Day 6 - Game 2 vs St. Anthony's College (First Loss)

A run feast in Kandy

An early start for some (6:45am for breakfast) had a few in a tizz. Overcoming some initial ‘catastrophe’ – the egg hopper bar were training a new chef and Professor Thomlinson had his morning ritual burnt on the first attempt – we boarded the mini bus for our big bus transfer, to head to the home ground of Trinity College, Kandy. TCK has been the breeding ground for players like Kumar Sangakkara and Graeme Labrooy. The ground, Asgiriya Stadium, was actually a test and first class ground up until recently. Some may remember the first test vs SL in 1999 when S. Waugh and J. Gillespie collided attempting to make a catch. Barker’s own, Russell Arnold played in Sri Lanka’s first test win at the ground in 1998 vs Zimbabwe.

However, TCK were not our opponents today. St. Anthony’s, famous for nurturing Muttiah Muralitharan, were in the middle of an undefeated season – and harbouring no less than 4 representative players. The hosts won the toss against Skipper Breden and sent us to bowl/field. The field was lightning fast and the boundary rope left the punters wondering whether it was the extremity perimeter or the 30 metre circle. A brief warm up lead to a quick start by St. Anthony’s College, Kandy (SACK) dispatching anything loose. However, co-skipper Tyler, bowling serious heat, caught their highly fancied lefty opener on the pads, leading to him retiring hurt. Step up Mr. Dots (Alex Vievers), who lured their other opener into a false shot and was ably caught by Ben S at mid-wicket.

Barker's own, Russell Arnold in Sri Lanka's first test win at the ground.

The lads warming up in the hot Kandy sun.

Skippers Breden & Lang at the toss.

Unfortunately, the next 13 overs saw a lot of balls reach the boundary. Some through genuine shots, others through nicks. Then in the 17^th over, a brilliant bit of keeping to glove a chance from Spinner Seb, made it 2 fa. That brought their lefty opener back from his enforced rest and he spent little time getting his eye back in. At the half way mark, SACK were 174 but the first ball after drinks Seb struck to have the home side three down. An injury brought McCoy on and he attempted to slow the run rate down with Vievers and Lang. St. Anthony’s continued to pile on the runs; helped somewhat by the extras and bowling batsmen from no-balls / free hits (Rhino!!!!!). 

The coaches went on their customary lap to try and induce a wicket and success occurred almost instantly. Seb grabbed a couple, Ben S and Ben R chipped in with a wicket each and Alex cleaned up the last 2 in successive balls to finish with 3 wickets. The fielding also improved with good catches going to Sam, Cheyton and another to Jack. The pick of the bowlers was Spinner Seb, claiming 5/64 off 10 overs. When the first innings was done and dusted, the SACK team posted a respectable 316, but the Barker boys felt confident going into lunch.

Seb leading off the Barker boys after taking his first of hopefully many 5 fa's for the Reds.

After another chicken and rice lunch, Chayton and Angus strode out to begin the chase. A lightning start followed with 4 off the first ball; at this rate we’d be finished in just over 13 overs and back for a swim at 4pm… The next 4 overs saw a little less work for the scoreboard attendant but once the boys got their eye in, the runs started to ebb. A ball after Coach Thomlinson predicted Chayton would score ha ton, he was given out LBW for 16. Connor came in at 3 and made an immediate impact. The score reached 82 quickly before Connor was stumped for 39. Coach Toth went for a wander down the local street for a pharmacist and when he returned 6 minutes later, the St. Anthony spinners had done some damage. Angus was out LBW for 29, Harry made 9, Seb was run out for 2 and Jack bowled for 3. All of a sudden our certain victory was proving to be more difficult at 6/101.

The Reds looking a little flat after a middle order collapse.

Then something rather impressive happened. Alex has been wanting to people to call him an all-rounder all season – after today, we may have to. Alex and Luke batted sensibly and put on 70 runs for the seventh wicket. They craftily put the ball through to all parts as the opposition coach started to get worried by yelling from the balcony and setting fields to negate the tail wagging. That didn’t stop Big Al from crafting a glorious half century. Once Tyler helped him reach that mark, and in the process ticking off a few milestones for himself, Alex accelerated the scoring hitting 7 sixes in falling just short of his maiden century, getting stumped for 94...... Or at least the scoreboard and everyone else thought. While Alex walked off disappointed, Coach Thomlinson checked with the official scorer and she had marked the lanky Number 8 down for 100 exactly. While the light was becoming an issue, Sam and Ben S us through to the end getting 9/266 in reply.

Big Al raising his bat after his first half century. But in half an hour, he would still be without one.

A very nice post game ceremony after a long day and a quick return to the hotel for a recovery swim/shower and another lavish dinner. Tomorrow would be another tough day and plenty of sleep was needed.