Old Wilsonians 1st XI vs Catford Cyphers Sunday XI - Match Report

The day didn't start off well as Sunday XI skip Dave Golbey proceeded to lose yet another toss on a firm and good looking track. Whether it proved crucial or not, we will never know, but Catford Cyphers did themselves proud in what was a superb game of cricket. Why we don't always play win/lose limited-overs cricket at this level I will never understand.

2 players stood out: For Old Wilsonians Hetti Alles, overseas Sri-Lankan pro and first class cricketer. For Catford Cyphers Dave Golbey. For me, Dave takes the man of the match award as he is neither a pro nor a first class cricketer!

Choosing to bat on a good strip, ex-Cypher Derek Jones and number 3 Clinton Hibbert gave a good start to the home team's innings after the loss of two early wickets by the constantly probing Andy Page, ably supported by Neil Missen. While Clinton was all grace and timing behind square on both sides of the wicket, Del clubbed his way to 29. Fair to say, as usual, Andy did not have much luck on his side during his spell, but by all accounts bowled a lot better than the previous day for the Cavaliers.

Their wickets brought to the crease H. Alles. After an initial scratchy start with some poorly timed strokes, he showed his true colours by getting into the groove plundering easy offerings by recovering 3rd XI skipper Roger Harris. Easing past 50, he continued to plunder runs at will against a withering Catford fielding effort. Hallmarks of his play were placement and quick feet with some superbly improvised strokes into gaps. This was exemplified by how he brought up his ton. Having had the point boundary covered, and on 97 with 2 balls of the innings left, he danced down the track to cream a full delivery through to the long(est) extra cover boundary. He was given able support by R. Clarke.

After a decent tea in the elegant pavilion, Catford's batting effort started in sterling fashion. The contrasting styles of Mark Caswell and Richard Black got quick runs on the board, albeit against some ordinary bowling. Richard in particular was in aggressive mood, and was unlucky to pick out the only fielder on the leg side boundary for a well made 23. Mark and Ro followed soon after to the bowling wiles of Mr Hibbert, his loopy leggies proving difficult to get away. After the quick exit of Chris Levy to one that kept low, there followed an excellent partnership of 84 runs between Dave and Neil. Some of Neil's cross-batted hits over the cover field could only be described as bludgeoned. With wickets falling at quick intervals at the other end, Dave paced his innings superbly, relishing the challenge of facing their overseas quick (the same H. Alles). Needing 17 runs from 4 overs would normally not be a problem, but with wickets falling like nine-pins (Roger and Tony Jackson out first ball to the impressively accurate H. Alles), survival came into the equation. In stepped closet batsman A. Page. Managing to somehow keep out straight quick bowling from Hetti and Del in fading light, he did however use up valuable deliveries by not scoring. I was glad to see the two batsmen had retained their sense of humour when one quick full-bunger was kept out by Andy's water-tight bat-pad, when Dave walked down the wicket and gave the helpful advice 'that should've been carted over cow-corner'; back came the equally vociferous reply 'I would've if I could see it!'

With 9 needed off the final over and Dave facing, there was still optimism from an expectant crowd (non-playing members had stayed back to watch the exciting chase). Dancing down the wicket to a length ball by Hetti, Dave managed to get plenty of height on the first ball, enough to make the long-off fielder spill it. 2 scored. The next ball was elegantly cover-driven towards the off-side boundary, picked up by the sweeper. Another 2 scored and 5 needed from 4. The next three balls were excellent off cutters, which Dave tried to cart over the short leg-side boundary, unfortunately not being able to connect and narrowly surviving leg-before shouts. With 5 runs thus needed off the last delivery, Dave walked well across to the off-side even as the bowler started his run-up, again looking to launch over the leg side. With clever bowling, Hetti followed him bowling a full ball further to the off-side. Dave nearly swung himself off his feet, the ball went through to the keeper, Andy calling him through for a bye in desperation. There ended a superb run-chase and the reason many of us still play Sunday cricket.

Credit goes to players on both sides, who conducted themselves admirably (apart from umpire R. Pratap accusing Hetti, bowling over the wicket, of not knowing the rules of the game as he laughed when a yorker struck left-handed batsman Andy outside leg stump, to which Hetti replied 'I know the rules, I am a first class cricketer'). As ever with Sri-Lankans, there were no expletives!

Teams:

Home:
P. Wakeford, R. Crawley, C. Hibbert, D. Jones (*), H. Alles, S. Goatcher (+), R. Clarke, S. Forbes, Hudspith, Makham, Halsey

Away:
D. Golbey (+ and *), M. Caswell, R. Black, R. Pratap, C. Levy, N. Missen, M. Sutherland, T. MacGill, T. Jackson, R. Harris, A. Page

Rohit Pratap
26/05/03