Wanstead CC face the camera in Jamaica with former Test umpire Steve Bucknor

Mixed start for Wanstead

Lee Power Monday, February 18, 2013
6:56 AM

Tour diary, day one

Wanstead Cricket Club endured mixed fortunes in the opening fixtures of their tour to Jamaica.

Having flown out to the Caribbean island on Thursday and visited Sabina Park on their way from the airport to their hotel, the 26-strong group enjoyed a trip to the Appleton Rum Factory and YS Falls on Friday.

Having learned how rum is created from sugar cane, they took to the swamps of the Black River and got a close-up view of crocodiles, before spending the evening in more sedate company of former England Test cricketers Devon Malcolm, Phil Defreitas and John Lever, who are on tour in Kingston with the House of Commons/Lords XI.

Wanstead got their first taste of action on Saturday at the Comfort Cricket Tournament, where former Test umpire Steve Bucknor was the special guest.

Facing South East St Elizabath in a two-innings 10-overs match, Wanstead restricted their rivals to 45-4 first time around, with Fayyaz Khan, Zain Shahzad, Joe Ellis-Grewal, Asif Majid and Adnan Akram bowling well.

Mahesh Velani (21 not out) and Akram helped Wanstead reply with 38-4, with Shahzad also unbeaten at the end of the brief innings.

But Wanstead saw their rivals score a further 55 runs in their second innings, despite good spells from Fayyaz and Shahzad.

Velani increased his score to 31 as Wanstead reduced their victory target to eight runs off the final over.

But Wanstead could only manage three more runs, with Shahzad unbeaten on 29 as they slipped to a four-run defeat.

Facing Mowbay Masters in the third-place play-off, Wanstead saw Shahzad claim three wickets and Asif Khan strike with his first delivery – fresh from a long-haul flight via London and New York!

Left to chase 65 from a reduced eight overs, Velani made a quickfire 13 before being bowled.

Majid and Joe Palmer soon followed, but Akram (27 not out) and Shahzad (20 not out) saw the tourists home with one ball to spare.

During the day Wanstead members also spent time coaching underprivileged children from the local community.

Wanstead were due to face Portlands CC yesterday (Sunday) in a 40-over match.