|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Can't find it? Site Map Site Design by AustenOsborne.com ©2003, Dulwich C.C. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday Third X1 Match Reports
Dulwich Cricket Club - Saturday 3rd XI Match Report
Versus Reigate Priory (A) – Surrey Championship 15th July 2006
Dulwich 127 all out (S.Heath 39) in 43.3 overs Reigate Priory 128 for 5 wickets in 32 overs Result: Lost by 5 wickets Having taken to the field 10 times this season (the 11th being the washed out home fixture in May against Weybridge), there are probably two statistics which can sum up the season so far for the Dulwich 3rd XI. The first is that only 3 tosses have been won; the second being that already 32 players have represented the team this season. On this second point, the Selection Committee has tried to be constant but the sporadic availability (holiday, injury, etc.) and inconsistent form of some who started the season in the 3s, together with this team being something of a slave to the higher elevens (a perennial problem for 3rd team selection), have contributed to the high turnover. Meanwhile, on the first point, there have been calls for last year’s captain Harmy to return to throw the coin as even he had better luck than the present incumbent! At least there has been some consistency with what has been occurring on the field. At the top of the order, Ted again led from the front, and after the loss of an early wicket he was joined by Nelson who again set off towards what looked like being his first big score of the season. At 64 for 1 on a cloudless afternoon on what must be one of the most picturesque grounds in Surrey, everything was looking rosy. Then, disaster struck. Nelson’s speediness between the wickets until now was brought to an abrupt halt as he tried one quick single too many and was run out for 27. Ted soon followed after a briskly compiled 39 when he tickled the left arm seamer to the keeper, and skipper Jose was unable to consolidate to leave Dulwich reeling at 82 for 4. Once again Shmuck at number 5, being the most junior member of the team, played with as straight a bat as anyone, but the experienced Reigate bowlers increased the pressure and both he and BP also succumbed soon afterwards. Only Arun Mahey offered any resistance from here. One beautifully struck six over square leg was pure joy to watch – but he offered a chance very next delivery and fell for 17. The innings was brought to a close in the 44th over for a total of 128. 4 wickets had fallen to the Reigate off spinner, and the turn available persuaded Dulwich to open with Arun Mahey and Trini bowling in tandem. Each picked up an early wicket as the home team’s batsmen found runs hard to come by, and a third wicket fell at 59 as Jerzy held onto a skied catch at extra cover off the bowling of his younger brother – this being despite a lack of calling from him and those around him. Arun Mahey was bamboozling the batsmen, and variety was attempted at the other end as Jerzy, and then Ted, tried to also spin their webs. Whilst there was excellent commitment from the fielders to maintain the pressure, it was simply a case of not enough runs on the board to defend. So a last throw of the dice saw Bruce take the new ball and he produced a wicket with his first delivery and another soon afterward. In the end, despite a valiant effort in the second half, Dulwich ended up losing by five wickets. Next week a conscious effort to bat as a unit is required – which has been achieved previously this summer – as we enter a run of three key home games on the trot which will help define how successful the 3rd team’s season has been. THIS WEEK’S STAR CAST: Jeff ‘Jose Maskers’ Mascarenhas Stephen ‘Ted’ Heath Paul ‘Nelson’ Keymer Andrew ‘Shmuck’ Corbin Alistair ‘BP’ Sykes Sunil ‘Jerzy’ Mahey David ‘Trini’ Begg Adam ‘Bruce’ Willis With special thanks to last year’s leader Stuart ‘Harmy’ Harmer who, despite retirement from league cricket, still manages to find his way into the match reports; also to Brian ‘Austin Powers’ Corbin for standing as an umpire, and for providing the senior players with the insider info which became the inspiration behind his son’s nickname! Champagne moment: As Arun Mahey’s wrong ‘un wrapped the Reigate opener in the box, laughter erupted as the call came from Bruce at mid-off, ‘that’s it mate, use your head!’
Pickled egg moment: The lack of calling from Sunil Mahey, Luke Howard, Paul Keymer & bowler Arun Mahey who were all converging on the same spot when the Reigate number 4 batsman hit one high in the air. Fortunately, the telepathic communication between them meant that this actually ended up being a ‘nearly pickled egg moment’ as only Jerzy finally grabbed at the chance.
|