Old Josephian’s Vs Cavaliers

Cavaliers Salvage Soggy Draw

The arrival of rain between the innings made the Cavaliers match against Old Josephian’s a game of two halves at the South Bank University Ground in Dulwich on Saturday 26 July. With a strong bowling attack, stand-in skipper Stevens chose to put the opposition in on what was always going to be and remain a good batting strip. However the cloud cover meant there was always going to be something for the bowler who put the ball in the right place. But a series of dropped catches would undermine the efforts of the bowlers -- being the first match in three weeks that the Cavaliers have come together may well have had some impact on this tardiness. Leeroy Samuels' fast and hostile opening spell was finally rewarded with a much-deserved wicket. The parting of the opening pair brought Mike Harvard to the crease who from the opening of his innings announced his intention of playing shots. He rode his luck to make 64 until the bail of his off stump was finally removed by an awesome ball from Samuels returning for his second spell. In the meantime Bal had eventually began to make some headway at the other end with some very creditable medium paced bowling, finding movement in the air and off the seam, finishing with creditable figures of 2 for 30. Nick Gibbins returning to Catford colours bowled an awesome spell of spin to finish with figures of 3-26. Samuels finished with 2 for 40. The other bowlers failed to support them with the same accuracy, but were also let down by the aforementioned dropped catches. As a result any period of sustained pressure was largely lacking and the fast outfield saw Old Josephian’s post of score of 211 for 7.

And then the rain came. Persistent drizzle throughout the Catford innings was perhaps the main problem in chasing the total. The fast outfield quickly slowed and shots that had previously sent the ball shooting over the boundary were now easily overhauled by fielders for two. The opening partnership of Stevens and Catford new-recruit Barry

Payne succeeded in an opening partnership of 44 until Stevens failed to get on top of a cut properly and ballooned a ball for an easy catch at cover. The potentially explosive middle order of Pireba, Asam, Wright, Kishore and Bal failed to apply themselves to the task in hand on an increasingly soggy wicket and something of a mini collapse ensued, taking with it any hope of a run chase. However Coles stemmed the flow of wickets and kept Payne company until he finally holed out on 54. Coles and Fletcher saw out the final overs as Catford posted a total of 127 for 7.

The match was played in good humour -- one moment of note must be Bal's attempt to overhaul a ball approaching the cover boundary by flipping it back to the chasing Asam, to succeed only in sending the ball arching back over his back and over the boundary. Keep trying guys! Josephian’s are a friendly team at a good ground, and it is a fixture we should certainly try to keep for next year. The dropped catches apart, the Cavaliers did themselves no shame against a team that was in reality a class above them.