Why, oh why, oh why did three games in three days sound like a good idea?? Getting the lads up after the previous day’s (and night’s) exploits was not an easy task – especially attempting to raise our Australian superstar batsman.
Somehow we managed to arrive almost on time at the Hippodrome for a 30-over match against the full Estonian national team. We’d beaten them, had nothing to prove, now where’s my bed……
Tour match 3: Estonia National Team v Carmel & District Cricket Club. 30-over match. Hippodrome ground, Tallinn (Estonia won toss)
With our Australian duo sleeping off hangovers it was left to the remainder of the team to get us a competitive total, but the early prospects did not look good.Rob Barnett (6), despite having the most sleep (sorry Rob) fell early and was quickly followed by fellow opener Andy Pierce (5). Harry Reekie, promoted up the order to three after five dnb’s on Saturday, struggled against the express pace of the Estonian opening bowler and was out for just two runs.
The youngest player on the tour, Gareth Roberts, stemmed the flow of wickets to play a mature innings which belied his years to make an important 38 before getting caught attempting a big shot. Sam Philip (16), Justin Peacock (10) took the score to over a hundred.The Abraham brothers, Tim (16 not out) and Andy (7) ran everything on offer in the final few overs to see Carmel finish on 148 for eight wickets from their 30 overs.
After a delicious lunch a pumped up skipper atoned for his average bowling the previous day to test the Estonian openers with a series of deliveries which beat the bat at pace. A completely different bowler off a full run-up the Estonian skipper noted.
Tom Horne also tied down the other end and picked up one of the openers as Estonia crept along to 30 off the first 10 overs.
The Estonian batsman managed to get the measure of spinners Rob Barnett and Sam Philip and began to up the run rate. Three run-outs in 10 overs kept Carmel in with a shout but a strong Estonian middle order took advantage of a tired field and even more knackered bowling attack to reach the target with two overs remaining and four wickets in hand.Comprehensively beaten by a strong Estonia team, keen on revenge from Saturday no doubt!!
Carmel lose by four wickets (Scorecard)
The living daylights….What time is it?
Our last proper night in Tallinn and time to celebrate a fantastic weekend of cricket, and welcome the two-day break until our next game in St Petersburg,
A mountain of food was devoured at the Peppersack restaurant, where Estonia skipper Jason Barry got a round of vodkas (served at –30) and presented us with some parting gifts, before we headed out to celebrate.
Junior Abraham and Somerford showed us how to dance properly, a diminutive Alice Cooper seemed impressed anyway at a club called Amigos before more beers at Nimeta bar.
The ale kept flowing until gone 6am, Gaz Roberts got familiar with a girl from Norway while some headed to place where they had poles, some sort of football goal shop I presume while others headed to bed. Junior Abraham continued his political ramblings long into the night while Roddy Brooks got easily distracted….By 7.30am and with the Monday morning Tallinn commuters heading into to work pretty much the entire party was in bed…I think...
No comments:
Post a Comment