September 2020 News

Teamsheet: Mount vs Canewdon, Sunday 27th September 2020. 1230 Start.

The following have been selected:

  1. W Foley (c)
  2. T Duffin
  3. J Montellier
  4. P Offord
  5. S Jackson
  6. S Johnson
  7. N Smith
  8. D Mackay
  9. J Lambert
  10. D Deadman
  11. A Abel

Standby:

  1. D Summers
  2. J Summers
  3. M Hare
  4. I Frankel
  5. C Lambert

Another excellent response from the playing members for making themselves available in such numbers. Many thanks once again for your commitment and loyalty.

Spectators, supporters, family and friends are all most welcome (in accordance with the usual social distancing etc advice) as we say farewell to an extraordinary but highly successful season.

Bill Foley; Friday 25th September 2020 @ 1140

Looking Back - on this day 1996!

Mount legend David Hewitt kindly emailed me last week to suggest some memorable fixtures for our occasional “looking back” feature. We will put some of these together over the coming weeks and months of the close season but first up is what sounds like a cracking game from exactly 24 years ago today. On September 22nd 1996 we visited Eynsford in Kent for what was until recent years, a traditional end of season fixture. A young Simon Jackson captained the side (don’t know what happened to him!) but I’ll let Mr Hewitt take up the story. David writes:

“A week today will be the 22nd and in 1996 we had a stunning match on that day. The records show a 2 wicket win for Mount, but that is wrong [Now fixed - Ed]. Playing Eynsford on their lovely ground we batted first, and with steady contributions we looked set for decent total. Captain Simon Jackson with 50 led us to 186 for 8 before he declared.

Their innings started well for the opponents because Terence completely and unbelievably lost the plot and conceded 39 in two eventful overs. I then came on bowling my express stuff (joke) while Paul Hart bowled wonderfully at the other end. With one over to go they needed only a few runs to win and we needed 2 wickets. We got the two wickets with the last two balls, and we got home by one run. Paul and I got five wickets each but Paul was the real star - 18 overs in one go!”

Sounds like a tremendous contest and it must have been exhilarating to bowl that final over. That’s a proper shift put in by David and Paul – just the thought of bowling 18 overs makes me shudder. Obviously a very well judged declaration by the skipper too – never in doubt!

Bill Foley; Tuesday 22nd September 2020 @ 1402

Teamsheet: Mount vs Old Westcliffians, Sunday 20th September 2020 @ Chalkwell Park. 1300 Start.

The following have been selected:

  1. D Mackay (c & wkt)
  2. W Foley
  3. T Duffin
  4. A Lukose
  5. V Vayalveettil
  6. P McKeon
  7. J Glester
  8. N Smith
  9. M Boyce
  10. M Hare
  11. M Elmer

12th man - S Jackson

Usual Covid protocols apply – arrive in kit and bring your own snacks/refreshments.

Bill Foley; Saturday 19th September 2020 @ 1458

Match Report: Mount vs Felsted Robins, Sunday 6th September 2020

Mount CC: 185/7 (35 overs) – Smith 71, Abel 54*
Southend & EMT CC: 189/5 (34.5 overs) - P McKeon 2/23, Sanz 1/25, Boyce 1/30
Southend win by 5 wickets

With several players unavailable either due to injury or prior engagements, our rematch with Southend always looked like being a tough match and so it proved. Mount won the toss, elected to bat, and got off to a good start with openers Steve Johnson and Ged Williams putting on 46 for the first wicket before “Johnno” became the first batsman to depart. This triggered something of a collapse with no. 3 Waj Ahmad next to go followed by Ged before both Martin Hare and skipper, Ilan Frankel came and went cheaply. 46/0 had quickly become 58/5. While wickets tumbled around him, Noel Smith stood firm and was joined by debutant Andy Abel. These two steadied the ship before gradually taking on the bowling and setting Mount on the way towards a respectable, and hopefully, defendable total. Noel, wisely batting cautiously at first, soon warmed to the task and took the battle to Southend’s attack. At the other end, Andy was a revelation, hitting regular boundaries in a well-paced innings. This partnership put Mount firmly back in the game and was worth 106 when Smith finally fell for 71. Andy, joined by Dan Deadman, carried on the good work and the pair added 21 before Dan fell to the last ball of the innings as Mount closed on 185/7 from their 35 overs. Andy passed 50 without noticing – assuming the applause from the side-lines was for something else and ended his knock on 54 not out. An excellent debut and highly valuable contribution.

The bowling attack was most severely depleted by injury and lack of availability so some creative thinking from the skipper was required. With only two regular bowlers, Paul McKeon and Dan Deadman in the side, it was time to roll up the collective sleeves and muck in to protect that score. McKeon and Ged Williams opened the bowling and our injury curse struck almost immediately – Ged pulling up with a hamstring injury after just 3 balls of his first over! Oscar Sanz, making only his second appearance for Mount stepped in to replace Ged. McKeon and Sanz bowled beautifully – “PMac” building pressure with a miserly opening spell of 5 overs for just 11 runs, and Oscar taking a wicket in his first full over. Mike Boyce replaced PMac and removed “ex-pat” Mountie, Matt Elmer for 10. With the score at 53/2 in the 15th over, Mount sensed an opportunity as Southend approached the half-way point behind the required run rate. However, they did have their best pair, Butler & Sibbons together and were sure to try to go after that weakened attack. Deadman and Smith replaced Boyce and Sanz and an interesting contest ensued – this period likely to be decisive. Both bowled well without reward and with these attack-minded batsmen managing to up the run-rate as expected, the game was still in the balance. After 30 overs the score had moved on to 155/2 with 186 the target - 31 required from 5.

Back came McKeon, and what a return! 2 wickets in his first over saw opener Butler finally go for 61 and a second ball duck for the incoming – and quickly outgoing no. 5. 160/4 now the score – 4 overs to go. “Deadly Dan” finally got a reward for his efforts with the final ball of his final over, trapping their no.6 for another second ball duck. 163/5 - 3 overs to go – 23 required and a good chance for Mount now…. but ominously Sibbons was still there.

PMac bowled his 7th and final over, finishing with an excellent 2/23. Now 2 overs left and 16 required but with the “frontline” bowled out, it was left to Smith and Boyce to see us home. Both did well but Sibbons was not to be denied taking 6 off the penultimate ball of the 35th over to win an enthralling game that went down to the wire.

An excellent team performance once again and one that every member of the team should be proud of. Some excellent individual performances and great team spirit just not quite enough on the day to overcome good opponents and a not inconsiderable slice of bad luck.

Bill Foley; Saturday 19th September 2020 @ 1458

Teamsheet: Mount vs Southend & EMT, Sunday 13th September 2020 @ Southchurch Park. 1330 Start.

The following have been selected:

  1. I Frankel (c)
  2. S Johnson
  3. A Ahmad
  4. W Ahmad
  5. D Deadman
  6. M Boyce
  7. M Hare
  8. O Sanz
  9. G Williams
  10. T Duffin
  11. P Offord

Standby:

  1. N Smith
  2. A Abel
  3. P Southward

Unfortunately, I can’t be there this weekend as I am delivering my youngest to University but wish the boys all the best and I’m sure they will keep the winning run going.

Usual Covid protocols will apply but spectators are most welcome to come along and support the team.

Our remaining fixtures in this most unusual of seasons are as follows:

  • 20th Sept - Old Westcliffians @ WOSCC, Chalkwell Park - 1pm start
  • 27th Sept - Canewdon @ Home/ACG - 1pm start
Bill Foley; Friday 11th September 2020 @ 1218

Match Report: Mount vs Felsted Robins, Sunday 6th September 2020

Felsted Robins: 84ao (20 overs) - Deadman 4/4, Montellier 4/6
Mount CC: 88/2 - N Smith 36*, W Ahmad 33*
Mount win by 8 wickets

An excellent batting performance set up the record win over Canewdon last time out, and this time it was our bowlers’ turn. Having “negotiated” the toss, Felsted batted first in this short format T20 game. A tidy spell of bowling from openers Ammar Ahmad and Vijay Vayalveettil, kept a lid on the scoring rate and both were unlucky not to take wickets. A double bowling change however transformed the match. At the Pavilion end Justin Montellier replaced Ammar and Dan Deadman took over from VJ at the Thorpe Bay end. What came next was nothing sort of extraordinary and I will let the stats do the talking to prove this. Between them the duo’s 8 overs yielded 8 wickets at a cost of just 10 runs. Deadman once again “Danboozled” the opposition and closed with figures of 4/4 with Monty’s unerring accuracy and self-proclaimed ”pace like fire” gave him a relatively expensive 4/6! Aided by some excellent catches from Jamie Lambert, Waj Ahmad and Steve Johnson the game was transformed. With 40 something on the board and 8 down, Felsted tried valiantly to climb out of this hole and rallied to 84ao. Lambert and the returning VJ taking the last 2 wickets.

While the chase seemed a formality, the game still needed to be won and Waj Ahmad (33no) and Noel Smith (36no) saw us home, mixing patience with power to claim our first ever win over “The Robins” with 8 wickets and plenty of overs to spare.

With the main game over so quickly, we used the available time to scratch together 2 sides made up of Mounties and the remaining Robins and had an enjoyable 15 over thrash which featured a wicket with his first ball and another in the same over for 9-year-old Shri Vayalveettil! With 10-year-old William Offord also putting in an excellent performance with the ball, the future looks rosy!

The star performers though must be “Deadly” and Monty who are forming quite the double-act. Well done to them and the whole team on another win.

Go Mounties!

Bill Foley; Friday 11th September 2020 @ 1218

Teamsheet: Mount vs Felsted Robins, Sunday 6th September 2020

With apologies for the late notice (busy week at Foley Towers this week), I am pleased to share details of tomorrow’s fixtures at the ACG.

We start with a T20 game vs Felsted Robins at 1pm. This will be followed by an intra-club game loosely dubbed All The President’s Men vs The Captain’s Table. Felsted always bring a strong side and this promises to be a good contest. The side selected for the first fixture is as follows:

  1. Foley (C)
  2. Montellier
  3. Deadman
  4. Jackson
  5. Offord
  6. Vayalveettil
  7. Smith
  8. Johnson
  9. A. Ahmad
  10. W. Ahmad
  11. J. Lambert

On our standby list we have:

  1. Summers
  2. Frankel
  3. Duffin
  4. Hare
  5. McKeon
  6. Boyce
  7. Elmer

Those playing in the Felsted game, please can you aim to be at the ground by 12.15 to assist with setting up so we can get underway at 1pm.

All of the above are selected for the second match (est. 4pm start) and I know we have others joining us just for this game and I look forward to seeing you all there for what should be a fun afternoon.

All are welcome but do please remember the usual Covid related protocols. There are no changing facilities so players to arrive changed/semi-changed, no teas provided so bring your own snacks/refreshments etc. There will be some beers in the Mount fridge for the afternoon if this is of interest! Spectators are welcome but please adhere to social distancing norms as you would elsewhere.

Here’s to a great day.

Bill Foley; Saturday 5th September 2020 @ 1746