BAHRAIN’s Awali Camels finished their 2016 summer tour of the UK unbeaten after they secured a hard-earned draw in their fifth and final match against Sarisbury CC, despite the absence of a number of key players due to injury.
Dan Viles (0 for 26), suffering desperately from shin splints, bowled a tight opening over – a maiden – giving the Camels hope of containing the mighty Simon Mitcheson and Reg Sanders for the home side.
The circumspection vanished almost immediately though as Sanders smashed Charlie Viles for two consecutive fours and he was duly withdrawn from the attack with shoulder and pride damaged.
Veteran Steve Turner bowled tidily but couldn’t find the breakthrough as the opening pair built up a 99-run partnership and, arguably for the first time on the tour, the Camels sensed a loss of control.
Cricket has a way of righting an apparent imbalance however, as first, Sanjay Rathod (3 for 34) at last beat Mitcheson’s bat.
Sanders retired with 50 but Sarisbury 1st XI skipper and star batsman Journeaux missed a straight one from Guy Parker (1 for 9) to set the stage for a slap-bang-wallop final ten overs but some excellent ‘death-bowling’ by Dave Starkie (3 for 12) and Ishtiaq (2 for 33) left the Camels 210 to win.
This looked eminently feasible as the Camels moved steadily to 48 inside eight overs but the middle order had other ideas and so it was left to Dave Mason (injured shoulder) and 15-year-old Sahil Rathod to steady the ship.
Both batted superbly until Rathod was caught for 23 and Mason for 39 the Camels needed just 20 to win with four wickets left.
Bravely, Dave Starkie, Keith Veryard, Turner and wounded skipper Doug Perrins nibbled away at the target but they came up short and an entertaining draw was probably the fairest result.
Sarisbury CC: 209 for 9 in 40 overs
Bahrain Awali Camels: 202 for 9 in 40 overs