David Barmes Memorial Trophy

Zurich Nomads 224ao in 32.3 overs beat Swiss XI 223ao in 39.4 overs by 1 run

at Buchholz, Uster on Sunday 22nd April 2018

Match scorecard

St Gallen's pace-bowler Fletcher started the Swiss XI attack alongside Geneva's medium-paced Afif. Neither were able to penetrate the determined Zurich Nomad's defense of Fahim & Aswin until Ruan (ZCCC) came on as first change to dismiss Asvin (19) bowled. Nomad's 58-1 great start continued, finding the boundary with alarming regularity, not helped when Fletcher put down a simple looking catch at mid-on. But Ruan came back with another wicket a couple of balls later, Shafqat (23) caught behind behind to another great delivery and equally great low catch to Shahid's (Olten) right.

At 89-2 the Nomad's run-rate stuttered due  to the arrival of Olten's spinner Tharani dismissing Wicky (3), Fletcher taking a superb catch to make amends for the earlier mistake, quickly followed by a second, Shahid stumping Priyank (4) and Nomads left 103-4. Tharani could have taken a third but was put down on the boundary moments later.

Nomad's captain Azeem (19) came to join his brother in the middle and togther was able to move the score on to 160-5 before being trapped LBW, out-paced by Fletcher, just reward for Fletcher's hard work. One ball later Fletcher took the wicket of Sudath (0), caught behind first ball to leave Nomads 160-6. Kamran came to the crease and succesfully prevented Fletcher's hattrick on his debut for a Swiss XI. Kamran (8) was dismissed by Afif in his second spell, but had played an intelligent  innings, leaving Fahim on strike who was able to keep the total ticking along, Nomads now 212-7. Afif struck again dismissing Noman (another c&b for Shahid) for nought and setting up Switzerland's second chance of a hattrick. It wasn't to be, but Afif cleaned up the Nomad's tail-end, Naveed (5) judged LBW and Abid (0) bowled one ball later, Nomads finishing their innings 224 ao in 32.3 overs and Afif will have to wait until his next match to find out if he can complete his hattrick, but in this match was the pick of the bowlers with bowling figures of 4.3-0-26-4.

After a short curry lunch prepared by the hosts Zurich Nomads the second innings continued in the afternoon sunshine.

The Swiss batting attack began with Partha (4) of CERN and Shahid (7) of Olten but both failed to make the start they would have been hoping for against Nomad's Faheem and Noman, leaving the Swiss Select XI 18-2.

Geneva's Anser (56) faired better, caught by Azeem off of the line and length of Kamran, and unfortunately witnessing most of the rest of his team losing their wickets at the other end, Berne's Aseem (14) decided to go for a big shot but was caught on the boundary by Shafqat off Noman (Swiss 42-3); Ravi (GESLCC) run out for 2; Martin (CERN) bowled by Kamran for 11; Kasun (Winterthur) caught by Wicky off Aseem for 2.

Languishing at 95-6, the Swiss XI staged a great comeback. Starting with a quick 29 off 11 balls from St Gallen's Asad and Fletcher (31) risking everything gave the Swiss tail-enders Afif (11) & Ruan (21) a small chance of rescuing the game at 174-8.

And they came within a whisker of pulling off a win, Afif finishing on an unbeaten 11 and Ruan being judged run-out on 21 just one run short of the total with just two balls remaining.

At the end of the game Cricket Switzerland President Alexander Mackay thanked the teams and the officials, while Edda Pereira (Nomads) presented trophies to both on-field officials. Clive Denney & Chris Lodge of Cricket Switzerland awarded trophies to Afif for the best bowling performance with 4 wickets, Shahid as the best fielder with two c&b and one stumping, Fahim as the best batter with an unbeaten 125 and MoM and both captains Matthew (Swiss XI) with the runners-up trophy and Aseem (Zurich nomads) with the winning trophy.

The late Dr. David Barmes of Geneva C.C. was the first President of the National Association and in honour of his memory Cricket Switzerland has established a tradition that the winners of the league championship play a 40 over cricket match against the Swiss national team to mark the beginning of the season and for the prestige of winning the David Barmes Memorial Trophy.