Corinthians’ pace man bowled over
By Steve O’Neil Ramsadeo

MORDEN CORINTHIANS’ fast bowler Andy Allan, dashed in directly from his mini-European trek to attend the cricket Club’s end-of-season awards presentation – and he didn’t leave empty handed.

In his first season with the Club, Andy scooped three awards for 2005 – the ‘Bowler of the Year’, the ‘Most Wickets for the season’, and the ‘Best Economy Rate’. The devilishly quick Kiwi opener, complete with orange tan from his trip, reaped the reward for his determination, consistency and accuracy throughout the season. He flies home this week but hopes to return next year to continue his good work, putting fear into the opponent’s batsmen.

The presentation was held at the Horse & Groom Pub in S. Wimbledon, and other honours on the evening went to Gerry Cotzer, who was voted ‘Player of the Year’ and who also received the award for the ‘Best Batting Performance’ in a single match. Girish Patel claimed the ‘Batsman of the Year’, while Majid Rafiq was the ‘Batsman with Most Runs’ for the season; Edgar Luis was recognised for his ‘Outstanding Batting’; Tony Hammond, was the ‘Fielder of the Year’; Andrew Jarrett, was named the ‘Most Impressive Newcomer’; Graham Pinkney chipped in with the ‘Best Bowling Performance’ in a single match; and Brian Douglass grabbed 'Most Outfield Catches' in the season. For his services to the Club, Jim Patel was voted ‘Clubman of the Year’.

Morden Corinthians retained the Wendy Ridley Memorial Trophy, which the Club contests with Hindhead CC, for the second year in succession.

Reflecting briefly on the Corinthians’s season, the team’s sluggish, indifferent start saw many players out of touch, struggling to play with confidence. Corinthians lost all of its matches in May, but the team did recover its form of old, notching up some respectable wins mid-season, and going on slowly to build momentum, finishing impressively in the final two matches, which Corinthians nailed convincingly.

For more information contact Steve O’Neil Ramsadeo (07961 071017).