BCF Sixes 2005
Bing, bam, b’Ashes! – Sizzling Cricket comes to Ghent
Those bleary-eyed Arcadians arriving at 8.00 am on Sunday morning to prepare for the BCF cricket sixes could have been forgiven for thinking that they were on set with Sigourny Weaver and a band of gorillas. A thick veil of mist lay heavy around the leafy Claeys-Bouüaert ground. The white cornets marking the boundary were barely visible at the Post-Office end. Cricket weather it was most certainly not. The tournament organizers, who had slaved away for a large part of the Saturday, prayed for the sun.
In dribs and drabs various players arrived at the ground, where they received a steaming cup of tea and croissant upon registration to the 5-over-a-side competition. Once an adequate contingent had materialised, the first game could commence, and it did just before 11.00. Mechelen, led by the sharp-witted Shikkoh Malik, won the toss and decided to bat against the host side Arcadians CC Ghent. Solid knocks by Farooq (20) and skipper Shikkoh (26 not out) took Mechelen to the formidable total of 76 off 40 balls. Colin Walker (24) and Captain Wassie (15) kept the six Ghent players in the run chase, but eventually they fell short by 15 runs. Mechelen had started the day as they meant to finish it; two relatively straight-forward victories followed – a 65 run thrashing of Antwerp who just managed to scrape into double figures and a five-wicket over 12 Stars, with Lucian De Zoysa destroying the Brussels crew with a three-wicket over.
By noon a hazy sun was burning off the early morning mist. Play was brisk, as too was the Flicx pitch meticulously prepared the afternoon before. Those skeptics of its irregular bounce had little to found their case on. The artificial surface was general very quick and very true, albeit the bounce was a little on the low side. Antwerp CC started their campaign in the initial group stage versus 12 Stars. Tony Norton (11), Antwerp’s compact Shane Warne look-alike put on a good partnership with Ijaz Butt (26) to take the side to 70-1 at the innings close. The good-natured Aussie then bowled tightly to restrict 12 Stars to 48 all out. He will certainly have drawn motivation from a certain peroxide blonde’s simultaneous endeavours at The Oval. Indeed, there was more than a passing interest in the radio coverage of the events taking place between Australia and England as they tussled for The Ashes in the fifth test. In the beginning things seemed to very much be going Tony’s and Australia’s way - Mechelen’s Steve Woodbridge often having to endure jibes like: “Woody, c’mon over here mate. Listen, Warnie’s just taken another Pom wicket”.
Suffice to say Steve had the last laugh in a tense afternoon of radio listening. The pair, when not dueling with bat and ball, could be seen armed with beer cans intently listening to the airwave crackle emanating from Wasantha’s open hatchback.
In the pick of the other pool games, the host side recovered from its first loss to beat Antwerp by five wickets in its second game. Jan Bigler, definitely the club's rookie of the year, took the first wicket for the Arcadians with an evil off-break. Unfortunately for Jan, the day was to go from good to worse. During the last group stage match, Jan pulled up while taking an easy single. What at first seemed to be an innocuous ankle sprain was a lot more serious. Jan’s subsequent Achilles operation on Monday was a success, and all of his teammates wish him a speedy and full recovery. Plenty of snooker on the BBC awaits Jan and his plaster-cast leg in the coming weeks.
The injury sent Tournament Director and Arcadians’ Chairman D.C. Blommaert rushing for his whites. Quicker than you can say “Is it a bird? Is it a plane?”, super Charles appeared to take the field for the Arcadians. His excellent fielding in the covers coupled with a tidy last over from the unorthodox keeper-turned-bowler Martin Gregson (1-4), saw the Arcadians sneak into the final by the slenderest of margins. 12 Stars can count themselves unlucky to lose out by 2 runs. Their best player on the day was without doubt Nasir (guest player for the Brussels side, courtesy of Mechelen), who scored a total of 72 runs in three innings.
Thus, from four teams in the original pool, the top two would contest a final. The plucky Arcadians CC Ghent were looking to avenge their opening match loss against the experienced Mechelen side. Would David slay Goliath, and turn the tables on Belgian cricket? Expectations were obviously running very high. The buzz of anticipation could almost be heard, or was that the VRT radio journalist trying to conduct interviews with this rowdy brood of white-clad combatants?
Before a final could be played, in time-honoured tradition the tea break had to be taken. All and sundry returned to the clubhouse where cakes that Mr Kippling would have been proud of were served by Catherine and Eva.
With the clock rapidly approaching five and storm clouds rumbling on the grey horizon, the finalists waited pitch-side to get started. But no sign of the Arcadians captain. Emerging after a five minute wait (was it a toilet break, or did it involve ball-tampering?), the Sri Lankan promptly went on to lose the toss and his Arcadians side were put into the field.
Mechelen immediately seized the initiative with the bat: Shikkoh Malik scored a blistering 42 not out, with some towering boundaries, square-leg being a choice destination. Colin ‘Sky’ Walker did his best at breaking the Belgian national record in the high-jump – twice the acrobatic Englishman spooned catches over the square-leg boundary in true ‘Fosbury-flop’ fashion. Shikkoh, the batsman dispatching the blows, was later seen passing Colin a large brown envelope. However, neither was available to pass comment on suggestions of match-fixing, and Andrew Scott, the tournament official elected not to pursue the matter.
So for the second time in the day the fledgling Ghent side needed to chase a decent total to win. Gregson (18) and Walker started briskly in reining in Mechelen’s 66 runs. The opening pair put on a decent score before Colin was bowled by one that didn’t bounce. Wasantha and then Nigel Stainwall followed. ‘Tiger’ Nige (20) helping the run rate along with two successive snicks over the keeper for boundaries. Shikkoh, the Mechelen bowler and captain, found himself growing increasingly concerned. And so it came down to the last few balls. With three to go and six to win, Gregson went for an almighty hoick and was clean bowled. Muttering and headshaking, he was passed by Ahsan on his way to the middle. Unfortunately, the host side didn’t quite make it and lost by a miserly single run. Perhaps it would have been unjust, as Mechelen were certainly the most consistent team on the day.
With the victor determined, Charles Blommaert ceremoniously handed over the inaugural BCF Sixes trophy to an ecstatic Shikkoh Malik of Mechelen CC. A special ‘Player of the Tournament’ award went to another Mechelen player, Lucian De Zoysa, for his impressive bowling throughout the day.
Presentation and speeches had hardly finished when the heavens opened and the rain came down in buckets. A mad dash to the clubhouse ensued, where players and officials enjoyed a beer (or two …) and an amiable chat to end the day in the best of spirits.
In closing, a special Editorial “Thank-you” goes to all that made this great day of cricket possible: The players, Charles, the Board, the Tea-ladies, Jan for his great job as Scorer and Chef, Andrew Scott for his tireless umpiring display, Euphony for their sponsorship, and those others behind the scenes. No doubt, all here today will be tempted back next year when Mechelen will no doubt aim to retain their ‘Sixes’ title.
MG
Pool Games
Mechelen (76-3) beats Arcadians (57-4) by 19 runsAntwerp (70-1) beat 12 Stars (48 all out) by 22 runs
Mechelen (77-1) beat Antwerp (12 all out) by 65 runs
Arcadians (45-1) beat Antwerp (41-5) by 5 wickets
Arcadians (42-3) beat 12 Stars (40-2) by 2 runs
Mechelen (40-1) beat 12 Stars (38 all out) by 5 wickets
Standings
1. Mechelen 3-02. Arcadians 2-1
3. Antwerp 1-2
4. 12 Stars 0-3
Mechelen and Arcadians qualify for the final