Harlequins Cricket Match Report

Munster Division 3

UCC 2 beat Harlequins 3 by 1 wicket

Played at The Farm, Saturday 26th June 2004

As ever, games in division 3 of the Munster league, don't attract spectators - which in this instance, was a shame, 'cos it was a cracker of a game, played down to the wire...and played in the best of spirits as well.

The gale that blew throughout the match made bowling easy, and batting difficult. Such was the strength of the wind that the batsmen couldn't even hear each other call. In any case, UCC won the toss and put Harlequins into bat. The Quins innings was pretty much a disaster from start to finish. Only three players got into double figures and only one of them, the stand in captain for the day, Niall Grainger, made a worthwhile total - 34. Jim Burfield and Emmet Long chipped in with 11 and 13 runs respectively. Quins were 82 all out inside 25 overs and an embarrassing defeat looked likely.

Queue a bowling comeback. An excellent (as ever) UCC tea, was followed by Jim Burfield and Jason Frankham opening the Quins bowling. UCC decided that the Quins total was sufficiently low to merit them reversing their batting order. Jason and Jim, both moving the ball in the wind, took three wickets-a-piece inside the first six overs to leave UCC reeling on 24 for 6. As UCC only has 10 players this was effectively 24 of 7...Game on!

Emmet Long, and his younger brother Diarmuid, both picked up a wicket each - the latter with the aid of an excellent catch in the deep from Jim Burfield - the only Quis catch of the match. UCC were 74 for 8...One wicket left, 9 runs needed. A huge foul up between the batsmen gave Emmet Long an easy run out chance - his decision to take a throw (and miss), rather than to run over to the stumps and take the bails off, ended up being the difference between winning and loosing.

No complaints though... everyone enjoyed this game, and Quins did themselves proud. UCC were worried men and mightily relieved when the winning run came from a no ball.