Heligoland Pilgrims Cricket Club

The last resort

HPCC v. Bunbury Mayor’s XI: 525 runs, two retired hurts, and several hurt feelings: Cricket was the official sport at sunny Bunbury Recreation Ground on 21 December, but chaos ran a very close second. The Pilgrims, at the last seaside resort of their Australia tour, won the toss and chose to bat, a decision that looked brave, sensible, and slightly unhinged once the run rate took off like it had places to be.

HPCC Innings – 262 for 8 (40 overs): HPCC’s innings began with Mithun – facing bouncers galore – producing an unlikely minimalist masterpiece: 0 off 5 balls. It was brief, pure, and immediately over. Stability arrived via Jasveer, who played the long game with a patient 59 off 72 (7×4,1×6) and enough time at the crease to start charging rent. At the other end, Cam chipped in with a steady 27, proving that not everyone needed to swing from ball one.

Then things got interesting. Abhik walked in and decided the match needed excitement, blasting 62 off just 39 balls (6×4, 3×6). He retired — not hurt from exhaustion, but presumably because he’d already done enough damage for one afternoon. Captain Su followed the same script, racing to 31 off 28, striking at over 110 before also retiring, suggesting HPCC’s middle order briefly turned into a rehab ward.

Lower down, the innings lost momentum. Chris and David didn’t hang around, Dan added a useful 11, and the tail did what tails do best: survive just long enough for the score to look respectable. What caused Johann to run out his father remains unclear – maybe he preferred batting the last balls with Dev. Extras played a starring role with 46 free runs, including 35 wides — Bunbury showing some generosity.

For Bunbury, Jason Miguel, recently re-elected mayor of the city and captain of his Mayor’s XI, stole the bowling honours with a miserly 1 for 4, while Ben was tidy earlier on. Others tried things, experimented, and occasionally found the pitch. 262 was on the board. It felt like a lot. It wasn’t.

Bunbury Mayors XI Chase – 263 for 6 (30.4 overs): Bunbury’s reply began with Ben choosing violence. His 72 off 37 balls included 7×6 and a strike rate just shy of 200. Bowlers tried pace, spin, hope, and pleading looks — none worked. Brad Miguel fell early, but Ben had already decided the chase would be short and entertaining.

HPCC finally struck when Surya removed both openers, finishing with 2 for 40, briefly dragging momentum back toward HPCC and reminding everyone that miracles do occasionally happen.

Then the Miguel family reunion began. Dec anchored nicely with 37, while Jason Miguel smashed 48 off 28 before retiring — again, not out of necessity, but apparently out of courtesy. Riley Miguel was even more ruthless, hammering 46 off just 23 balls, striking at 200 and turning the outfield into a suggestion rather than a boundary.

HPCC’s bowlers kept trying. Dan was excellent with 1 for 10, Dev chipped in with a wicket, and Abhik picked one up while wondering how his earlier runs still weren’t enough. But the chase never truly felt in danger. Bunbury cruised home in the 31st over, four wickets in hand, with time left to argue about who should buy the first round.

The match’s most tragic moment, however, came away from the numbers. While fielding in the outfield, Johann stopped a ball struck at frightening speed, preventing a certain boundary — but dislocated his shoulder in the process. Play stopped immediately. In a moment that reflected Australian cricket culture at its best, Natalie, along with the Pilgrims’ President ensured he was taken straight to hospital, care overriding competition without hesitation. Nobody knows what could have happened, had Johann got a chance to bowl …

When play resumed, the Pilgrims were understandably subdued. Fittingly, it was the youngest player on the field who ended the contest — a clean, classical on-drive that sealed Bunbury’s victory at 263 for 6, four wickets in hand.

Final Word: HPCC batted well, retired enthusiastically, and posted a total that would beat many teams on many days. Unfortunately, this was not one of those days. Bunbury were calmer, cleaner, and powered by a top order that treated the run chase like a highlights reel audition. Player of the Match was Abhik — because scoring fast, bowling, and still losing somehow makes you unforgettable.

Cricket was played. Lessons were learned. And everyone agreed it was much closer than the scorecard suggests — usually while holding a drink provided free of charge by the Pilgrims’ sponsors, the Bavarian ERDINGER brewery.

Bunbury lifted the Cup, deservedly, not least because they had relied on two professionals – as a last resort. The Pilgrims departed with bruises, stories, and a tour that will be remembered not for the result, but for the way it was played. What an end to the Heligoland Pilgrims’ tour of Australia.

Heligoland Pilgrims: Su (c), Abhik, Ankit, Chris, Cam, Dan, David (wk 2), Dev, Jasveer, Johann, Mithun (wk 1), Moritz (vc)

Bunbury Colts Mayor’s XI: Jason (c), Ben, Brad, Dec, Fletcher, Handy, Jasper, Paul, Riley M., Riley R., Tony, Will

Scorers: Paul, Moritz, Cam

Umpire: Stewart

Support: Rike, Alan and Anne

Report: Finky Finkenwerder

Southern hospitality

When the Pilgrims arrived at the Dunsborough Cricket Club on a sterling Friday afternoon, there were three large eskys waiting to be filled with ERDINGER refreshments and a dozen bags of ice. This “cool” welcome was just what the Pilgrims wanted, and from then on, the DCC players and members made the Pilgrims feel very welcome indeed.

As Cam M., the DCC captain, said after the game, “Cricket was the winner.” It certainly was. But it is the opinion of this scribe, and I’m certain the Pilgrims will agree, that “community” was the true winner. Not only had DCC prepared a sublime turf wicket, but plenty of locals came out to support the spectacle and throw back some German beers. There was a barbecue with burgers and sausages. There was a digital scoreboard, shedding light on the score when the sun went down. There was music. There were tents. Kids played. Dogs ran around. Another cricket game got going on the adjacent field, with players in shorts, some running around barefoot and fielding positions marked by bottles. People circling the oval stopped to watch. It was just a wonderful community atmosphere all around.

While the match had a smattering of good performances and quality play, and was enjoyed by all the players involved, it seemed somehow secondary to the event itself: the community of Dunsborough doling out the hospitality to a visiting cricket team from as far away as Germany. When the afternoon turned to evening and the shadows crept further across the ground, adding a bit of a chill to the air, the warm atmosphere never abated. And by the end, the eskys were just about empty.

Before the match, the Pilgrims were presented with a quandary absent from the previous four matches. With a squad of 14 (semi-fit) players, two needed to sit out. After some discussion and horse-trading, Dev and Ankit very kindly raised their hands. Ankit went further, by umpiring the whole match, suitably dressed in a golden tour shirt and his club blazer, while Dev assisted with scoring and drinks, and was the team’s number one fan. Full credit to both of these fine Pilgrims.

I guess we need some details of the match, after all. The Pilgrims bowled first. Like all pitches in Australia, the Dunsborough deck is laid north-south, which meant one bowler has to toil into the wind. Bipin (with the wind) and Su (into the wind) opened proceedings, with Bipin (1/33) snatching a wicket in his first over. But the DCC batters were well-equipped and runs started to flow. Gary (18*) and Tom (29*) were both retired. Johann (1/14) snagged a wicket. Then Abhik took the ball and bowled a fantastic second spell into the wind, castling three of the able batters (4-0-17-3).

After that, the Pilgrims seemed to be running on tired legs, as numerous catches were dropped by almost everyone, fielders stood in no-man’s land, and the bowling was punished. Chris (46*), Darcy (32*) and Michael (24*) all got into the plundering, as DCC finished with 5/209 off 25 overs. Both teams received warm applause as they left the field for the innings break.

DCC started their innings with some fine fast bowling and a West Indies style field setting with three slips and a gully. Anthony, Darcy and Tom all took wickets as the Pilgrims were reduced to 3/7. But then, something took everyone by surprise. Mithun and Jasveer joined forces for the best partnership (and batting) of the tour so far. They faced down the fiery fast bowlers and took it right to them, combining for 76 runs in 9 overs, to resuscitate the Pilgrims and entertain the crowd. Mithun (47) was cavalier and swashbuckling, while Jasveer (46) was disciplined and controlled. Both fully deserved to make 50, and everyone was disappointed when both fell just short.

With those two gone (sent off to handshakes and appreciative applause), the Pilgrims rearguard ended. Cam (25) threatened to contribute, but was bowled around his legs by a peach from leg-spinner Tim. The Pilgrims again batted out the overs, finishing 9/154, with Moritz (2*) and his son Johann (1*, a celebrated first run down untder) still at the crease.

As with previous games on this tour, the Pilgrims showed that they can certainly match it with their opponents, if only for patches and not the entire game.

A large crowd gathered to clap the players off and participate in the presentations. As the best batter, Chris received a Pilgrims baggy cap. Mohan, the best bowler, got the match ball. Umpire Simon eagerly donned a golden Pilgrims tour shirt. For his amazing organisational work and leading the way with hospitality, Cam M. was awarded a copy of Quintus Huntley: Botany from Royce Leville.

The grill was fired up, enabling players and spectators to enjoy hamburgers. A cake was brought out by Alan and Anne Jefferys for birthday-boy Moritz (60*) and everyone sang Happy Birthday. A few Pilgrims players wandered out onto the dark oval, to take in the glorious southern night sky. A sparkling end to a sparkling day.

Heligoland Pilgrims: Chris (c), Dan (vc), Abhik, Bipin, Cam, David (wk 2), Jasveer, Johann, Mithun (wk 1), Moritz, Stewart, Su

DCC XI: Cam (c), Anthony, Ben, Chris, Darcy C., Darcy H., Gary, Michael, Mohan, Tim, Tom O., Tom R.

Scorers: Paul

Umpires: Simon, Ankit

Support: Dev, Rike, Alan and Anne

Report: Royce Leville

Photography: