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Sunday 4th X1 Match Reports
Sunday 30th April 2007 versus Putney 2nd X1
Putney 2nd X1 184 all out (B. Main 3-31) Dulwich 4th X1 185-9 (D.Edwards 60 not out, W.Grigg 31) Result: Dulwich won by one wicket Such is the present quality and quantity of Dulwich cricket that four teams were able to be sent out on the last Sunday of April. A bright and warm day in Putney witnessed a 4th team debuting a number of players keen to make their mark in a 40 overs contest. The importance of good individual performances was furthered underlined by the rare Sabbath presence of captain and club president, John Smith, fresh from his short 5 month winter sojourn in La Manga. Whether this formidable figure of Dulwich Club authority engendered some nervousness amongst the younger - and perhaps older - members of the team is uncertain but with Putney batting first early success dried up to be replaced by a less regular trickle of wickets.
Aussie debutant Ryan Holloway's opening spell of medium pace coupled with Rezal Karim’s tidy bowling saw Putney's top order batsmen restricted in their scoring rate. Ruan’s sharp work in the field caused Putney's batsmen equal problems and forced them to think twice about quick singles. With the pre-match withdrawal of wicketkeeper Steve Choney due to injury, glovework of an elemental nature was undertaken by a youthful-looking 35 year old Nick Rochford, unphased by the weight of paternal reputation and history upon his shoulders. It was later remarked that Alan and Mark Butcher have nothing on the Rochfords. Or maybe it was local butchers have it in for the Rochfords, the actual comment remaining unclear.
Despite this wicket-keeping handicap, Dulwich soon resumed taking wickets mid-order as Ben Main started to getting lift out of a green pitch. Both he and James Gulliford initially achieved some early success. Apart from an excellent half century by Putney's excellent Aussie all-rounder John Bailey - tight bowling and fielding pressure saw Dulwich beginning to make inroads into Putney's middle order. The home team's efforts to quicken the run rate after 60 run renaissance for the third wicket was such that debutant James Gulliford's off-spin brought a stumping from Rochford jnr. Likewise Dominic Edwards's accurate medium pace - a tumble at the crease aside - also saw batsmen returning to the pavillion. The innings closed as it began with the in swinging medium pace of Ben Main causing the Putney team problems. The re-introduction near the end of Rezaul Karim's fast-medium pace further unsettled the south west Londoners as they were eventually bowled out for 184. All of the bowlers had good bowling figures with Main taking 3-31, Karim 2-32, Edwards 2-33, Holloway 2-35 and Gulliford 1-27.
Dulwich's rosy teatime optimism soon gave way to concern however. Opener Jon Cross was bowled second-ball after attempting to despatch a full toss to the boundary or out of the post code. Equilibrium was established as effective and noisy batting from the remaining opener, the incomparable PD Amin and Ben Main as the pair saw Dulwich climb their way out of trouble. Or so they thought. Wickets tumbled as Ben was dismissed at 34 for 22 and PD departed for 19 at 52. The middle order were swiftly dismissed as Rochford (3), Clark Osborn (11) and Holoway (6) joined John Cross back in the pavilion.
Only William Grigg's batting achieved invaluable boundaries, but his 31 runs did not seem enough as he was eventually bowled by that man Bailey. The Putney Aussie bowling his allocation of eight overs for just 18 runs.
As Grigg trudged off the hopes of a Dulwich victory seemed to go with him. 136 for 7 soon turned into 137-9 as Karim was dismissed and then Gulliford first ball. An early return to south London seemed likely as Smith came into face a hat trick.
However, cometh the man cometh the hour. Dominic Edwards presence at number 6 and the subsequent unlikely 9th wicket partnership with John Smith turned the game on it's head. Dominic, who had been stylishly taking the attack to the Putney's bowlers who were on their uppers, received stout yeoman support from the captain and soon thoughts turned to a stunning and unlikely victory. With the sun long since disappeared, together with the vocal vociferousness of the Putney team, Edwards and Smith marched towards victory. Dominic hit a superb six accompanied with numerous boundaries and in short order he soon reached his half century. The captain meanwhile was frustrating the opposition and leg-side runs soon began to flow.
With 3 needed the skipper was struck on the pads. The whole of the Putney team appealed but in vain. The President survived and swept the next ball to leg-side for a magnificent victory. The epic win was further sweetened for Dominic with Putney awarding him 'Man of the Match' accompanied by a swift scotch, albeit blended, for his match-winning heroics.
In his first game for the club Dominic Edwards top scored with 60 not out and Dulwich won a hugely enjoyable and well fought game by one wicket. All the players on both sides enjoyed their day out on Putney Common and the selectors of both clubs saw things that could only confuse their best laid plans!
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