Story [Battrick]An Unpopular American Tale of Furious Dragons - Youth Pull Day, 12/01

surendar

ICC Chairman
Joined
Feb 15, 2006
Location
Bentonville, US
Profile Flag
India
Online Cricket Games Owned
  1. Don Bradman Cricket 14 - PS3
  2. Don Bradman Cricket 14 - Steam PC
  3. Don Bradman Cricket 14 - Xbox One
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On Nov 25, 2018: A small cricket club named "Furious Dragons" was formed on unknown cricketing land "United States of America".

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Club manager, "Suren Ram" immediately arranged for small press to publish this unknown side of his club to media. He was really surprised by lot of questions raised by some reporters. Few includes,

Code:
"Oh, I thought this press release is for some baseball club. Well, what is cricket? New mobile carrier?"
"You must be having lot of money for this hobby! Tell us more!"
"This must be kind of joke? Press release for cricket in USA?"

That is right, it seems be to a real bold move for Suren Ram in attempting to establish such a franchise in an unknown land for the sport. To spice it up even further, this club consists of 50% of players from 30 years category(mid-aged group). It has been rumored that this club manager got hold of several players from a rejected pool of players failing to make to local club of baseball team & lot of money has been invested for intensive training sessions to convert them as cricketers!

However, club manager refused to confirm any of these rumors and just looking forward for more fun to play some cricket in United States of America.

HOME GROUND : FURIOUS DRAGONS CG

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Not a big ground, but decent enough to support an entire match. Groundsman, Peter Pitchfork has taken some serious measures to improve the nature of this pitch. Is this pitch going to be green? dusty? hard? flat? Well, none knows including the groundsman. At this point, club manager "Suren Ram" just hopes that Peter gets something right at the least in providing a playable pitch.

SQUAD DETAILS

AGE GROUP : 17 YO - 27 YO
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Julius Lawrenson(:bat:), Nicky Potts(:bwl:), Gordan Halpenny(:bat:), Tyler Mcgregor(:ar:), Alf Khuliso(:bwl:), Ollie Croll(:ar:), Greg Winn(:bwl:), Rick Gartlan(:bat:), Lyel Geraghty(:bwl:)


AGE GROUP : 28 YO - 35 YO

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David Gilkes(:bat:), Barday Rutter(:wkb:), Percy Spyrou(:bat:), Enda Weight(:bat:), Cory Duke(:ar:), Alistair Sweeney(:bwl:), Douglas Henson(:bwl:), Kay McLaurin(:bwl:), Clifford Shane(:bwl:)

DEBUT OF FURIOUS DRAGONS : Best of 3 OD Matches with Sweex CC

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Stay Tuned to find out more ...
 

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surendar

ICC Chairman
Joined
Feb 15, 2006
Location
Bentonville, US
Profile Flag
India
Online Cricket Games Owned
  1. Don Bradman Cricket 14 - PS3
  2. Don Bradman Cricket 14 - Steam PC
  3. Don Bradman Cricket 14 - Xbox One
MATCH DAY : FIRST OD, Best of 3 OD Series

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On their very first match day, Dragon boys were very excited to go out there and give their best shot. With beautiful sunny conditions on hard/fast wicket, it certainly looked as best conditions for both the sides. Sweex CC seemed to be very decent looking side and they elected to bat first after winning the toss.

TARGET : 225, NOT A BAD START!


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None could look for a better start when you get your first wicket after a maiden first over in your first match!

1.4 W Winn to Custis
Custis comes forward to a shorter ball just outside off stump, straightens off the seam and finds the probing outside edge, straight through to Rutter.

This set a very positive body language for dragon boys and they continued their momentum in maintaining tight line and length for majority of their bowling. It wasn't enough though to break the cautiousness of Sweex team and their opener "Teddy Harmison" remained as threat to dragon boys. Harmison ended up with 101* and with some acceleration in last 10 overs, Sweex team managed to set 225 runs as their target to defend.

Batting conditions really seemed good, and with lot of wickets on their hands - it was probably a below par score from Sweex team. May be, some credits to Dragon bowlers to get their first 40 overs right with tight bowling sticking to basics!

DRAGONS BOWLING CARD

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LAWRENSON : SETTING RIGHT MOMENTUM FOR THE CHASE

7.5 4 Eade to Lawrenson
Cries of 'catch it' ring around the ground but that edge will avoid all the fielders and accelerate across the outfield for four.

7.2 4 Eade to Lawrenson
When Lawrenson is in full flow, you are ensured entertainment worth every penny of your money... and more. That is a glorious shot for four, piercing the protection around extra cover.

7.1 6 Eade to Lawrenson
'You miss, I hit' is the name of the game. Eade misses his ideal length, and Lawrenson hits the ball clean out of the ground.

5.6 6 Eade to Lawrenson
I know we commentators sometimes go OTT when describing sixes, but I suspect it'll be quicker to select a new ball than to locate the old one. That landed somewhere in the car park behind the stand.

Julius Lawrenson, the opener of Furious Dragons broke free during the early stages of this chase taking their one of the best bowlers, Eade out of the attack. He started connecting the shots naturally/seamlessly and it really impressed the club manager watching from pavilion! May be, Lawrenson could turn out as potential asset of this club?

Barday Rutter(wicket keeper batsman) and Lawrenson continued ticking the scoring rate and brought their team closer to the target and reached their fifties in style.

16.5 4 Goodliffe to Lawrenson
Fantastic drive through the covers. Gledhill threw every fibre of his body towards the red cherry, but nothing was stopping that. Four runs for Lawrenson.
And that's his fifty! Well played.

24.6 1 Goodliffe to Rutter
Goodliffe has just moved silly mid off to extra cover. It's debatable whether that decision has just saved a four or cost the single as Rutter pushes the ball into the space.
And that's his fifty! Well played.

Lawrenson and Rutter added 147 runs partnership for the 2nd wicket and Dragons looked very comfortable at driver's seat. It was when Lawrenson started looking even more dangerous trying to finish the match quickly with back to back big hits, Sweex club boys took 3 wickets back to back. It included the threatening opener, Lawrenson and well set batsman, Rutter.

25.4 6 Elford to Lawrenson
That was a poor ball, and Lawrenson's hit it high into the stands... Right towards our commentary box actually... Oh dear- we're going to need a new window. A quite literally smashing shot.

26.6 6 Goodliffe to Lawrenson
Goes for a big hook and it's top edged over Custis's head for six
29.6 W Elford to Lawrenson
Shortish delivery and Lawrenson has a go at it, but only succeeds in sending it right back to Elford for an easy catch.
33.6 W Gelder to Rutter
Gelder bounces a short one in to Rutter, who obligingly pops it straight into the hands of square leg.
35.3 W Gelder to Gilkes
Gilkes takes a wild swing at that, he's swinging at them like a January sale. Everything must go. Shame for him it was the middle stump. Out!

With both the set batsmen OUT, Sweex team did have some momentum to trigger a quick collapse. Lawrenson was dismissed for 84 runs( 4 SIXES, 5 FOURS ) and Rutter for steady 67 runs( 3 FOURS). However, thanks to lower order players of Dragons - Spyrou and Duke who played sensible at the end bring their team, a sweet victory on Debut.

36.1 6 Elford to Spyrou
Super shot from Spyrou, a casual bottom hand flip away for six over midwicket as Elford strays legwards.
37.3 6 Gelder to Duke
Audacious shot. He's gone down on one knee and slog-swept that clear over the midwicket fence.
41.4 6 Elford to Spyrou
Did Spyrou grow up on a farm? That shot was completely agricultural. Not a hint of technique but a good eye and a strong arm sends it into the stands.

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Without doubts, Furious Dragons remained in control from the start of this game and managed to convert their hard works to a memorable victory! Dragon boys, by no means, have any experience with this sport and it was immaculate team work from the club boys to convert this to a WIN! Dragon boys indeed had lots of fun to just go out there and try whatever they could do. Lawrenson was declared as MOM for his brave 84 runs that includes 4 BIG sixes and 5 elegant fours!

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FULL SCORECARD

Can Sweex get their revenge on this unexpected loss? Who thought that Furious Dragons could even win a match? Not even their club manager, Suren Ram!

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Stay Tuned for the Second OD match...
 

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surendar

ICC Chairman
Joined
Feb 15, 2006
Location
Bentonville, US
Profile Flag
India
Online Cricket Games Owned
  1. Don Bradman Cricket 14 - PS3
  2. Don Bradman Cricket 14 - Steam PC
  3. Don Bradman Cricket 14 - Xbox One
MATCH DAY : END OF SECOND OD, SERIES LEVELED 1-1
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On a beautiful green wicket in Furious Dragons' home ground - dragon boys got carried away with lack of experience in their very second match against Sweex team. For second time in a row, Sweex team had to bat first with good amount of pressure on them with majority of little audience( just around 300 spectators ) rooting for Sweex team to square this series. It was surprising to see very little support for Furious Dragons in their own den!

TARGET : 218, YET ANOTHER LOW SCORE TO DEFEND

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Sweex team did have very great start in accelerating first few overs despite loosing early wicket once again in very first over. Thanks to solid 118 runs partnership for second wicket, Harmison remained as threat once again. However, Dragon boys excelled in middle overs bowling and managed to get the run rate of their opponents in complete control. In particular, 5th bowling change - Winn( who was smashed all round in previous game ), did the trick of making the flow of runs more difficult. He ended up giving away only 28 runs for his magnificent bowling spell of 10 overs. There were multiple close shouts for keeper catches and LBWs but Sweex just got lucky on those occasions as they got turned down.

It was yet another low scoring display from Sweex team, they only managed to put 218 on board to defend.

VERY POOR CHASE - LACK OF EXPERIENCE TO GET THE JOB DONE!!

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Sweex bowlers were spot on in their second innings to defend this small target. Their back to back wickets in very 6th over of this chase applied immense pressure on Dragon boys to an extent that, even dangerous looking Lawrenson(shining star of first OD match) seemed very ordinary and defensive with around 50% strike rate.

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Lawrenson and Gilkes tried their best to restore the situation back to normal with steady partnership for third wicket, but Sweex bowlers owned them completely between 30-40 overs of this chase. Only 35 runs came up between 30 and 40 overs, and lack of experience clearly and wrongly pressed the panic button! Required run rate quickly climbed from around 4 RPO to 8 RPO forcing batsmen to make mistakes and it became too much for lower order to repair the damage done.

Yes, Furious Dragons failed to go past that low target of 218 runs despite having plenty of wickets in hand at end overs.

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Code:
"This would be the classic example where you just want to stick to basics and finish it simple.
Clearly we failed, and it has been a very good lesson for us. 
Our boys would bounce back in next game and I am confident in our boys to learn and adapt very quickly! ", club manager added.

FULL SCORECARD

Stay Tuned for Series decider, 3rd OD!
 

surendar

ICC Chairman
Joined
Feb 15, 2006
Location
Bentonville, US
Profile Flag
India
Online Cricket Games Owned
  1. Don Bradman Cricket 14 - PS3
  2. Don Bradman Cricket 14 - Steam PC
  3. Don Bradman Cricket 14 - Xbox One
MATCH DAY : END OF FIRST OD SERIES, FURIOUS DRAGONS TRIUMPHS 2 - 1

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As a club manager, day couldn't have started better when you wake up with the news of more members joining the club adding support to very young dragons club!! This positive starting moment for the club continued and made it even more better when Dragon boys wrapped up and won the 3 OD match series against Sweex team.

SERIES DECIDER: A NAIL BITING FINISHER

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Dragons team surprised Sweex team on the pitch conditions by converting from green top to flat road bully! May be manipulative move from the club manager? It is all part of this game still. Sweex team failed to convert their advantage of batting first as they only managed to put around 236 runs on such a flat track. Bowlers of Furious Dragons did an exceptional job once again by bowling according to their team's plan and containing the opponents to such a low score.

START TO END - DRAGON BOYS IN COMPLETE CONTROL

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Though Dragon boys lost early 2 wickets including their shining star "Lawrenson", rest of Dragon's batsmen in middle order stepped up their game when team needed them. 69 runs partnership for the third wicket between Rutter and Gilkes, & 142 runs partnership between Gilkes and Weight took Furious Dragons safely home.

There were some hiccups in last 10 overs as runs seemed difficult to keep ticking, however Gilkes and Weight maintained their temper till the last over and managed to get the victory runs for the team. Gilkes ended up with 92* but MOM went to Sweex team's Harmison who grabbed his second century of this series. He was also awarded Man of this OD series for his 2 100s and 1 50 which was indeed an exceptional one man show from Sweex team. It should have been a real upset for Sweex team as they did everything they could and probably, Dragon boys team chemistry took the slightest advantage to bring their debut OD series win!!

Probably, this must have been that ONE ODD UNPOPULAR SERIES where the team managed to win the trophy with MOM and MOS going to opponent team loosing the series.

FRIENDLY OD MATCH, FURIOUS DRAGONS GOT OWNED!

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Furious Dragons, in attempt to learn more from more difficult opponents, they played a very casual friendly match with Eastleigh team which by no means is on same level as Dragons club. To be noted, Eastleigh team consists of several ELITE players like champions. Furious Dragons got crushed and owned, but they did learn a lot in batting department as they managed to get past 40 overs when everyone thought that they could not even make past the first 20 overs!

FULL SCORECARD - Furious Dragons Vs Sweex, Series Decider
FULL SCORECARD - Furious Dragons Vs Eastleigh

"This is part of our learning process. We wanted to play champion teams in order to feel what those champion players are made of. There is nothing to be ashamed to loose against quality opponents, instead you learn from them on how to survive this competitive world! We will play more and more competitive teams and winning outcome is not really our end goal but to learn from those competitive games is our end goal!", club manager "Suren Ram" added.

Stay Tuned to find out more on this journey of Furious Dragons...
 

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surendar

ICC Chairman
Joined
Feb 15, 2006
Location
Bentonville, US
Profile Flag
India
Online Cricket Games Owned
  1. Don Bradman Cricket 14 - PS3
  2. Don Bradman Cricket 14 - Steam PC
  3. Don Bradman Cricket 14 - Xbox One
NEW RECRUIT : FURIOUS DRAGONS CLUB WELCOMES DARA WILMERS

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Code:
"Young Wilmers seems to be a very promising recruit for us, hope he gets going from Day 1.
Club has lot of plans for him and if Mr Wilmers is willing to take that additional mile 
putting his hard efforts in our training sessions, 
he might end up in USA U-19 line up as well. It is ofcourse the dream for all 17 YO players 
and for all the club managers! 

We are willing to do everything we could, to develop Wimers into [B]a future shining star for our nation![/B] "
Club manager "Suren Ram" added in press conference of USA club managers before the start of current new season.
 

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