BEXLEY 5TH XI v CATFORD CYPHERS 3RD XI

CATFORD AND CYPHERS WON BY 8 WICKETS

BEXLEY
124 all out from 27.5 overs

CATFORD & CYPHERS CRICKET CLUB
128 for 2 from 30.1 overs

Catford and Cyphers registered their 2nd League victory on Saturday against weaker opposition. Our own 3rd team was strengthened by the appearance of Richard McCaughin, who only 24 hours earlier was making runs of a different kind in India and the return of Guru who was unavailable last week due to commitments with his retail empire.

Somewhat bizarrely Bexley were playing at Nurstead C.C. at least 15 miles away from Bexley but one cannot fault its rustic, characterful setting. The wicket proceeded to behave to type and the outfield was uneven yet playable. We were made welcome by our hosts.

Conditions were damp and overcast, the Skipper won his 4th consecutive toss and asked the opposition to bat. We were to discover that their team consisted of 2 mature cricketers, a new player and a gaggle (if that is the appropriate collective term) of pubescent youths with varying levels of ability and enthusiasm.

Andy Page and Anil were quickly amongst the wickets but the opposition Skipper signalled signs of aggressive intent hitting anything 'pitched up' on our outside off stump. At 3 down the teams 'debutant' came to the crease and hit 60 odd in 40 balls. He refused (or was unable) to play a defensive shot. His destructive innings containing some big sixes wasn't in 'our script' and neither was the skipper's drop when he was on 8.. The home side had reached 121 for 3, although he introduction of Anthony Benedict and Guru had stemmed the flow of runs,.Then the next 7 wickets fell for 3 runs., Anthony taking 6 wickets! The home sides batting surrendered although Anthony's wickets were compensation for those he didn't get last week. To complete the innings James (Flypaper) Abbott took a fine catch in the slips.

Tea was taken and Catford and Cyphers replied efficiently to the Bexley total. It was assisted by some inaccurate bowling and poor keeping to say the least. 50 odd extras in a total of 128 is charitable. James Golbey collected another poor decision, Richard McCaughin was bowled to a slightly over adventurous shot but Iqbal and David Sharp saw everything through safely although they did try to carry on where they left off the week before ,trying to run each other out where possible.

I wrote that stiffer challenges still await last week and that observation remains. We have won two matches courtesy of good, accurate bowling ,tenacious fielding and poor batting and bowling from the opposition. The main body of the team has yet to flex its collective muscle. It would be satisfying from the Skippers perspective to achieve a 20 points victory, having batted first, scored 200 and winkled out the batters for 160 odd but in reality this is league cricket and our objective is to finish as high as possible by winning as many games as possible.

We will welcome Victory in any guise ….