®

British Chess Federation

BCF Boys Blasted by Bridlington's Big Batter

Sunday 8th August 2004. In the 24th year since its inception, BCF’s brave cricketers made the short journey down the Yorkshire coast from Scarborough to Bridlington for their annual cricket match. A youthful-looking opposition were still putting the finishing touches to the ground when our heroes finally found it – after a dodgy bit of navigating from skipper Alec Toll. With one of their overseas players tragically injured in the previous day’s league match, morale was high in the chess camp. Vice Captain Andy Martin took the team through a professional-looking warm-up session that had the home side quaking in their bowling boots. Then it was time for the traditional team photos……

BCF 2004:
Back Row: Martin, Simons, Eggleston, B Jervis, Briscoe, R Kumar
Front Row: Poobalasingam, V Kumar, Hall, Toll, Anandajeyarajah, J Jervis.

The toss duly lost, BCF took to the field – with a sizeable crowd of curious Yorkshiremen growing by the minute. The team are often dismissed as no-hopers on the usual stereotypical perception of chess players before even a ball is bowled – a vital weapon in its armoury! Would the nerdy chess-ites really be able to put up any resistance? The answer to that was a most emphatic yes! In the first 10 overs of the match, the hosts were reduced to 39 for 5 – the pace of Anandajeyarajah and the guile of Poobalasingam leaving their innings in tatters, with Martin begging Toll to ‘take his foot off the gas’.

Underestimating one’s opponent is always unwise – especially when they may have reversed the batting order! And so it proved - the stage set for an incredible volte-face. Pakistan U-21 international player Younis (related to Waqar?) arrived at the wicket and immediately took centre-stage. In the next 13 overs he savaged the BCF bowlers for 115 glorious runs – mostly in boundaries. 6 sixes and 14 fours flowed majestically from his huge bat to all parts of the large Bridlington outfield. Toll tried all his bowlers and in a final act of desperation brought back his opening ace, Anandajeyarajah. This did the trick, with Bob Jervis holding on to a steepling catch on the long on boundary. Unfortunately, the damage was done. With still 18 overs of their allotted 40 remaining, the hosts had a huge total of 170 on the board. Slater (25), Walker (38), Lount (36 not out) and Tennant (18 not out) saw Bridlington post a huge target of 273 for 9, surely too big a mountain to climb for the chess players? Pick of the BCF bowlers were the opening pair – Anandajeyarajah (4 for 27) and Poobalasingam (3 for 40). Young Danny Hall took two excellent catches, Toll coaxing a good fielding performance from his troops.

Bridlington 2nds

After a truly memorable tea (thanks to the Bridlington Ladies), BCF faced up to Everest. Warned by Andy Martin not to ‘crab about’ Toll and Eggleston renewed their profitable opening partnership from Edinburgh (2003) and Torquay (2002).
Required to score at a rate of 7 runs per over, risks had to be taken. In the 7th over, after a useful start of 48 runs, Eggleston chipped a simple catch to mid-wicket. Bob Jervis joined his skipper and runs came easily. Toll opened his shoulders to good effect and boundaries came thick and fast – starting with a massive six on to the adjoining railway line. After an entertaining partnership of 94 – a record for the BCF 2nd wicket – Jervis was smartly caught and bowled by Rudd. Toll, meanwhile, had pulled his hamstring going for a quick single and was visibly handicapped. A runner joined the fray as Andy Martin joined his partner of 24 matches. Teeing off from the crease, Toll dealt largely in boundaries, reaching his maiden BCF half-century in good time.

The Yorkshire crowd were beginning to get a little worried as their huge total was eroded away. On came BCF’s destroyer from the first innings. Younis turned out to also be a very useful fast bowler – it wasn’t going to be easy to score at 8 per over off his bowling! Martin tried gamely to smack him for a boundary – and lost his off-stump. Toll’s marathon knock came to an ungainly end, just 8 short of his century - attempting to slog the young off-spinner Rudd for yet another boundary, only succeeding in chopping the ball on to his wicket. Simons compiled a useful contribution of 15 before departing as a result of a highly dubious lbw decision (aren’t they all?). Younis then dismantled the BCF tail completely – including a hat-trick! Anandajeyarajah, Joe Jervis and Danny Hall all had their stumps smashed out of the pitch as the visitor’s challenge disappeared.

Clowerty wrapped up proceedings, BCF all out for 210 – 63 runs short of victory. A game attempt, but one man’s undeniable brilliance had dominated proceedings. Younis with 115 runs and 4 for 12 was the Man of the Match - without any dispute.
Another memorable match, with some excellent sportsmanship and hospitality from our hosts. Next year sees the team’s Silver Jubilee match – across the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man! Bring it on!……….

Bridlington CC Innings

Fall of Wickets:

1 for 19 (2), 2 for 19 (3), 3 for 24 (4), 4 for 30 (1), 5 for 39 (6),
6 for 168 (5), 7 for 188 (7), 8 for 215 (8), 9 for 225 (9).

BCF Innings

Fall of Wickets:

1 for 46 (2), 2 for 140 (3), 3 for 170 (4), 4 for 177 (5), 5 for 178 (1),
6 for 184 (7), 7 for 184 (8), 8 for 184 (9), 9 for 202 (6), 10 for 210 (11).

Result: Bridlington CC beat BCF CC by 63 runs.