CTCCCC in Slovenia, August 7th 2011
CTCCCC, comprised of three current Philanderers - Rory Davidson, Ed Pearson & George Dean - and three further Old Perseans (Ben Cassels, Nat Gimson & John McNaught) cycled to Slovenia in order to take part in a 6-aside tournament hosted by Ljubljana Cricket Cub. The tournament was held at Valburga Cricket Ground, a charming village just outside Ljubljana, and was a round-robin format with two teams from LCC.
Against all reasoned odds, and entirely by coincidence, the tournament developed into a battle for philandering supremacy of Central Europe as LCC were led by their own OP and Philanderer, Tom Furness.
CTCCCC were invited to field first in the opening match, and, inspired by the stunning alpine scenery, long outfield and bouncy concrete wicket restricted the opposition to a total of 85-1 from their 10 overs. McNaught took the sole wicket of Furness, who verified his Philandering cricketing background with some exceptionally slow running between the wickets, working hard to turn easy twos into tight run singles. In reply CTC CCC eased to their target, thanks largely to a classy innings of 42* by Ed Pearson, despite his refusal to embrace the aerial shots the situation required. Pearson was supported with 20 from Cassels and a quickfire 15* from Davidson, who survived a simple chance to the Slovenian national keeper from this first ball, to finish the game with two huge sixes.
Facing the second LJCC VI, which looked suspiciously like a combination of the strongest VI players from the two Slovenian sides, CTC CC again fielded first. Wickets from Pearson and Davidson however couldn't contain the Slovenians who powered to 106-2 from their 10 overs, based on a brutal 65 from their opening bat. In reply CTC began strongly with Pearson carting the first ball for four, however Davidson fell cheaply, and when Pearson was caught in the deep for 34 from 15, and 40 runs still required from three overs, there only seemed to be one winner... However the increasingly merry Cassels had alternative ideas, striding to the wicket to smite his first three balls for 15 runs (6,6,3) to bring CTC back into the game. McNaught then joined the fun hitting two more sixes from the over, leaving Cassels to end the game with a 6 in the penultimate over of the innings, giving him a personal tally of 21* from four balls, and McNaught 31* from 15. The Slovenia hospitality extended well into the evening and talk was even heard of a Slovenian tour to Cambridge encompassing fixtures against The Perse School and The Philanderers in 2012...
CTCCCC, comprised of three current Philanderers - Rory Davidson, Ed Pearson & George Dean - and three further Old Perseans (Ben Cassels, Nat Gimson & John McNaught) cycled to Slovenia in order to take part in a 6-aside tournament hosted by Ljubljana Cricket Cub. The tournament was held at Valburga Cricket Ground, a charming village just outside Ljubljana, and was a round-robin format with two teams from LCC.
Against all reasoned odds, and entirely by coincidence, the tournament developed into a battle for philandering supremacy of Central Europe as LCC were led by their own OP and Philanderer, Tom Furness.
CTCCCC were invited to field first in the opening match, and, inspired by the stunning alpine scenery, long outfield and bouncy concrete wicket restricted the opposition to a total of 85-1 from their 10 overs. McNaught took the sole wicket of Furness, who verified his Philandering cricketing background with some exceptionally slow running between the wickets, working hard to turn easy twos into tight run singles. In reply CTC CCC eased to their target, thanks largely to a classy innings of 42* by Ed Pearson, despite his refusal to embrace the aerial shots the situation required. Pearson was supported with 20 from Cassels and a quickfire 15* from Davidson, who survived a simple chance to the Slovenian national keeper from this first ball, to finish the game with two huge sixes.
Facing the second LJCC VI, which looked suspiciously like a combination of the strongest VI players from the two Slovenian sides, CTC CC again fielded first. Wickets from Pearson and Davidson however couldn't contain the Slovenians who powered to 106-2 from their 10 overs, based on a brutal 65 from their opening bat. In reply CTC began strongly with Pearson carting the first ball for four, however Davidson fell cheaply, and when Pearson was caught in the deep for 34 from 15, and 40 runs still required from three overs, there only seemed to be one winner... However the increasingly merry Cassels had alternative ideas, striding to the wicket to smite his first three balls for 15 runs (6,6,3) to bring CTC back into the game. McNaught then joined the fun hitting two more sixes from the over, leaving Cassels to end the game with a 6 in the penultimate over of the innings, giving him a personal tally of 21* from four balls, and McNaught 31* from 15. The Slovenia hospitality extended well into the evening and talk was even heard of a Slovenian tour to Cambridge encompassing fixtures against The Perse School and The Philanderers in 2012...