|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Can't find it? Site Map Site Design by AustenOsborne.com ©2003, Dulwich C.C. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Match Reports Saturday 3 June 2006 Dulwich (147-7) lost to Gravesend (148-4) by 6 wickets The sudden arrival of summer brought the crowds flocking to a sun-drenched London South Bank University Ground in Turney Road for this top-of-the-table clash in Division 2 of the South Thames League between leaders Dulwich and second-placed Gravesend. Well, it seemed like a crowd - your correspondent counted at least four spectators (if you include the groundsman and catering staff) and a flea-bitten mongrel ! Despite a spate of cry-offs which produced a few more grey hairs for the club's long-suffering Team Secretary and which led to four changes from the selected side, Dulwich were hopeful of extending their lead at the top of the table against the visiting Gravesend 3rd XI. But alas, it was not to be. Batting first, Dulwich openers Aidan Reeves and Jim Benning made a confident start against an accurate Gravesend attack and the pair put on 30 before Reeves was bowled for 12. The youngster then departed to HQ to make up the club's second team, following a last-minute withdrawal due to illness, which left the fifths with just ten men for the remainder of the game. To make matters worse, Benning then pulled a hamstring and was forced to bat with a runner, whilst the rest of Dulwich's upper order failed to make much headway. Benning fell for 33 and before the 27th over was completed Dulwich had slumped to 79 for 5. Ben D'Anvers hit a few lusty blows and together with talented 14 year-old Andrew Corbin this pair took the score to 119 before D'Anvers was caught for 16. Batting with a maturity well beyond his tender years, Corbin combined a sound defence with a selection of classy attacking shots and dominated the rest of the innings, finishing unbeaten on 41 as the innings closed on 147 for 7 after the maximum permissable 45 overs. With a relatively modest total to defend, Dulwich went in search of quick wickets, but although Kieran Reeves dismissed opener Wilde for 17, Dulwich's attack lacked penetration and the Gravesend batsmen quickly despatched any loose balls to the boundary. Spinner Josh Williams bowled a tidy line and claimed one wicket during an over of Murali magic, but the pick of the Dulwich bowlers was young Corbin (1-18 off 7 overs) whose brilliant one-handed return catch to dismiss opposing skipper John Bateman was undoubtedly the game's Champagne Moment. Dulwich's task was made all the harder by having only ten fielders, but they fielded keenly to the end, typified by a valiant attempt by Kieran Reeves to prevent the ball crossing the boundary which saw the youngster crashing into an adjoining garden fence. Young Reeves recovered after attention from his concerned teammates and opposition, but we understand the fence remains in intensive care ! Matthew Craig returned to take a wicket with the first ball of his second spell, but led by opening bat James (52 not out) Gravesend marched on to victory by 6 wickets with eleven overs and a bit to spare. The team will be looking to bounce back when they make the short journey to near neighbours Streatham & Marlborough next Saturday.
|