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Match Reports for the Saturday Sixth Eleven
Saturday 15th July versus Wimbledon 4th X1
Dulwich 6th X1 182 for 7 declared (S. Jones 63, L. Vidler 24, W. Russell 22 not out) Wimbledon 4th X1 183-5 (L. Vidler 3-52) Result: Dulwich lost by 5 wickets
The Dulwich team assembled at the posh Dulwich College sports ground on the South Circular, still talking about Nick Rochford’s antics and his reported problems with women. The skipper was able to divert attention away from the team’s bad boy as he re-introduced Haseeb Chaudhary and Greek superstar Pan Pylas to the team. A much changed squad following the defeat by Bec Old Boys seconds saw Simon Jones, Jason Campbell, Will Russell and Andy Mills promoted to the senior side. With such a formidable squad, John Smith, the skipper was able to decide to bat on the Honor Oak batsman’s paradise after winning the toss. Ralph “Hon Sec” Tomlinson and Mike Owen seemed comfortable in the opening stages of what would surely be a hot afternoon for the Dons. Soon though controversy emerged as Ralph was at the centre of a shocking run out appeal. Backing up with his usual enthusiasm Ralph was stunned to see the bowler halt his run up and break the wicket without warning! Acting umpire, Steve Choney was able to exercise some restraint in the proceedings as the youthful fielders and a number of South African accents claimed Ralph’s wicket. Steve spoke quickly with the Wimbledon skipper, the appeal was withdrawn and the game resumed. Clearly one up for the arm of the law! Tomlinson seemed unsettled by the incident and soon missed a straight one to make Dulwich 27 for one wicket. The Wimbledon side fielded keenly and the bowlers kept to a tight line as Dulwich worked hard for their runs. Mike Owen was unable to repeat last week’s success and departed at 41 leaving Simon Jones and Andy Mills to create a sound partnership taking the score to 80, before Mills was out lbw for a useful 10. He was replaced briefly by Pylas who confidently swatted a catch to mid off. The continent’s most promising cricketer had gone for 1! The return of a crestfallen Pylas to the Pavilion roughly co-incided with the end of Tomlinson’s long considered review of his innings. Ralph was left largely untroubled by his team mates as they considered the dressing room beams to low to support a suicide bid. He did say that he planned to travel home by train and we understand that all trains out of London Bridge were cancelled to prevent a horrible accident. Although Simon Jones continued to play shots all round the wicket, his new partner Lee Vidler showed some urgency and power as he raced to a quick fire 24 before he was bowled by Wimbledon’s Malcolm at 124. The Dulwich innings had not quite taken off and the middle order needed to crack on – Jonesey reached his fifty and accelerated but he too fell to Malcolm on 139. His 63 had held the innings together - Jason Campbell smote 9 quick runs and Will Russell made an exemplary 22 not out including a huge six into the Old Alleynians! A declaration was due and Chaudhary’s flurry of shots at the end, enabled a declaration at 182. Some commentators in the Dulwich camp thought that Haseeb’s cameo knock of 5 not out was helped by his complete ignorance of the batting order or the state of the game. Cannier observers know that Haseeb likes to keep his mind uncluttered by unnecessary details. The Dulwich total was not quite as many as the sixth teamers had hoped for but nevertheless was considered a defensible total. The post tea team talk included reference to emulating the good team effort by the visitors in the field and the Dulwich skipper was soon cheered his team’s response. An early wicket in the third over came from a remarkable catch by the Greek in the gully as Pylas clung on to one off Lee Vidler. The Australian Vidler was getting good bounce and causing some discomfort to the batsman as he soon induced a second wicket bowling the Wimbledon skipper –20 for two. A period of Wimbledon consolidation saw Andy Mills bowl well without luck until Vidler struck again through a good catch at square leg by Russell off a poor ball. Dulwich looked on top and were vibrant in the field. They continued to play well as Mills joined the party grabbing the fourth wicket caught behind by a diving Choney. Wimbledon had lost four wickets for 41 runs. The two new batsmen Johan and Adnan looked as if they might fall at any time as they swished outside off to both Vidler and Mills. However they were making also contact and scoring cheap runs in the small ground, so Will Russell was introduced and the drama intensified as he was unable to complete his first over as he left the field clutching his bleeding hand. Will departed to hospital as the Dulwich X1 became ten on a ground with short boundaries and tiring players. Jason Campbell completed his over and continued for one more conceding nineteen in just nine balls. At the other end Chaudhary was introduced and bowled three overs without luck, as the batsmen grew in confidence. Simon Jones was brought on briefly and disastrously as his one over brought wides, quadruple bounces and sixteen runs. John Lawrence had recommended Simon’s bowling – clearly the fifths play a different game! The skipper continued to change the bowling as the two South Africans slogged their way to fifty each, before Smith caught a mighty steepler off Owen to dismiss Johan for 63 - twenty still needed. There was a glimmer of hope as the first of four colts kept in the tail emerged but even the re-introduction of the opening bowlers failed to make a further breakthrough as Adnan with 69 not out guided Wimbledon fourth X1 to a five wicket win. The visitors celebrated their win with great excitement as the Dulwich side made for the bar. As the fielding side mingled with the winning side there were some positives – Pylas had fielded like a Greek athlete ( two were positively dope tested at the last Olympics), Lee Vidler had shown some promise as an all rounder and Mike Owen had made a vast improvement on his previous bowling performance at Ewell. As Chaudhary left the field talking to himself, acute observers of the human psyche pondered on how Haseeb, the ball wizard could be integrated into the company of ten sane men. Their ruminations would of course be useless - because when did Dulwich last field a team with eight sane cricketers? The selection committee will have to deal with the likely return of Sassy Nadar – he is mad enough for five men! Then they will need to consider the mental fortitude of players like Jimmy Gibson, Nick Rochford or Jamie Hall. It makes one think how easy it must be to captain Bangladesh! The Dulwich Sixth are scheduled to take on the Old Rutlishians in another game that will force grown men to cry, reputations to be exploded and records to remain unbroken.
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