Catford & Cyphers 2nd XI vs Holmesdale 2nd XI - 10 May 2003

Catford & Cyphers enjoyed an excellent start to the league season with a one-sided winning draw against Holmesdale. Having been promoted this season, we would have taken the 13 points that we achieved before play began. Of course 20 points would have been better and would have been the result had a number of chances not been spilled.

Selwyn gave us an explosive start with some superb clean-hitting including a memorable pull for six over mid-wicket that disappeared into a neighbouring garden. Ro gave him sensible support as he rotated the strike and kept the scoreboard ticking After making an excellent 50 Sellers was unlucky to be adjudged LBW, however, the arrival of Lance merely served to accelerate the run-rate as we continued to punish some erratic bowling. Lance fell for 90 and Ro for 27 but in stepped Dale to hammer a quick-fire 50 which included some murderous shots through cow corner as well as some cultured straight hitting and energetic running. Ramesh decided that he didn't want to have to run too much and was struck in front first ball, sasi soon entered into the spirit of things with some meaty blows. A total of 285 looked daunting despite the excellence of the batting track and the lightening-fast outfield. The ground looked a picture.

Following a superb tea (well done Lance) the seamers were soon able to understand why the Holmesdale bowlers had been having such a torrid time. The pitch was utterly lifeless, I have seen more life in a coffin - (the police accepted my explanation and I was never formally charged). JGW decided to take Brown and Khan off very early, cue toys disappearing out of the pram, but the petulant Brown took a wicket next ball, clean bowling the confident looking Holmesdale number one, so a point to Gunders for captaincy. Unfortunately, no further wickets were forthcoming and we turned to spin from the 13th over. Rambo and JGW then produced four overs of complete cack and the total suddenly looked vulnerable, thankfully, once they had found their bearings both the leggie and the offie began to cause problems. However, despite the odd wicket falling, Holmesdale decided as early as the 20th over to play for the draw, which led to some turgid cricket and we will need to find a cure for the lethargy that was seen in the field we will also need to hire some portaloos to avoid Sellers and Lance disappearing for a toilet break mid-way through every game). There were also a number of quite spectacular drops. Chandra managed to shell a simple up and under that caused hilarity amongst everybody present and Ramesh, after taking a blinder at slip the previous ball, dropped the simplest caught and bowled you are ever likely to see. This proved costly as the batsman in question "entertained" us for another 20 overs with his forward defensive. A number of more difficult chances went begging and meant that we were unable to have a lengthy bowl at the tail. Rambo, Chandra Bing, Gunders and Bill all created chances, but we couldn't close out.

All in all a solid start, but there are some areas that we have identified as possible weaknesses that need to be worked on. We travel to Hartley Country Club next week in good heart and certain that they are aware that a side capable of posting 285 is on its way. I can't wait.

The team was as follows:

S. Brown
R. Pratap
L. Curling
D. Becker (Wkt)
Sasi
R. De Silva
Hassan Khan
B. Perera
Bala Chandra
J. Gundry-White (Capt)
M. Brown

C&CCC 285-5 (50 overs)
Holmesdale 160 odd for 8 (50 overs)

NB Holmesdale had 10 men

Matthew Brown