Catford and Cyphers 2nd XI vs Bexleyheath 2nd XI
Catford won the toss and lost by 1 wicket.
S. Browne 67, S. Wilkes 4-14; S. Wilkes 92
Let’s reflect on the positive and a fantastic game
of cricket. Credit goes to the Bexleyheath team who after enduring a similar
start of the season as us, put on a terrific team performance to sneak home
with a deserved victory. One man stood out for the opposition, Mr Stephen
Wilkes, with a very good all round display, stifling our recovering batting effort
in the middle overs and then pacing the run chase well, despite having a number
of lives by hapless Catford fielding.
It’s true no-one deliberately drops a catch, but the
missed efforts in this game belong several grades of cricket below this, and
unless simple chances such as these are subsequently taken, we will eventually
find ourselves struggling to stay in this division. So true is the old adage
catches win matches and Bexleyheath’s efforts to dismiss eight of our ten
wickets by catches shows most clearly why they deserved their win. In contrast
to us, catches did not look like they would be dropped. Only so long can we
have success with pure batting and bowling talent.
A total of just over 200 in 48 overs was sensibly
accumulated, although slightly disappointing was the loss of wickets two at a
time on occasion. The middle order worked at getting their runs, although
wickets were still occasionally gifted when unnecessary. Nevertheless, this
total was thought to be enough on a wicket with a little more life in it than
the previous week’s, and even in retrospect should have been. Selwyn lifted one
to long on when looking determined for a big one, and Iqbal was unlucky to be
given out.
During the chase, our openers kept things tight
while not looking particularly penetrative, until Karthik came on and bent his
back to have the batsmen playing and missing on several occasions. Not really
at any stage did Bexleyheath look on top of the game until the final ball,
needing more than 7 an over for a lot of the chase, and more than 10 and over
for the last few. The fact that 3 run outs towards the end of the innings did
not prevent them reaching the target showed the value of wickets in hand.
Needing 3 off the last ball and with only one wicket standing, should on most
occasions be defended. Unfortunately for us, the ball was driven to wide long
off, where Selwyn, our slowest fielder, was placed. He managed to get a boot on
it, before the ball was picked up by Anil, running round from sweeper. Three
runs completed and sparking a pitch invaded celebration from the Bexley
players.
Once the disappointment has faded, lessons to be
learned are to keep encouraging the bowlers from beginning to end especially
when wickets aren’t falling and catching our catches.
Rohit Pratap
17/6/03