OVAL WORLD FANTASY CRICKET LEAGUE 2015
Wednesday, 27th May
(includes England v New Zealand, 1st Test) - The scores
are out and Rob Lewis has romped into the lead, with an 18.6
point advantage on the rest of the field. Rob, who has
finished fourth in each of the last two summers, owes some of
his early season success to being only one of three managers
to have done what Andrew Strauss will never do - select Kevin
Pietersen. Meanwhile, Paul Blake in second and Andy Woodhouse
(winner in 2006, 2007 and 2009) in third both have Durham's
Chris Rushworth and Kent's Darren Stevens setting the tone.
Thursday, 4th June
(includes England v New Zealand, 2nd Test) - For the top
four it's a case of "as you were", but Brian Cowley has edged
Mark Smith out of fifth spot thanks, in part, to Rob Newton's
107 for Northants' against Glamorgan.
Yours truly has swapped ninth for seventh. But, before any of
us in the chasing pack pat ourselves on the back, it's worth noting that just 18 points
separates 16th from 5th. So, there's still everything to play for
with nearly two thirds of the (County Championship)
season left to savour.
Wednesday, 10th June
- Andy Woodhouse's Aines Koala Ducks are on the move, up
to second and now just 9.8 points shy of Rob Lewis's
Surrey-by-Sea, who remain top of the pile. Victoria Earl's IC
XI appears in the top five for the first time this season and
Mick Shaw's Surrey Lion are making gradual, but assured
progress. Again, there's a bunch of sides (8th to 14th) lying
in wait, but with just nine points separating them it's high
time the waiting was over. After all, he who hesitates is
lost.
Thursday, 25th June -
Not much change from last time, apart from the fact that it's
starting to look like a two-horse race between Rob Lewis and
Andy Woodhouse. Paul Blake would appear to have made third
place his own were it not for Victoria Earl creeping into
contention. Yours truly has had a good couple of weeks. I'm
now back up to 7th from 11th, but the only way I'll be
challenging for the title is if Will Gidman wakes up one
morning and remembers he's a 40-50 wicket a season bowler.
Thursday, 9th July -
Although it remains a two-horse race, Aines Koala Ducks
haven't given up hope of catching Surrey-by-Sea, who may not
see much more of Kevin Pietersen. But Andy Woodhouse's side
will need to start reducing the 18.5 point gap pretty soon.
Looking at the two squads, one suspects Ansari and Shahzad are
Rob Lewis's key players from here on in. There's also a
three-way battle for third spot going on, with Colin Bayly's
Nuts For KP entering the top five for the first time this
season, due, in no small way, to the resurgence of Jonny
Bairstow, who has hit a double century and a hundred in
Yorkshire's last two championship outings.
Saturday, 25th July
(includes England v Australia, 2nd Test) - A two-horse
race it remains, but Victoria Earl's IC XI, up one place to
third, are starting to make their move and, from the chasing
pack, Gary Saxby's @Gazsax are catching the eye for the first
time. Having said all that, the biggest positive, in terms of
points movement since July 9, is Paul Blake's Blakey's Eleven.
Would it be churlish to point out that last year's winner,
Albert Ratcliff's Bertie's Bash Hits are currently propping up
the table?
Monday, 10th August
(includes England v Australia, 4th Test) -
For the top
three, it's a case of as you were. Brian Cowley leapfrogs Paul
Blake to move into fourth, but the two teams on the charge are
Adam Munro's Surbitonshire (up from 10th to 6th) and Mick
Shaw's Surrey Lion, who are not only up from 12th to 7th, but
have also enjoyed the biggest points movement since July 25.
Question is, have they left it too late?
Monday, 24th August
(includes England v Australia, 5rd Test) - Looking at the
big movers first, Nick Blyth has made up 45 points since 10th
August and Chris Keene 42. First and second placed Rob Lewis
and Andy Woodhouse added just 23 and 27. A similar boost in
the next fortnight could therefore see Nick challenge the
leaders, alas Keene As Mustard appear to have left their push
too late. Mick Shaw has always been there or thereabouts,
though, plus Paul Blake and Victoria Earl's sides look handily
placed. Could we yet see someone snatch victory come the
finishing tape?
Saturday, 12th
September - Prepare the throne. The
fantasy league appears to be Rob Lewis's Surrey-by-Sea's to
lose. After dissing his team last time (for adding a meagre 23
points between Stages 7 and 8), Rob's charges showed their
class by amassing a further 79 points - the most gained by any
team between Stages 8 and 9. Nick Blyth's Basil Brushers
picked up 76 in moving up from sixth place to third, while
Andy Woodhouse holds on to second, 18 points ahead of Nick,
but a hefty 31 shy of reeling in Rob. It's also a case of how
you were for Victoria Earl (in fourth) and Mick Shaw (fifth),
but with his side swapping 11th for 6th Gary Saxby must now be
eyeing up a top four finish.
Final Standings -
Despite strong finishes to the season for Mick Shaw (3rd) and
Adam Munro (5th), nobody could touch the top two, Rob Lewis
and Andy Woodhouse. And, significantly, no one could reel in
Rob Lewis, who led the fantasy league from start to finish; at
no point being less than 9.8 points ahead of his nearest
challenger, who, initially, was Paul Blake, but for the most
part Mr Woodhouse. So, congratulations Rob. Thelston will be
in touch about paying for your Surrey membership in 2016!
FINAL STANDINGS
1 |
Rob Lewis |
Surrey-by-Sea |
634.7 |
2 |
Andy Woodhouse |
Aines Koala Ducks |
609.3 |
3 |
Mick Shaw |
Surrey Lion |
587.7 |
4 |
Nick Blyth |
Basil Brushers |
580.4 |
5 |
Adam Munro |
Surbitonshire |
577.4 |
6 |
Victoria Earl |
IC XI |
577.1 |
7 |
Gary Saxby |
@Gazsax |
572.0 |
8 |
Paul Blake |
Blakey's Eleven |
564.8 |
9 |
Brian Cowley |
Ruislip Ramblers |
559.1 |
10 |
Hanna Frostman |
Duck And Cover |
557.1 |
11 |
Chris Keene |
Keene As Mustard |
555.7 |
12 |
Roger Hudson |
The Wild Rovers |
549.2 |
13 |
Marcus Hook |
Sorrento Sunshine XI |
545.4 |
14 |
Jamie Dowling |
Cherry Pie Chuckers |
543.8 |
15 |
Colin Bayly |
Nuts For KP |
540.8 |
16 |
David Barker |
The Comics |
531.9 |
17 |
Simon Hemsley |
Streatham Hillbillies |
515.0 |
18 |
Thomas Earl |
Blockers XI |
508.6 |
19 |
Nick Wheeler |
Danemore |
505.5 |
20 |
Phil Garrard |
Oh Go On Then! |
504.9 |
21 |
Alistair Gordon |
Cricketman's Squad |
503.9 |
22 |
Jean Galsworthy |
Rosebery Ramblers |
499.9 |
23 |
Mark Smith |
Mountain Madness CC |
495.7 |
24 |
Paul Jeater |
No Quick Singles |
493.3 |
25 |
Jim Forrest |
Forrest Fires |
491.1 |
26 |
Anthony Earl |
ACE XI |
486.2 |
27 |
Chris Stoneman |
Albezanaan 2015 |
483.1 |
28 |
Richard Budden |
Surrey Stars |
471.3 |
29 |
Nick Robinson |
Comeontheree |
467.3 |
30 |
Tracey Field |
Tea Stopped Play |
467.2 |
31 |
Rebecca Garrard |
Becca's Buff Boys |
459.0 |
32 |
Martin Searle |
Mrs Minghella's XI |
457.6 |
33 |
Albert Ratcliff |
Bertie's Bash Hits |
439.2 |
34 |
Tony Constantino |
Porkrind CC |
421.3 |
35 |
Donald Rosendale |
I Beg Your Pardon |
408.1 |
Click
here to see the INDIVIDUAL TEAMS in detail
Click
for the FIRST-CLASS AVERAGES
Click here to see the MOST PICKED league table
RULES OF THE
COMPETITION
ROLL OF HONOUR
Fantasy
League - season 2014
Fantasy
League - season 2013
Fantasy
League - season 2012
Fantasy
League - season 2011
Fantasy
League - season 2010
Fantasy
League - season 2009
Fantasy
League - season 2008
Fantasy
League - season 2007
Fantasy
League - season 2006
Fantasy
League - season 2005
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