Page 177 - The Bugle 2018

Inter Battalion T10 Competition
In the weeks leading up to our annual tournament at St Cross, it seemed that none of the Battalions were finding it easy to gather 11 fit and able riflemen to play cricket. However, at every battalion there were one or two individuals who had been to St Cross before and did a great job recruiting some teammates in the end.
On the day itself we had 6 teams from across the battalions. Each regular battalion brought a team and the Reserves formed a team together. A particularly strong effort was shown by 3 RIFLES who spent two nights staying in Winchester and 2 RIFLES who flew in and out on the day.
The chosen format was a group stage followed by a final and third place play-off. Each innings was 10 overs with bowlers being restricted to 2 overs each.
In Group 1, 5 came out on top beating 2 and 1 with a simple tactic of bowling first, restricting runs through tight bowling and well-drilled fielding and then taking their time to score the runs. 1 and 2 RIFLES both relied heavily on Infantry players (Rfn Singh 1R and Cpl DeFreitas 2R). The second place play off between 1 and 2 was a high scoring thriller with 1 RIFLES triumphing by 2 runs having set a total of 77 for no loss of wicket.
4 RIFLES won their group thanks to steady batting by LCpl Hislop and wise leadership from Cpl “Pops” May. All the matches were high scoring but with few wickets tumbling. Next year we must look at a way of promoting involvement from the whole team.
The third place play-off featured 1 and 3 RIFLES on the smaller pitch at St Cross. 1 RIFLES took advantage of the smaller boundaries and posted a
massive 115 runs off 10 overs to win (Rfn Downs 45). The final was between 4 RIFLES, the former RIFLES Cricket Battalion, who have won it several times in the last few years and 5 RIFLES, the new Cricket Battalion. For the first time, 5 RIFLES had to bat first. Their depth of batting showed - the middle order (Cpls Morris and Springer) helped them get to a total of 92. 4 RIFLES started well with LCpl Hislop again anchoring the innings but wickets fell regularly
at the other end and 5 RIFLES won by 31 runs.
It was a marvellous day of sport at St Cross with a delicious BBQ in the evening sunshine. Sincere commitments to return next year were made over a beer afterwards. The regimental team discovered some new talent, including Rfn Wood (3 RIFLES) who won the Player of the Tournament prize. Next year the Battalions should enter the Army Major
Units Cup as well.
IT WAS A MARVELLOUS DAY OF SPORT AT ST CROSS WITH A DELICIOUS BBQ IN THE EVENING SUNSHINE
Competition Stats
Group 1
1 RIFLES 51-5 (10 overs): Harris 13. Jenner 12 5 RIFLES 53-2 (7.3 overs): Smith 27
1 RIFLES 77-0 (10 overs): Singh 43. Downs 33 2 RIFLES 75-3 (10 overs): De Freitas 39
2 RIFLES 32-6 (10 overs): Bossom 2-4
5 RIFLES 36-2 (8.2 overs): Buchan-Smith 14. Francis 12
Group 2
6/7 RIFLES 78-6 (10 overs): Reed 40. Lidgatt 3-11 4 RIFLES 79-0 (9.2 overs): Hislop 43.
3 RIFLES 85-0 (10 overs): McDelling 48
4 RIFLES 86-1 (7.4 overs): Hislop 55
3 RIFLES 110-0 (10 overs): McDelling 58. Wood 44 6/7 RIFLES 98-1 (10 overs) Bromhead 40. Reed 34
3rd Place Play Off
1 RIFLES 115-3 (10 overs): Downs 45. Harris 34 3 RIFLES 69-1 (10 overs): McDelling 35
Final
5 RIFLES 92-5 (10 overs): Springer 34. Morris 23. Hislop 2-11 4 RIFLES 61-6 (10 overs): Hislop 43. Farray 15-2
5 RIFLES win the Kenya Challenge Cup