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Match Reports for Saturday 4th X1 Saturday 20th May 2006 South Thames League - Division One Blackheath 104 in 33.4 overs (R.Karat 4 for 41) Dulwich 108-1 in 25.2 overs (P.Keymer 64 NO) Result: DULWICH win by 9 wickets
A slow crawl along the A2 merely served to whet the appetite for the joys of the Samuel Montagu ground in Kidbrooke, overlooked as it is by some charming 1950s council houses and an evocative hillside cemetery. With the rainclouds gathering, and a chill wind whistling across this unknown suburb, a keen sense of anticipation was inevitable. When Blackheath elected to bat, the Dulwich team almost ran onto the pitch in their eagerness to enter the fray; sprightly Peter Rice, the vice captain, chivvying the team out into the middle like some experienced sheepdog working his wayward flock. With skipper Ian Marshall taking wickets in each of his first two overs, Dulwich quickly took control as Blackheath were reduced to 8 for 2. And when Rohan Karat came on first change, the unequal battle was soon over, as he took four wickets in his first 26 balls (including one to a superb catch at slip from Shok) to leave the batting side at 59 for 6. But then the always threatened rain began to build to a heavy, persistent drizzle; the run-ups became tricky and the ball as slippery as an eel in a vat of olive oil. James Braim took over from Marshall, and eventually settled into his rhythm to take a couple of wickets. There was just time at the end for David Begg to throw his first wobble of the league season and take a wicket, while skipper Marshall’s eyes lit up at the prospect of bowling to the No 11, who lasted one ball as Blackheath were finally dismissed for 104. For Dulwich’s innings, the rain stopped and while the sun did not exactly shine on Jesse Johnson’s batting, the Dulwich batsmen had the best of the conditions. Rice fell in the first over to a superb delivery, bringing in Paul Keymer to join the calm authority of Johnson. By the 14th over, they’d put on 50 together, with Keymer leading the way. His superb six through midwicket showed all the ease and talent that comes from batting with one of the club’s stalwarts, and his half-century came in just 64 balls. Meanwhile, Johnson was getting the benefit of the doubt to a couple of LBW shouts, two appeals for caught behind and a run-out. His phlegmatic demeanour and untroubled air saw him through any sense of nerves as he eventually made it into double figures, before accelerating away. Dulwich reached their target with another boundary from Keymer to take him to 64 (76 balls, 1 six, 9 fours) while Johnson made 32 (74 balls, 3 fours). There are many ways to measure quality in an innings, but Keymer was the first batsmen in living memory to manage to take more of the strike than Johnson, regularly picking up singles from the last ball of an over. The master could only look on in admiration. So the mighty 4th XI took 16 points from their first match and now look forward to some sunshine and a home fixture. Champagne moment: Paul Keymer’s six Pickled egg moment: David Begg’s navigational skills
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