The IBP Cricket Trophy remains in the collective embrace of the PRs, following an 18-run victory over a strong journalists team in a high scoring game at Thames Ditton Cricket Club on 5 June 2008.
The PR’s were victorious and the Alan Hughes memorial trophy for ‘man of the match’ went to Nick Gill on the PRs side who played the game in a great spirit and encouraged everyone throughout.
The match, generously sponsored by stone specialists Szerelmey, was the tenth anniversary of this annual tussle and the omens were good for the journalists as their captain David Rogers won the toss and inserted the PRs. The hot sun seemed to becalm the PRs openers for a while as they got off to a slowish start.
However, with Mike Dixon (30) in slug hitting mode, ably backed up by John Howland of sponsors Szerelmey (30), the PRs accelerated their way to a towering 202 off their allotted 30 overs, one of the highest ever totals in these matches.
Nick Gill cracked an assured 32 and PRs captain Andy Walker weighed in with 33 to help build the total. Andy Cassie, a veteran of these clashes, weighed in with 17 while debutant Ian Mills (19) kept the score ticking along.
Chasing a high target, the journalists started well, taking advantage of a weaker than usual PR bowling attack. Solid knocks from Chris Hart (32), Russ Lynch (21) and a powerful display by journo veteran Ben Roskrow (37) kept the scribes up with the required rate as Walker tried to shuffle the pack, bowling eight of his team, to keep the opposition guessing.
Andy Geldard behind the stumps played very well indeed, taking a stumping and administering a couple of run outs as the journalists tried to chase down the PRs total. Nick Jones (11), David Rogers (Building) (17) and especially Chris Windle with a strident 31 kept the journalists in the hunt. Taking wickets at the right time enabled the PRs to stop the batsmen running riot and with three overs to go the journalists needed around 12 an over. In the end that was a target too far and the journalists were bowled out for 184, 18 runs short of their target.
As ever, the day was lovely – sunny all day and everyone had a great time. It was good to see a number of debutants on both sides, including two players from Building on the journalists’ team.
The Alan Hughes memorial trophy for ‘man of the match’ went to Nick Gill on the PRs side who played the game in a great spirit and encouraged everyone throughout.
Thanks go to David Helsen and all at Thames Ditton Cricket Club for hosting the game and to the Umpires and scorers for their tremendous input. Speaking of tremendous input, grateful thanks to our sponsor Szerelmey for their generous and enthusiastic support.
Here’s hoping that next year, an Ashes season, will inspire journalist and PR cricketers to even greater heights with bat and ball as they do battle once more for the 11th playing of the IBP Cricket Trophy.
Andy Geldard behind the stumps played very well indeed, taking a stumping and administering a couple of run outs as the journalists tried to chase down the PRs total. Nick Jones (11), David Rogers (Building) (17) and especially Chris Windle with a strident 31 kept the journalists in the hunt. Taking wickets at the right time enabled the PRs to stop the batsmen running riot and with three overs to go the journalists needed around 12 an over. In the end that was a target too far and the journalists were bowled out for 184, 18 runs short of their target.