.
There was one moment of controversy though as one opening batsman was clean bowled by Horne but was then no-balled by the umpire after batsman had starting walking.
Carmel heads dropped after the decision and a bit of slack fielding gave the opposition a few more than they deserved.
Roberts and Pierce opened the batting but struggled to really get into the massive 14.4 required per over. Pierce was bowled for 12 and big-hitting Horne came to the crease.
Roberts and Horne enjoyed a partnership of 20 before Horne was bowled to bring Junior Abraham to the wicket needing to up the run rate but he could only muster a single before being caught on the boundary attempting to hit a maximum.
Roberts was keeping things ticking over at the other end, as was the (not infrequent) wide bowling but it was ever understated Hill who became a instant hero after he set about the Estonian bowling like a man possessed.
Hill hit several fours and a big six to take Carmel B to within 27 runs of victory with one over remaining. The watching players were not confident and disappointment was more evident than belief that Hill and Roberts could do it.
THAT last over….
Ball 1 - A four from Hill brought the crowd renewed belief 23 off 5 - 5 fours and a six would see us home….
Ball 2 - a massive six from Hill, which was also over head height and called a no ball - 13 now required off 4 balls and the Carmel boys are at fever pitch.
Ball 3 - A wide – 9 runs off 3 balls means it’s more than do-able but things are still very tense with every ball counting.
Ball 4 - A cover drive beats the fielder and Hill puts it down to 5 off 2. The team wait expectedly with the skipper, inevitably, pacing nervously...
Ball 5 - A single puts Roberts on strike - 4 off 1 ball means the boundary needed to be found for victory.
Ball 6 - With four runs required Roberts looked determined to smash it out the ground, until, that is, the ball pitches at the very edge of the matting!
The umpire raises his arms aloft to signal a wide, cue pandemonium as Roberts calmly holds his stance for the best leave of the tournament...
The Carmel B boys win the plate!!!
Tour match 2: Helsinki Sixes Main Trophy Competition.
Six-a-side five-over matches. Ruskeasuo Ground, Helsinki
Group match 1 Carmel A v Estonia A
Carmel A got off to a poor start in the group stage by succumbing easily to an Estonia A side who had been training at sixes cricket all week. Going into the match without any prior experience of this format of the game meant it was difficult to know what was a good total batting wise.Matches consisted of each side batting for five overs with bowlers limited to one over and a strict four-run penalty for wides. The skipper had to quickly learn how to set fields and we all had to work out just how the hessian matting on the shale outfield would play.
Carmel failed to set a high enough total (68) but the skipper’s rustiness with the ball in particular cost his side greatly as the rule of four runs for a wide which had to re-bowled saw 36 go off one over. A severe case of the yips.
Carmel A lose by five wickets (Scorecard)
Group match 2 Carmel A v Helsinki Old Boys
A balanced batting order and some lose bowling saw Carmel A bounce back in style to smash the veterans for a tournament highest 117 runs from their five overs, with Philip’s 30 not out assisted by 55 extras.The total was far to high for the Old Boys and early tight bowling meant the victory was never in doubt. Rob Barnett snaffled 2/14 and an attacking field of four slips was even employed in the final over!!
Carmel A won by 70 runs (Scorecard)
Group match 3 Carmel A v Stadin Kriketti Kerho (SKK)
It was now win or bust for the Carmel boys and a brilliant innings of 47 not out from Matt Somerford, supported by Philip (17) meant Carmel had a solid 72 to defend against the host club from Helsinki.Tight bowling from Tim Abraham (0/8) and Justin Peacock (0/9) put the pressure on the SKK openers to begin playing some shots. But Philip caught the wides disease to go for an expensive 0/32. Leg-spinner Barnett stepped up at the crucial time and heroics from wicketkeeper Harry Reekie, who took a difficult high catch off Barnett, as well as claiming a run out, put Carmel in with a shout.
SKK needed 12 off the final over but some superb line and length bowling from Somerford and commitment in the field saw Carmel only give away eight runs and book their place in the last four of the competition
Carmel A won by four runs (Scorecard)
Semi-final match Carmel A v Helsinki Cricket Club
The tournament favourites awaited in the last four of the tournament and seeing several of their players wearing their Finland national team jumpers certainly brought home the extra level we knew would have to raise our games to.After losing the toss Carmel were again inserted and in the first over a small target looked likely as opener Philip went for a duck and only eight runs were scored. Somerford again cut lose and began to attack the Helsinki bowling along with fellow Australian Peacock.
Somerford’s knock of 47 not out, including several huge sixes, and Peacock’s 21, along with 15 extras, helped Carmel to reach a very competitive total of 83 but there was still lot of work to do against a capable batting side – one bad over and we knew they had the talent to cash in.
The tourists were urged on by the neutrals who were keen to see the underdogs upset the favourites and a group huddle before the Helsinki innings showed the team spirit and belief in the gold-capped Carmel boys.
The skipper’s words in the huddle seemed to do the trick as a pumped Carmel team bowled and fielded like a team possessed.
Abraham’s opening over went for 17 but crucially no extras and Carmel were well in the game. Peacock then bowled a magnificent over to remove the openers for only three runs and leave the Helsinki batting hanging by a thread.
Philip bowled a couple of lose deliveries first up but found his line to pick up two more wickets for 14 runs including a catch at deep square-leg by Barnett and a fine stumping by Reekie.
The crowd were rocking and the Carmel boys smelt victory. Barnett tossed up a flighted delivery with his first ball and the Helsinki batsman’s eyes lit up but he miss-hit the shot high over the bowler’s head. Barnett turned and gave chase before taking a remarkable caught and bowled.Cue celebrations from those on the field and the watching Carmel B team players - Carmel had crushed the best team in the tournament and made the final where they would meet, their old friends Estonia.
Carmel A won by 49 runs (Scorecard)
Helsinki Sixes main competition final
Carmel A v Estonia A
The euphoria of the emphatic semi-final victory over what effectively amounted to the Finland national six-a-side team meant it was going to be tough to repeat the performance against our bogey team, Estonia.Skipper Senior Abraham again lost the toss and Carmel, as with every other match, batted first.
The Estonia A side lined up for pre-final photos but B team skipper Junior Abraham warned against the same for Carmel’s A boys. “They are having their photos now, do they think they have won it already? Victory photos while they have their whites clean and their hair in order….Wait until afterwards boys, you have your photos done then.” he said.
Philip wanted to be dropped down the order after making a duck in the semi-final but the captain turned down his request. The skipper’s faith was repaid, with interest, as Philip and Somerford took the game to the Estonians in the first two overs.
The Estonia bowlers felt the pressure and wides were bowled as the first two overs which went for a total of 53 runs. The third over was not as profitable as Philip was bowled for fine knock of 27. Peacock was given out lbw in the fourth over as Carmel struggled to capitalise on their early advantage.
Somerford fell in the final over for a modest 19 (by his standards) leaving the skipper and Barnett to scramble a few remaining runs off the remaining balls. Carmel finished on a defendable 91 with extras proving costly for the Estonians to total 38.Bowling as fewer wides as possible was the instruction from skipper Senior Abraham in the huddle who realised extras would be crucial in the final.
The skipper saw his bowling smashed for 33 runs but without any wides and Peacock (0/17) fared little better as the Estonian opening pair bullied the Carmel bowlers to get off to a fine start. 50 off two overs and they had victory in their sights.
The Estonians had struggled against the spin of Philip and Barnett in the earlier game and the previous day so everyone knew the next two overs would be the defining moment of the final. If the spin twins could remove the opening batsman cheaply Carmel knew they could contain the lesser threat of the remaining batsman. If they couldn’t the trophy would be Estonia’s for certain
A wide from Philip first up immediately put the pressure on and Estonia were looking confident. The Estonian captain then miss-hit a straight drive to Philip on the second ball for a caught and bowled and Carmel were back in it. Another flighted delivery from left-arm spinner Philip tempted the new batsman on the third ball of the over and he skied the ball high into the air. You could hear as the crowd hold their collective breath to see whether wicketkeeper Reekie would claim the catch.
The ball seemed to be in the air forever but Reekie held his nerve to take the catch. Get in! The next Estonian batsman took no chances and Philip finished the over with three dot balls to finish with 2/5.With two overs remaining and the atmosphere reaching fever pitch Estonia still had a gettable 36 and they still had their star opening batsman at the crease, although he had called for a runner after pulling a hamstring.
Barnett stepped up to bowl the fourth over and his nerves showed as he bowled two wides. He regained his composure and a further five runs were added in five balls. The Estonia opener realised 13 off the over might not be enough and danced down the track to Barnett’s final delivery looking for a maximum. He missed and Reekie made no mistake to take the bails off and Carmel celebrated the stumping of Estonia’s key man.
The last over was left to expert death-bowler Somerford with 23 runs required. The man from Perth kept his cool and Estonia’s less-powerful batsman were unable to find the boundary. Somerford went for just nine runs to leave Estonia 14 runs short of victory.
Carmel A win Helsinki Sixes Trophy Final by 14 runs (Scorecard)
Double winners!!
Carmel were magnanimous in victory, shaking the hands of all the Estonian players before celebrating the fact that they were the first touring team in the 12-year history of the Helsinki Sixes to win the competition with a well earned beer!!
Medals and trophies were dished out to the Gold Caps A and B teams in the presentation ceremony by the coach of the Finland national cricket team Andy Armitage with individual awards for the top performers.
Carmel thanked their hosts and headed with their beaten finalists to the Australian bar in Helsinki for the post-match beers, banter, and impressions from Hill before boarding the ferry back to Tallinn.
Junior Abraham rubbed salt in the wound and made it a treble by winning the poker competition with some of the Estonian players while the rest of the team talked, slept and basked in the glory of one of the greatest day’s cricket we were ever likely to play in. It was only day two of the tour, how the hell were we going to top this???!!
It’s already light… Tired, weary and with little energy after two testing days of cricket and little sleep the boys had little option but to head out to celebrate (minus Barnett, who said he was just too tired!!).
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