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Saturday Third X1 Match Reports
Dulwich Cricket Club - Saturday 3rd XI Match Report
Versus Spencer (H) – Surrey Championship 29th July 2006
Spencer 209 for 9 wickets declared (Deb Biswas 3-31) in 51.5 overs Dulwich 150 for 8 wickets (Sunil Mahey 32) in 49 overs Result: Losing Draw
This time the Vice-Captain selected a 5 pence coin from Ted, but the joy was there again as Dulwich won the toss for the second week running, and Spencer were inserted by the Captain.
There was a different new ball partnership again this week due to injury to both of the incumbents the previous week; Dallas and debutant Seamus Betts each obliging with a wicket in their first spell. Dallas probed away at the stumps in his usual way, while Betts produced a number of deliveries which beat the batsmen in his six over spell. The introduction of Blackers’ experienced off breaks to replace Betts exerted further pressure on the batsmen. He tied up an end while Smiler on his return to the side replaced Dallas at the other. Initially dropping the ball too short, Smiler eventually found the right length and was disappointed not to cling on to two difficult return chances. However, his pressure did enforce the run out of the Spencer number 4 batsman, a direct hit from Jose. Soon there was spin from both ends as Serious replaced Smiler (!) but whilst there were a number of good balls from both ends beating the batsmen, there were unfortunately still too many ‘four balls’ which allowed the opposition to increase the scoring rate. At one point struggling on 129 for seven, an eighth wicket partnership of 65 changed the shape of the innings. The two best bowlers of the afternoon returned to the fray before the innings was closed on 209 for 9; Blackers was unlucky not to receive a better return for his efforts ultimately finishing with 2 for 48 from 16.5 overs, whilst Dallas could be particularly proud of his figures of 3 for 31 in 15 overs.
Despite the increased scoring rate in the second half of the innings, 210 in 49 overs was a target which would have been acceptable at the start of the day. However, despite some players getting a start (Jerzy made 32, Jose got to 27, BP scored 16 including the most glorious cover drive he has hit all season), nobody went on to build a big innings which would have provided the foundation for a successful chase. It should be highlighted that four LBW decisions went against Dulwich, some of which may have been questionable, and possibly all of which the great Lloyd Leslie Jones would never have considered as even worthy of a serious appeal. Meanwhile, Shmuck continued his learning experience by staying at the crease for the first 26 overs before being unfortunately run out as pressure to keep up with the rate increased. The chase was effectively over when the heroes of the previous week Serious and Shok went in quick succession, and Blackers was unable to repeat his valiant performance from the game at Old Wimbledonians earlier in the season. However, Smiler was able see out the draw, and with the game safe Seamus Betts enjoyed dispatching the last ball of the game to the boundary.
Although there were a few basic mistakes made in the field – a couple of relatively easy dropped catches, overthrows due to poor backing up – this was a more positive fielding performance. It was good that there was encouragement being given to the younger fielders throughout the innings, and in return the fielders gave plenty of commitment to the bowlers. As we approach the crucial run towards the end of the season, it is important that this positive attitude continues. There needs to be an understanding by the bowlers to maintain a consistent line and length and a realisation that wickets cannot be taken with every delivery – on Saturday, Dallas and Blackers proved that this works. Finally, the batsmen showed better concentration towards building an innings in this game – let’s anticipate for this to be continued into August, and hopefully without a great amount of umpire intervention! Not too much to ask for, but if this combination is achieved in the remaining five fixtures then team will be able to look back on the season with more than satisfaction.
THIS WEEK’S STAR CAST: Jeff ‘Jose Maskers’ Mascarenhas Stephen ‘Ted’ Heath Deb ‘Dallas’ Howard Allen ‘Blackers’ Blackford Dan ‘Smiler’ Russell Arun ‘Serious’ Mahey Sunil ‘Jerzy’ Mahey Alistair ‘BP’ Sykes Andrew ‘Shmuck’ Corbin Obafemi ‘Shok’ Shokoya
Champagne moment: The crestfallen look on ex-Dulwich player Shak Farooqi’s face when, after hitting a delivery from Serious over square leg, saw that it was going straight down Blackers’ throat on the boundary!
Pickled egg moment: When the Spencer left handed number 6 lobbed his first ball back to Blackers at the other end, we were all celebrating before it somehow incredibly spilled from the off spinner’s hand. An excellent display of hitting from the opposition’s youngster saw him add 43 runs before finally being dismissed.
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