Dec, 2014 – Chiba Sharks Awards Ceremony 2014

Moto Yawata, Chiba 06.12.14 By Dave Lollback Sharks of all species and weights assembled in the city of Ichikawa last Saturday 6 December clutching the hottest tickets in town – VIP entry to the 2014 Chiba Sharks Awards Party. This strictly invitation-only affair was hosted by the enchanting proprietress and obliging staff of “Indian Food Athithi,” purveyors of exquisite South Asian delicacies and proud operators of arguably the best Indian restaurant within eight minutes’ walk of Moto-Yawata Station.

Ravenous hordes of paparazzi flash-bulbed the night into day as a school of stylish Sharks, Sharkettes, and Sharklets set the red carpet alight in their finest Uniqlo and Shimamura ensembles. Many of the neighboring residents were heard to gasp and breathlessly remark that the sensible pants-and-jumper combination sported by Sharks life member Chris Thurgate was undoubtedly the fashion highlight of the awards season thus far. Once inside, everyone was quick to slake their thirst with a liquid dispensed from a machine with a beer label on it or to partake of mango lassi. Delicious edibles were available throughout the day, with the fish in particular drawing high praise from many. There was some early alarm when Vicky and Prashant noticed that the Tiranga, or the glorious tri-color national flag of India, was prominently displayed upside down on the premises’ wall – an international signal of distress. There was palpable relief, however, when it was discovered that this was simply an oversight, and the restaurant’s toilets were in fine working order. Needless to say, Prashant and Vicky both very pointedly righted the flag so that it’s deep saffron took pride of place at the top, not at the bottom.

A cosmos of Shark stars both present and future, and the extended Sharks family, were on hand to celebrate a long, full, and relative fruitful season 2014, including: Anton, Minami, Zain, Nick & Meg & Jack & Oliver, Takady, Takuma, Rui, Sagar, Aditya T, Alwin, Rob & Sam, Karthik, Atharva, Chris M, Vicky, Chris T, Dhugal, Prashant & Sonali & Aditya, and Dave & Kyoko. There was much to get through and so Chris M and Anton maintained a cracking pace throughout the event. Each award announcement was met by clapping of fins and raucous cheers, probably only surpassed in volume by the sonorous trumpeting of those of us whose fragile constitutions were left to deal later with the after-effects of a heady mixture of fermented beverages and spiced foodstuffs. All Sharks in attendance no doubt greatly appreciated the work of Anton, for enthusiastically undertaking the job of MC for most of the event, and especially that of Chris M, who graciously jumped in to take on the role of organizer of the party, as the person who volunteered for that role at the beginning of the year was AWOL (is that how you spell it? Well, close enough). See who won what below!

March

________________________________________ 29th Friendly vs Bundy Rumblers at Fuji Lost by 3 wkts Touring team from Australia. Lovely people. Organised by CT. Sharks batted first. Loads of Ducks. 81 ao Bundy batted hard and won in the final over BF – Takady 3rd – Anton 2nd – Sumon 1st – Vicky (29 and a few wickets)

April

________________________________________ 05th – JCL1 vs Wyverns 1 at Tanuma Won by 5wkts Wyverns bat first but were demolished by brilliant bowling from Takady, Adit, Vicky and Alwin 2 wkts apiece. 95 ao in 33ov Sharks get there for 5wkts in 29.

BF – Dhugal 3rd – Vicky 1st= Dhugal (85 n.o.) 1st = Takady (2/3 and 4 mdns) 13th – JCL1 vs Wombats at Fuji Lost by 5wkts Sharks bat first – woeful 76 ao Wombats win in the 14th for 5 wkts BF – Mairaj, Rui, Zain, Adit 3rd – Rui 2nd – Dave 1st – Takady (3/32) 26th – JCL1 vs Sano1 at Tanuma Lost by 8wkts Sharks bat first 193/7 off 40 – not a bad effort with contributions all down the card No spark in the Sharks bowling or fielding. Sano breached our total in the 33rd over for 2 wkts BF – Anton 3rd – Ashiq 2nd – Dave 1st – Prashant (boundary filled 49) 27th – JCL2 vs Fuji Far East at Tanuma Lost by 75 runs Fuji bat first and rack up 4/331 from 40 wkts Thurgate leads the fight back with 125 off 79 balls (14f/5s) but all out in the 30 for 256 MOM – Zain, for a solid supporting role with the bat

May

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03rd – JCUP vs British Embassy at YCAC Won by 90 runs Sharks bat first and rack up 174 for 4 Great bowling all through the list to restrict YCAC to 84 BF – KB 3rd – Pave 2nd – Prashant 1st – Dave (62 n/o) 24th – JCL1 vs Paddy Foleys1 at Sano3 Won by 26 runs Sharks bat first, lots of contributions see us pile on 6/304 after 40 PF hit big as usual but regular falling wickets mean PF fall just short at 278 BF – Takady 3rd – Takady 2nd – Dave 1st – Dhughal (97 and 2/43)

June

________________________________________ 01st – JCL2 vs Hokushinetsu Hawks at Sano 3 Lost by 148 runs Hawks bat first and pile up 316 for 6 wkts – Rui 3/44 In reply Sharks finished with 168 for 9 – nice little contributions thru the order. CT made 51 and Mairaj a 50 ball 9. MOM – Rui – great bowling 14th – JCL1 vs Wyverns1 at Sano3 Won by 98 runs Sharks bat first 190 ao after 37. People generally got in but got out when they started playing scoring shots Good bowling and great fielding including a Takady Freddie Flintoff moment finished off Wyverns in the 23rd over for just 92 BF – Takady 3rd – Adit 2nd – Dhugal 1st – Dave (71) 15th – JCUP vs Keio Knights at YCAC Won by 50 runs Sharks bat first and make 131 for 4 including a Takuma cameo at the end for 13 off 12 incl a 6 Good bowling and sharp fielding see Keio dismissed for 7 for 81 BF – Creece 3rd – Takuma 2nd – Rui 1st – Chris T (48no – 6f/2s) 28th – JCL1 vs Wombats at Fuji Lost by 6wkts Sharks bat first – short of players (Nanda and Amit help out) 218 for 7 off 40 Wombats stoic with the bat and win in the 38th for 4 wkts BF – Karthik 3rd – Sankar 2nd – Dave Lollback 1st – Prashant (96no 6f/6s)

July

________________________________________ 13th -JCUP vs YCAC at YCAC Won 6wkts YCAC bat first and great bowling and catching sees them off for 112 in 18 overs. Vicky 4wkts Sharks get there in 16 overs for the loss of 4 wkts.

BF – Anton 3rd – Dave 2nd – Vicky 1st – Prashant (52 n.o.) 19th – JCL1 vs Sano1 at Sano3 – Sharks won by forfeit 26th – JCL1 vs Paddy Foleys 1 at Sano 3 Won by 9 wkts Short of regular 1st XI bowlers and roasting hot Paddys bat first.Good bowling in short spells and some great catching meant Paddys ao 97 in 29th Solid batting at the top sees Sharks win in 21st over for just 1wkt. BF – Ryo Yamashita 3rd – Takady 2nd – Dhugal 1st – Alwin (30 n.o. as opener)

August

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2nd – JCL1 vs MAX at Tanuma Won by 6wkts MAX bat first and hung around well before a late blitz saw the scoreboard stop – 144 for 8 Sharks beat that in 30 overs with the middle order seeing us through. BF – Creece 3rd – Takady 2nd – Dhugal 1st – Prashant (6 for 19 in 2 overs!) 16th – JCL2 vs Wyverns 2 at Tanuma Lost by 5 wkts Sharks a healthy mix of youth and experience and bat first. Good opening from Nav and Murad. However not much after. Wyverns win in 22nd for 5 wkts. Absolutely pissing it down. KB abandoned his game next door. MOM – Murad – Showing how its done with both bat and ball. 17th – JCUP South Kanto Final vs YCAC Won by 7wkts – back to back Championships YCAC, dawdling around, eventually bat first. They start well soon buckle under good bowling and fielding 126 for 8. Dave just smashed ‘em. Karthik joined in the carnage too. BF – Chris T 3rd – Dhugal 2nd – Karthik 1st – Dave. 69 (11f, 1s) 24th – JCLT20 vs Sano Lost by 83 runs KB skippered, Sano bat first. 10 Sharks bowlers take 7wkts for 161 11 Sharks bats could only rustle up 78 BF – Sankar 3rd – Sankar 2nd – Ashiq 1st – Sumon (A short but beautifully crafted 19 runs)

September

________________________________________ 28th – JCL1 Semi Final vs Sano at Sano3 – winning comfortably until we… Lost by 23 runs Sano bat first, bowlers tight but we drop absolutely everything to allow them to 199 ao in the 39th Sharks cruising to victory until an epic collapse of 8 wkts in 66 balls for 32 runs leaves us shaking our heads. Just to add to the misery Dave, Anton and Nav broke down on the way home. BF – Takady 3rd – Takady 1st = Dhugal (patient 62) 1st = Prashant (typically explosive 59 7f 2s)

October

________________________________________ Japan Cup Finals Day 1 – Morning match vs Paddy Foleys Lost by 7 wkts Sharks bat first – steadily give away wkts and finish with 122 for 9 We couldn’t take wickets and Paddy’s coasted to 126 for 3 BF – Prashant 3rd – Vicky 2nd – Nick 1st – Dhugal (53 n.o.) Day 2 – Morning match vs Hawks Won by 8wkts Hawks bat first. Their big hitters taken cheaply with good bowling and catching for 105 for 7 Sharks Dynamic Duo Karthik and Dave reply with venom and help us to the total req after 17 overs. BF – Dhugal 3rd – Karthik 2nd – Dhugal 1st – Dave (45 – 5f 1s) Day 2 – Afternoon match vs Tokai Won by 71 runs Sharks bat first and find it difficult to get in. The players that do get in make the bulk of 153 for 8 Demolition job from the bowlers. Tokai for just 82 a.o. BF – Nick 3rd – Dave 2nd – Dhugal 1st – Nick 2 catches and 56 runs Day 3 – Morning match semi vs Tochigi Lost by 8wkts Sharks bat first, better than Sunday with lots of players contributing to 146 for 7 Tochigi go ballistic and smash 147 in 16 overs – form that would see them go on to win the comp. BF – Takuma/ Chris T 3rd – Dave 2nd – Nick 1st – Dhugal (59 – runs 5f 2s) Day 3 – Afternoon match vs Hawks again Won by 9 wkts Hawks bat first and are cleaned up for 98 for 9 Sharks go ballistic and Doogs and Dave smash Hawks back to the stone age winning in the 9th for 1 wkt BF – Nick 3rd – Dhugal 2nd – Dave 1st – Takuma (4 for 27) Sharks finish in 3rd – an excellent effort by all who played in the end. Well done.

November

________________________________________ 15th – Chiba Cup vs University XI Won by 27 runs Sharks bat first – openers patiently work thru some tight Uni bowling until ALW breaks the deadlock by getting Sagar run out. Flood gates open and Sharks all back in the hutch for 77 off 18 (from a ludicrously optimistic 35 overs) Uni start carefully but Sharks bowl great lines taking regular wickets – snuffed out for just 50 BF – Chris T / Karthik 3rd – Sankar 2nd – Vicky 1st – Sagar (2 for 6) 24 Matches played (1+ from 2013) 2768 runs (141 +), 159 wickets (14 +) and 78 catches (6 +)

A round of applause for…

Reporters – KB, Dhugal, Dave, Navin, Scott, Nick, Chris Molloy, Chris T., Anton 12th men – Aayush, Mairaj, Sagar, Sankar, Molloy, Vicky, Alwin, Takuma, Anton Umpires – Chris T, KB, Dave, Prashant, Vicky, Adit, Alwin, Navin, Takady, Haruo Matsumura, Molloy, Anton

Individual Awards

Best Bowler: 3rd: Adit (14 wkts), 2nd: Vicky (20 wkts – av.11.55 ) 1st: Dhugal (20 wkts av.11.45 ) Best Batsman: 3rd: Prashant (370), 2nd: Dhugal (489), 1st: Dave (543) Best 2nd XI Batsman: Chris T (180) Best 2nd Bowler: Rui (5wkts) Best Fielder : 3rd: Dhugal, 2nd: Nick, 1st: Takady Best First Year Player: 3rd: Pave, 2nd: Sankar, 1st: Karthik Most Improved Player: Takuma Yamashita Spirit of the Shark: Anton Cricketer of the Year: 3rd: Prashant (170), 2nd: Dhugal (238), 1st: Dave Lollback (250) And that was our 2014 season. See you in 2015.