CATFORD CYPHERS III's V BEXLEY V's

Catford 172 all out after winning toss

Bexley 168 all out

Catford win by 4 runs

Catford Cyphers 3rds preserved their 100% record on Saturday but only just, in an exciting game with Bexley. Catford chose to bat after winning the toss and their innings stuttered and stumbled to a modest total of 172 all out but it did represent ‘runs on the board’ at least!

Our star batsman Ramesh failed this week and it served as a reminder that we cannot enter the game in the hope that an individual performance will win us a game. However, useful contributions were made by Dave Sharp, Rajavan, pireba Yash, Guru and a cameo of ‘how not to run between the wickets’ by the Skipper. To his credit Ramesh did make ’20 odd’. To their credit Bexley were a team of eleven cricketers who bowled and fielded well. They were a better team than the team we played earlier in the season..

We took tea and although Guru and Andy page took early wickets Bexley strode purposefully towards their target with some steady, solid and sensible batting and reached 120-2 with plenty of overs to spare. Some heads and catches dropped in the filed and we seemed resigned to defeat.However we began to slow them down , Ramesh was bowling well from the top end and Sharpey dropped a difficult one at mid-wicket off off Rammers,. never mind as he ran him out with the throw back to the keeper! Three down but Bexley still looked comfy and their class bats still there. Rammers and Guru were now pressing the batters and Rammers then induced a false shot, [a big skier to deep mid-off.] The Skipper caught it (although I bet nobody backed him to!) – I knew better.

Just a little doubt had crept into Bexley’s batting and just a little shaft of light from inside the Catford coffinappeared. The light shone slightly brighter when ‘Guru G’ got a decision from the bottom end. Guru G bowled his heart out in this spell and his contribution was crucial. Five down! Bexley still seemed to have plenty of batters but Rammers was in a rythmn. He got another lbw to make it 6 down but Bexley were still favourites with 140 odd and overs to spare, Their Skipper came in who we knew to be a good bat. Ramesh rose to the challenge and caught a diving return catch (are you reading this Jasper?) Ramesh had dropped a couple of sharp ones in the gully before though.They were 7 down for 150 odd. The field knew that they had a chance and with encouragement from Sharpy, Galvo, Rajavan and the Skipper we were buzzing and Bexley’s batters all of a sudden were like ‘rabbits in headlights’. A quick single off Ramesh was taken to Catfords portly mid-off who took the ball as if 25 years younger and threw down the stumps – 8 down. The fielding team had the impetus 5 overs left. 12 to get – 2 wickets to spare! Guru had bowled his heart out. and came off. Andy Page our phlegmatic opening bowler (who celebrates his wickets with a polite shake of the hand/pat on the back rather than the full embrace a la Rajavan) came on from the bottom end and delivered the coup de grace. A Bexley batter cam down the wicket, missed and was stumped by Rajavan.. Rajavan celebrated in his normal modest and unassuming style (I think the second team heard him and they were in Catford – I must admit the Skipper wasn’t far behind). A calm head was also needed and Pagey cleaned out the number 112. So Catford snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

I have written earlier in the season that the collective input of the team has yet to be tested, this was one of these occasions when it was and we won through. This win will do wonders for our self-belief as a team, perhaps less for our blood pressure.

The purist will say that this was a poor game of cricket with mistakes on both sides [if I were a Bexley player I’d be sick at losing] but we won this league game as we found the balls to compete when it mattered ,as for the quality of our cricket?…perhaps we have found our level !!!

We batted averagely, we fielded poorly early on and a couple of negative remarks began to emanate from the field. The Skippers emotions are plain to see on the field, I lead from the front. I am passionate to say the least. I valued greatly some of the steadying input from Galvo, Pagey and Jabba at the denouement of the Bexley innings , that combination of fire and water proved to be our winning recipe on the day. My thanks to all of our team and ‘Bal’ (who was left stranded with no game to play by the Cavaliers Skippers). His support was much appreciated.

On a negative note Yashs car keys were stolen form our dressing room and his car stolen. It is a fine measure of the Clubs spirit that with no real help from the local constabulary it was recovered after Anil saw it ‘parked up’ on his way home form the Seconds game. Car was duly recovered.

C'mon catford and lets turn that screw a little earlier next time we field!!!!