Sarasota Sixes

The Final:

Veni, Vidi, Vici (not) Final:

Village Greenies v Houston Memorial - Six-a-Side Final (10 overs)

A well-oiled Memorial would be confident as current holders of the trophy and having won the event on 8 previous occasions. Greenies, as perpetual bridesmaids, were 0-5 from previous finals. Memorial had flown in 3 ex-players from Down Under, contrasting with Greenies' Outlaw Pete having flown in from that cricketing hotspot, Belfast. Mike Gatting's son " Jimbo" also guested for Memorial adding a chunky resilience to their side. In addition, Ryan Corns, star of the US under 19 team in the recent World Cup Qualifier, brought his all round talents to the table. Add in Jermaine Levine, a West Indies first class player and Greenies were up against it. Greenies broke with tradition and gave an opportunity to Ian Rotsey, a product of their youth development scheme, bringing the average age down to a mere 35. PaddyPower had Greenies at 10-1 with Memorial at 5-1 on-favourites.

Build-up:

As the Greenies shrugged off their obligatory hangovers, the Memorial guys kicked sand in their face. Memorial went through their paces with shuttle runs and aerobic workouts. Greenies then gulped down the Burger King breakfast as Memorial dined on a scientifically constructed macrobiotic diet of raw meat.

The Game:

Greenies lost the toss but with Frankie Hinds in good nick, although settling for 4s rather than the usual 6s, the score progressed nicely at circa 12 an over. Frankie hit an exquisite, sumptuous, elegant, classical, controlled (***) clip through mid-wicket for 4, followed by the next ball being savagely blatted in the same area, again for 4. At 23, Frankie made the mistake of thinking his name was Usain and not Frankie and was run out chasing an ambitious second run. Greenies 40-1 (odds now 30-1) as Simon Wetherell, with an expectant audience, joined Rotsey at the wicket. Simon then showed there's more to Ozzies than boomerangs and baby-eating dingoes. Simon's eyes lit up as he noted the left arm spin (or in Simonspeak, left arm straights). Sure enough, Levine was deposited in the nearby bird sanctuary, upsetting the cranes' post-prandial nap. Showing no respect for Ryan Corns reputation, another 6 was sent to cow corner. Showing that he was not a "one trick pony", Simon played an exquisite, etc (see *** above) off-drive off Corns to put Greenies 85-1 in the 8th over with Rotsey batting well at the other end. Computer projections hinted at 130 as the final score. Anyway, Simon now high on adrenalin, tried a repeat dose and was castled next ball. A mini collapse ensued and it was left to Ian Rotsey (aka Roxy and Ratsing in the scorebooks) with Skipper Dave McGrath to shepherd Greenies to 106-4 - a good effort, competitive, but probably 20-30 short of a winning total. All credit to youngster Ian Rotsey, showing a maturity beyond his years, for a fine knock, anchoring the innings - a veritable sheet anchor, mixing aggressive strokes with hard running. He carried his bat, wielding it like a rod, for 37 not out, the first instance at Sarasota since Geoff Boycott carried his bat for 10 not out (10 overs) in 10 BC.

Break between innings:

Memorial did more aerobics as Greenies cracked open a bottle of wine (Merlot - quaffable but not translucent) and the skipper passed the fags around (this is not a public school reference). Vital for success was the need for early wickets. A lawyer chirped up about early wickets being "Sine qua non" - Frankie nodded in agreement.

Second Innings:

Unfortunately, Memorial's batting oozed quality, like the Merlot, and without undue concern Corns and Fat Gatt, Jr had amassed 50 in the 4th over despite the best efforts of Frankie Hinds and Hector Robinson. Dave eschewed the aggressive fields of 3 slips and a gully for the more conservative, geometric spread of fielders round the boundary. Skipper McGrath juggled his bowlers mixing spin with pace, but was missing the lethal accuracy and fiery pace of the senior members of the 2's. Nepotism reared its ugly head as in a last ditch effort, Dave threw the ball to brother Pete (a Colin Farrell lookalike). Fat Gatt Jr retired to double rations of Bangers & Mash (balti style) and eventually wickets came, but too little too late. Pete took a good catch off brother Dave, who bowled a cunning top-spinning doosra/googly. You don't drop catches off your brother!!!! Dave took a good one off Rotsey. Overall, Memorial were made to work for their runs and eventually won in the 9th over. A great tournament and excellent final ended with the setting sun, in shades of orange and magenta, dipping over the horizon, as Old Father Thyme brought proceedings to an elegaic end.

Greenies team: Dave McGrath (skipper), Frankie Hinds, Ian Rotsey, Simon Wetherell, Pete McGrath, Hector Robinson

Match scores:
Greenies 105-4 (Rotsey 37*, Wetherell 26, Hinds 23)
Memorial, Houston (Gatting 36 not out, Corns 34, D. McGrath 1 wicket, I. Rotsey 1 wicket)
Greenies lose by 3 wickets

Man of the Match: Ian Rotsey
COTD : Pending, as fine session degenerated into a drunken stupor.


Sunday morning

On a beautiful, sunny morning in Sarasota the Greenies took on the Evergreenies in a 10 over match with the winners earning the right to play Houston in the final. Charlie Adams cured his numeric disadvantage by co-opting 3 ringers for the Toos. McGrath won his first toss of the festival and took the conservative option of putting the Toos in. The Ones' bowling was average and their fielding was sub-abject, with a few players clearly eager to fill their boots with Blackcurrant Absolut at the Sunday evening fine session. Charlie played a captain's knock and ancored the innings with an unbeaten 36. He was ably assisted by some of his Ozzie ringers, 3 of whom chipped in with double figure scores. The Toos finishing total of 93 looked a bit light against the Ones' batting line up. And so it proved as the Ones knocked off 94 for 1 inside 5 overs. Frankie starred with 35no off about 12 balls. Rotsey was on 4 when Frankie retired but he moved up about 3 gears when Frankie left finishing on 33 no with Hector who made 2. Beefie and Keith Robinson came in for the most bowling stick although bowling to Frankie in Sarasota is fortunately not something which many Greenies have had to endure. Greenies against Houston in the final at 3pm with a few of the Greenies starting to show their age and physical inabilities by this late stage of the festival.


Saturday afternoon

The Ones faced Houston Toos in the final game of the day with the tantilizing proposition of an all-Greenies semi final if the Ones won. McGrath continued his run of losing tosses and the Greenies were inserted. Frankie started briskly with a flurry of boundaries but Rotsey was bowled for one in the first over. Simon Wetherell came in at 3 with a big job to do. Frankie and Simon pushed score on rapidly with some big hitting until Frankie had to retire. Pete McGrath and Simon continued the Greenies' impressive batting until Simon also had to retire on 25.

Pete was stumped playing an agricultural shot. Hector then had the inspired and cunning play of the day by elbowing one to his stumps which meant that Frankie could come back in for the last 8 balls. Frankie hit a couple of sixes before he was clean bowled. Simon came back in and deposited his first ball for 6 and the Greenies finished with the tournament's highest score of 98 off 7 overs. Surely even the Greenies could not conspire to clutch defeat from the jaws of victory?

Things began badly when Frankie's first ball was a no ball which was top edged for 4. The second ball was short-armed over mid-wicket for 6 so Houston were 12 off one regulation delivery. Hector's first over included 2 wides and a no ball and so after our two most reliable bowlers had bowled, Houston Toos were 35 for 0 off 2 overs. The next 3 overs were bowled by McGrath, Frankie and Hector and the bleeding was slowed a little. The strike rate was also reduced when the two Houston openers both had to retire.

Greenies last two overs were to be bowled by Rotsey and Pete McGrath. The total required was still high but within reach. The sun had dropped making fielding impossible and the partisan Houston crowd was getting rowdy as it sensed the potential of a memorable Houston victory. The penultimate over bowled by Rotsey did not go too well with a couple of massive sixes deposited over the clubhouse. This left Houston needing 14 off the last over bowled by Pete McGrath.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. The younger and marginally slimmer McGrath bowled an excellent final over restricting Houston to 10 and Greenieswon by 4 runs to set up an all Greenies semi-final at 11 am on the final day of the festival. The Houston Toos against Greenies match was one of the most exciting fixtures in Sarasota history.

The all-Greenies semi-final poses a number of fascinating questions: will Frankie be able to handle the terrifying pace of Beefie off his long run up? Will Charlie be able to pick McGrath's straight one? But most importantly, how on earth are we going to play a 6 a side match with 9 players and 10 shirts?


Saturday morning

With Houston Firsts comfortable winners of Group A, the Toos faced Sarasota in a win or go home fixture. Charlie won his first toss and put Sarasota in. This in itself was a brave move and made Charlie immediate contender for COTM as there was a rumour that Faoud Bacchus (ex West Indian test opener) was shortly arriving. When the Greenies landed it near the track, they actually bowled quite reasonably. However the Greenies were filled with charitable Thanksgiving spirit and donated 23 in wides off just 7 overs. Keith (the younger and better looking Robinson 'twin') got himself into the running for COTM with a double digit over which went for 25. Looking at the Toos' batting, 87 looked at best unlikely.

Charlie and Rotsey opened the batting. They were seeing it well but not enormously keen on running. Rotsey seemed particularly handicapped by the remnants of a bottle of spiced rum. The openers took a few overs to get into their stride but kept the Toos well on target until both of them had to retire on 25no. This left an intersting pair of Dave McGrath and Hector Robinson needing to make 16 off 8 balls for the Toos to advance. In a nail biting finish and with Hector whipping McGrath along for twos off every ball Greenies got themselves to 3 required for vicory off the last ball. McGrath was the striker and looked like a spent man. With an educated edge down to 3rd man they managed to scamper 2. The scores were tied and the Toos won due to not losing a wicket and were into the semis. Some of the Toos put their feet up, had a greenie and watched the remaining fixtures to scout their opponents.


Friday afternoon

The Toos recovered from their miserable morning performance with an impressive victory against a bunch of Ozzies. Charlie lost another toss and the Toos were in the field first. The skipper took the brave and potentially foolhardy decision of not donning the gloves. The Ozzies pushed along at a reasonable rate until the Flying Pig brought himself on. Sphincters were twitching on the sidelines. And rightly so. The spirit of Big Red in Sarasota was revived as Charlie bowled a remarkable 12 ball over. What was most remarkable was that of the 19 runs conceded, only 5 were off the bat. Beefie rolled back the years and fuelled by 4 or 5 patties he bowled a miserly, Scottish final over taking 2 wickets for 6. 73 was the unlikely number for victory. Rotsey made his debut for the Toos and made a quick 25 before retiring. The president wielded the axe for a quick 15 and Charlie came to the middle with a deficit of minus 19. There were a surprising number of twos run as Charlie and Rotsey pushed towards the required total until Rotsey had to retire. Beefie strode out with 6 needed. 114 years and 450 lbs of Greenies experience met in the middle. Beefie scampered one off one ball and Charlie brought things home with a boundary. An unlikely victory after an inauspicious start. The Toos now have a straight head to head with Sarasota in the morning for a place in the semis.

The Ones continued with another handy victory against the Titans. The Titans elected to bat after McGrath lost the 4th toss in a row for the Greenies. Greenies bowled and fielded very well with Frankie bowling particularly tight. The Titans only managed 57 for 3 off 7. Greenies knocked them off in 4 and a bit overs without loss. Frankie went aerial for 25no, Rotsey ancored with 22 no and Pete McGrath made a cameo apperance with 10 no. Greenies face Houston Toos tomorrow afternoon to determine who wins Group B.


Friday morning

 On a ball shatteringly fresh morning in 'sunny' Sarasota, the Toos entered the tournament against a very strong Houston Memorial team. Charlie Adams lost the toss and the Toos were sent in. Runs proved hard to come by against a miserly Houston attack and matters were not assisted by the mandatory couple of Greenies run outs. The Toos posted a sub par total of 43 off their 7 overs with a top score of 16 by Chris Hardy on debut. The Toos seemed to be labouring under the idea that it was a 40 over match. Houston knocked the runs in 3 or 4 overs with Chris Hardy and Pete McGrath taking a bit of punishment.


Thursday

 Greenies began their Sarasota campaign with a professional and workmanlike opening victory against one of the host Sarasota teams. The home team won the toss and decided to make use of the last of the late afternoon sun by batting. Our opening Jamaican attack of Frankie and Hector made early inroads by taking a wicket each in their overs. The British and Irish Lions were represented by Rotsey and the 2 McGraths who bowled quite tightly to leave the Jammies to close the door on the hosts who ended up 61 for 3 off 7 overs. The Greenies knocked off the 61 in 4 and a bit overs with Rotsey making his 25* in double quick time. Frankie anchored the innings with a 23* including 3 sixes and a couple of uncharacteristic singles. The president closed the match with a brief cameo knock. Daily awards and fines shortly to be decided accompanied by a smorgasbord of Jagermeister, green rum and Absolut.


Thursday's awards

 MVP - Rotsey and COTD - Pete McGrath