Catching up with Festival results

Just catching up on the news from the Festival - scores are attached.

Our team performed admirably against very seasoned opponents, including the eventual runner-up in the Festival, West Haven from Connecticut. Some of the highlights from the PCC match include:

• Against Australia XI – our O’Brien award winner, Mark Marsan, not out for 41 runs; Hugo Mazzalupi, 31 runs; Fred Levin, the most economical bowler

• Against Pittsburgh – Mark Marsan, not out for 45 runs, Satish Nookala, our most economical bowler

• Against West Haven – Riz Ishmail, our high batsman and most economical bowler

• Against Staten Island – Clarke Thomas, our high batsman with 30, his personal best, and Jim O’Brien, most economical bowler.

There was only one hospital-requiring injury (and not to a PCC player, thank heaven)!

Our own Tom Culp, in his first year as Chair of the Festival, made sure that everything ran smoothly and that there were smiles all around.

Preparation for the fall season, including our tour of California, is well underway.

Cricket Festival 2013

PCC vs GCC - 2013 Festival match, Sunday, April 28, 2013

In spite of tremendous effort from the entire team, notably batting from Riz (42, not out) and bowling from Jim (most economical bowler), GCC/Prior's numbers were just too good to be caught.

It was PCC's opening match at the 2013 Philadelphia International Cricket Festival on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Mark and Chris contributed to the fun at wicketkeeper with TWO stumpings (Mark) and a catch (Chris). George provided a terrific catch to add to the fun. Clarke continues to provide the best cricket photos in the Delaware Valley!

PCC vs Penn 4/21/13

Penn handed PCC our first loss of the spring season, 134 - 105. Mark managed to hold on for 47 runs, not out! On the fielding side, Jim made a miraculous catch and Mark was our most economical bowler. Despite what the scoresheet says below - Clive did not take 4 catches.

Penn PCC cricket 4/21/13

Penn PCC cricket 4/21/13, a set on Flickr.

The only action shots this week were from around the keg!

Matches remaining in the spring season:

Sunday, April 28 – Philadelphia International Cricket Festival match at 1:30 pm vs. Germantown

Thursday – Sunday, May 2-5 - Philadelphia International Cricket Festival (PCC matches are on Thursday, May 2, at 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 4, at 8:30 am and 3:30 pm)

More than 16 teams from around the world will compete in three matches per day, with the final on Sunday. Our esteemed guest this year is Shaun Pollock, former captain of the South African cricket team. Pollock is the leading wicket taker among South Africans, taking over 400 test wickets and scoring over 3,700 test runs in his 108 Test matches. Pollock will be playing with PCC on Thursday, May 2, at 8:30 a.m.

Match vs. Merion - April 14

The Sunday match at Merion Cricket Club featured a "friendly format" of 25 overs, batting five pairs of batsmen who stayed in until the earlier of being out or five overs.  In the latter event, the batsmen would be retired able to return later if needed.

PCC opened in the field and behind strong shuffled bowler strategy held Merion to 104 with 8 wickets. Kudos to Mark and Riz, who were able to bowl two of Merion's strongest batsmen, Gary and Craig.

Strangely enough, it being Sunday at the Masters, Andrew and Hugo requested to be the opening batsmen. Hmmm.  Hugo looked perplexed when the skipper told him he could not swing away, make an out and run home to the comfort of his Barcalounger.

Hugo, Roger, and Clarke were the sole survivors to be not out in their respective five overs. This was a far cry from the Duck performances of Chris and Riz.  Sloppy. 

The stage was set for a close finish when Fred was bowled for PCC's 8th wicket, then at 90 runs. In came The Hat, Kahuna and Hooka Booda (aka Clarke, for non-players who follow our blog) who in a partnership with Hugo, frustrated Merion's finest bowlers with straight drives, chipping away at the margin. In the 22nd over, Hugo drove one over the boundary to secure the victory, 105-104.  Well done PCC!

On to the next matches, Hoboken on April 21st and U Penn on April 22nd.