Bahrain’s Awali Camels put in a masterful performance in the opening match of their summer tour of the English county of Wiltshire and the fact that they finished on the losing side against an impressive Bishops Cannings Cricket Club seemed to matter little to Doug Perrins and his charges.
Opting to bat first, Camels skipper Perrins hoped his batsmen could capitalise on the vagaries of a drying wicket and with openers Graham Hoar and Guy Parker smashing a quick-fire partnership of 25 off some steaming pace, it added fuel to the hope.
Bristling with Premier Cricket League talent however, the hosts soon found themselves in the driving seat following catches by Ronny Allen and Skipper Stan, and a scintillating 50 yard direct hit to run out the dangerous David Axtell.
Ticking
Dave Hilton kept the Camels’ scoring ticking over with the occasional four but at the other end, the resistance of Perrins, Charlie Bokke-Blyth, Ash Ringer, Dave Mason, Dave Starkie and Martin Saunders was broken by a superb bowling attack.
When Hilton perished for a brave 38 attempting yet another heave over mid-on, it left the visitors on a score of 124 and the indomitable Steve Turner amazingly maintaining his 20-year not-out record.
That score seemed a bit short on a perfect track not completely dried by the glorious sunshine and pleasant breeze but the Camels’ cunning plan to open the bowling with the spin paid off immediately with BCCC losing their opener caught and bowled by Axtell.
Alas, it was almost one-way traffic thereafter as a flurry of boundaries showed the home side’s class and with the summer shadows closing in and balls now flying into surrounding meadows, Bishops Cannings cruised to a comfortable victory thanks to a score of 125 for two.
Scores:
Awali Camels 124 all out
Bishops Cannings CC 125 for 2