Match Report

Wednesday 11 October 2006, at Kontokali Marina, Gouvia, Corfu - Lost by 51 runs (Ref. 200628)

Their fifth overseas tour ended in a comfortable defeat for Wealdstone Corinthians after Feax piled up an impressive total, adding 146 runs in their last 15 overs. The main difference between the sides was Aslam, who hit four 4s and six 6s in his whirlwind innings of 81, and then opened the bowling. Corinthians had done well to restrict Feax to 65-2 at the halfway point, mainly thanks to another tight spell from skipper Steve Brown (0-15 in his 6 overs). A series of dropped catches, five of them off one bowler, meant the visitors were chasing a bigger target than they should have been. They were behind the asking rate following the loss of a wicket apiece to the opening bowlers and the run out of the Number 3 batsman without facing a ball, curiously for the second consecutive match. Dharmik Shah and Malcolm Horwill then put together a 4th wicket partnership of 68 in 13 overs before both being dismissed with the score on 102. Andy Clark produced his best batting of the season, making 35 of a 6th wicket stand of 52 in under 8 overs with Andy Naylor. Though a realistic chance of winning had long since gone this took Corinthians past their highest score at the Marina Gound, beating the 152 made in 2002, also against Feax.

Feax 211-3 (30 overs), Chris Clark 1-28, Andy Naylor 1-32, Dharmik Shah 1-57, Aslam 81, Avlonitis 31

As in the previous match the late arrival of some home players meant that Feax were allowed to bat first. In return they allowed Corinthians to play all 12 of their ageing tourists. Skipper for the day Steve Brown opened the bowling with himself and the other Vice Captain, Chris Clark, whilst Club Captain Andy Naylor handed the wicketkeeping gloves to Andy Clark. Brown again found a good line, conceding only one wide, and although Clark gave his brother little chance in his second over with a leg side full toss that went for 5 no balls he made the breakthrough later in the over when Pigis was caught by Naylor at long on. A double change brought Phil Cundy into the attack and he began with a maiden to Avlonitis, whilst Dharmik Shah at the Marina End took a wicket with his fourth ball when Garouniatis was bowled. This brought Aslam in and having started with some singles he soon opened up with a huge 6 off Shah into the road. Cundy should have had a wicket when Avlonitis hit him towards deep mid wicket but Naylor couldn't hold the catch coming out of the sun. Aslam hit another 6 (and a car) off Shah, before an assault on Cundy that produced four leg side sixes in a row. He responded well by allowing only three singles from his last over. The last incident-packed 7 overs were shared by Naylor and Mike Matthews, yielding 60 runs, 2 wickets and lots of drama. Naylor trapped Avlonitis LBW with his first ball and had Aslam dropped on the mid wicket boundary by Phil Cundy, a very awkward catch. Dharmik Shah then ran Aslam out with a throw to Naylor at the bowler's end, but next ball dropped an easy chance at square leg to dismiss Stamatis first ball. After a poor throw Zois managed an all run 5 off Naylor, who then had another catch dropped at mid on by the incapacitated Nick Cundy. Zois hit a 6 off both Naylor and Matthews before being dropped at long on by Steve Brown with another big hit. On the final ball of the innings Stamatis top edged Naylor towards cover, but Noel Kenning was unable to react quickly enough to take his first catch since 2002.

Corinthians 160-7 (30 overs), Dharmik Shah 44, Andy Clark 35, Malcolm Horwill 22, Andy Naylor 18*, Raj Meswani 16

Dino Patel and Raj Meswani faced the new ball and found it harder to score off Aslam than the rapid but wayward Zois, reminiscent of a young Anthony Hayward. Meswani cracked a superb 4 through mid wicket off him, but in the 5th over Patel was caught at extra cover for 4. In the next over Matthews was run out at the non-striker's end without facing after backing up and adjudged not to have returned in time. Dharmik Shah got off the mark with a 3, and perhaps the effort was too much for Meswani as he was bowled by Zois 3 balls later to make it 34-3. Shah accumulated steadily, mainly with twos, whilst Horwill dug in and offered good support, mainly in singles, to see the 100 up in the 21st over. In a 40-over match it would have been a promising position. Corinthians anticipated their first individual 50 on the ground but Shah failed to pull successfully (but that's enough about the maidens!) and in being caught instead became the fifth Corinthian batsman to fall in the 40s on this ground. Three balls later Horwill was also caught to make it 102-5. As the dusk and the mosquitoes gathered Andy Clark produced an entertaining knock, hitting the only boundary off Aslam and two more off Zois, plus threes off Aslam and Ilyad. He was caught and bowled by Sam off a top edge in the last over for 35 from 30 balls, and after 5 more runs to Naylor took him to 18 from 19 balls Chris Clark hit a return catch to Sam on the last ball of the tour. On the day one player divided the teams, though they may also have been more evenly matched had some of those catches been held.