Match Report

Ken Jagger's XI 134-5 (28 overs), Corinthians 134 (27 overs)

Played at Paddock C.C., West Yorkshire, on Saturday 22 June 2002 (Ref. 200212)

Following their second tie in consecutive years, all members of Almondbury Casuals and Wealdstone Corinthians are to be investigated by the ICC Anti Corruption Unit in a bid to discover whether any profiteering has taken place. Those persons possessing a supply of leather jackets, those with Asian connections or the ability to afford foreign tours will be subject to particular scrutiny, but those who clearly can't afford a decent motor vehicle will be exempt (even if their failure with the bat led to this latest tie).

Ken Jagger's XI were invited to bat in this 28 overs morning contest, and made the most disastrous possible start when in-form Ward was deceived by Geoff Morley, who held an easy return catch. John Wakeling had the other opener caught behind with his penultimate ball, before donning the gloves for the rest of the innings. Chris Clark took his 100th career wicket by emulating Morley's feat, a wicket first ball that saw Taaffe held by Manek at mid wicket, before Brown and Manek bowled 8 useful overs to contain Pearson and Mullany in their stand worth 65 in 14 overs. Both were bowled by Steve Stratford, who became the third bowler to take a wicket in his first over, but the home side strengthened their position by hitting 24 in the last two overs.

For once Corinthians paced their reply well, keeping up with the required rate of 5 runs per over. Malcolm Horwill enhanced a useful opening stand of 25 by adding 38 with Steve Stratford, and included two towering sixes off a Harris over in his 39 from only 36 balls. When Stratford just lost his off bail to Burgess for 19, and Brown fell in similar fashion, Corinthians consolidated from 74 for 4 in a useful stand of 23 between Matthews (19) and Wakeling (8). Andy Naylor hit fours with his favourite pastimes, the cover drive and leg glance, and received solid (if brief) support from Morley and Clark, who were both run out, the latter with the scores level.

Believing there to be another over and batsman to come, Naylor gave Crossland's last ball the charge, but was bowled by one that kept low. Had he not done so the visitors may have claimed victory via the Duckworth Lewis method. The match was declared a tie on 134 apiece (one more than the score by which the teams were inseparable last year) because Clark had in fact stayed on the pitch in lieu of non-striker Noel Kenning for the last ball. The 28th over had been disallowed due to the need to stage a Huddersfield League fixture on the Paddock ground just 30 minutes later.