Catford Cyphers 2nd XI vs Wickham Park 2nd XI –
Match Report
Oh for the love of…! If it’s not one thing, its something else. We will sooner
or later get all three disciplines right, all in one match.
On a day when as a club we scored over a thousand runs, we rather let the side
down by not quite having the penetration required to bowl out the opposition
the other sides did.
Surprised at being inserted on a firm track and sunny afternoon, we soon took
to the easy offerings supplied by the weakest bowling and fielding side of the
season thus far. Early loss of the openers merely served to spell more trouble
for the Wickham bowlers, as Lance and Selwyn batting at 3 and 4, tucked right
in. What was pleasing to see was of the 20 boundaries hit during Lance’s ton,
very few went the aerial route. Selwyn was relatively sedate as he nudged his
way to 80 odd at approximately a run a ball, mercilessly despatching just the
loose stuff for a change. Lance’s demise brought to the crease Dale who used
his licence to good effect, bludgeoning his way to a very quick 50, including
three lusty blows over the rope. Declaring on 277 after just 44 overs, we naturally
felt in good spirits.
A tea provided by Ro’s mum consisting of various subcontinental delicacies seemed
to go down well, sadly probably too well. The post-tea lethargy seemed to affect
not only the fielding effort, but also the batsmen as they shut up shop from
10 overs on, deciding only to change gear by the time it was too late. Strange
tactics when you have 56 overs and wickets in the hutch throughout to chase
down the target. Bowlers put in plenty of effort but for scant reward, Hasan
picking up a couple early doors, but then precious little by all and his mother
called upon to bowl as Gunders searched in vain for the answers. Fact is, when
two reasonably technically correct batsmen decided to block out the best part
of 50 overs on a belter of a track against a side consisting of medium pacers,
spectators are in for a long afternoon. The mere fact that over a hundred was
scored in the last 15 showed that maybe Wickham’s tactics were a little on the
negative side, to put it mildly.
Never mind, a few points in the bag, a few more batsmen with runs under their
belts (albeit setting where chasing has been a problem so far) and a good natter
in the bar afterwards made for a reasonable day’s cricket.
Rohit Pratap
9/6/03