John Bright Trophy: Holders E&Y dumped out by newcomers Phoenix
Jul 29 2010 Lord's Taverners John Bright Trophy
High drama in the Lord’s Taverners John Bright Trophy. Holders Ernst & Young have been knocked out by newcomers Phoenix Group, while fellow accountants KPMG just won a tense semi-final encounter with solicitors Challinors.
To misquote Bob Dylan, don’t ask the weatherman which way the wind blows. The first semi-final in Birmingham’s main corporate cricket tournament was reduced to 14 overs due to a heavy rain forecast that never arrived at Britannic Park, Moseley.
Handicapped by matchday dropouts, E & Y were restricted to 125 for five by an impressive all-round bowling display. Skipper Simon Bird’s domineering 35 retired and James Raine’s invaluable 29 provided key innings but nobody mastered accurate seamer Mike Hoyes (1-9) and pacy Qasim Akbar (1-11).
Openers Chris Acaster (31) and Akbar (25) then provided the platform for a Phoenix victory with 13 balls to spare. But the virtuoso performance came from Bird, following his fine innings with a remarkable 1-3 analysis in his two eight-ball overs delivered at full pace despite a knee injury.
The second semi-final saw Challinors’ batting line-up restricted to a 140 total.
Skipper and opener Andrew Thomson scored an invaluable 31 while KPMG captain Simon Griffiths (3-8) took three wickets in four balls in a fine spell.
Victory then seemed a formality thanks to Chris Weaver (40 retired) and Craig Hughes (36 rtd). But spinner Richard Lowe (3-4) engineered an astonishing collapse that left KPMG needing five in the final over. With three balls left, all-rounder Ben Tarry concluded his match-winning innings with a superbly-struck six. KPMG meet Phoenix Group in the final on September 1.
Semi-Final results:
Tue July 20 – Ernst & Young 125/5 in 16 overs (S Bird 35 rtd, J Raine 29, M Hoyes 1-9, Q Akbar 1-11, J Jacobs 1-16, C Watkins 1-22) Phoenix Group 128/4 in 12.3 overs (C Acaster 31, Q Akbar 25, R Bryn-Hussey 14*, S Bird 1-3, A Qureshi 1-12, S Chaudhry 1-18).
Phoenix Group won by 6 wkts
Wed July 21 – Challinors 140 in 15.4 overs (A Thomson 31, M Scotney 26, S Griffiths 3-8, C Hughes 2-15, H Haridas 1-14, M Trivedi 1-15) KPMG 141/6 in 15.6 overs (C Weaver 40 rtd. C Hughes 36 rtd, B Tarry 32*, R Lowe 3-4, C Lloyd-Smith 1-14, J Major 1-15).
KPMG won by 4 wkts
