Monday 27 August 2012

South Bank v Clapham Nomads - 26/8/12

This was a replacement fixture as our original game against Bec Old Boys was cancelled.  Sadly the Old Boys' Sunday team seems to have folded, at least for this season.
Anyway we found a nice match at Dulwich Sports Ground against a team we seem to play about once every 8 years.  They always have a few characters and, certainly on this occasion, they had bags of talent.
Given our recent difficulties and various floods and wild weather warnings on Saturday, it was a relief to actually get a game and it was a great improvement on last week with Nomads posting 115 for 8 off the full 35 overs which was not a calamity against a bowling line up with few, if any, weak links on a bouncy, slightly irregular, pitch.  Top scorer Darwin (27) shared in a good early stand of 36 at a good strike rate with Abdul.  Hassan's 25 ensured reasonable momentum in the middle third of the innings. For spectators though, the highlight was an excellent stand of 19 at the close between Emil and John which took us up to a total in excess of what we expected when Hassan was out at 96 for 8.  Surprisingly, the entertainment in this stand was to be found in some clever cricket rather than in banter although when Emil thanked John for supporting him at the end, John replied ; "you were supporting me."  No. 11 Andrew West had been padded up for 5 overs when, with 4 balls remaining, he tore off his kit in a fit of pique and flung it to the ground with a resounding oath.  It would have been quite funny if one of our heroes had been out on the penultimate ball and forced our disgruntled tail-ender to put his gear back on and face 1 delivery.
South Bank had little problem knocking the 116 off in around 24 overs, despite tight opening spells from Hassan and Abdul.  The only wicket to fall was secured by a twisting, feline, slip catch an inch from the ground by Mahesh Vyas off the bowling of Andrew West.  South Bank's innings featured some stunning hitting - 1 shot cleared the trees - from a very entertaining Australian guy who had long hair rather reminiscent of the mid 70s Yes keyboard player Rick Wakeman and was referred to by his nickname "Criminal."  He was supported by his captain who secured a 50 right at the end in rather Boycottesque fashion.  Once the scores were level, with the captain on 49, the pair declined to run if Criminal had played the shot, despite several opportunities, and chose to wait until the skipper was on strike to seal the victory. A Wide or No Ball - accidental of course - would have been amusing.
Man of the Match was Mahesh for taking the Catch of the Season which was all that saved us from a Club Record 10-wicket defeat.  Fielder of the Day was either Prasanth or John Crossland.  They both stopped plenty and missed nothing.  Since John did more diving I will give it to the glovesman.

Clapham Nomads  115 for 8 from 35 overs

M. Vyas  1
Darwin  27
A. Khan  16
H. Khan  25
P. Pattiyil  2
R. Khan  8
Abbas  0
N. Lefebve  0
E. Todorow  not out 10
J. Crossland  not out 9
Did not bat - A. West

F.O.W. - 3, 39, 53, 61, 74, 75, 80, 96

South Bank 117 for 1 from 27.1 overs

H. Khan  7-4-17-0
A. Khan  7-0-15-0
A. West  4-0-27-1
E. Todorow  5-0-28-0
Abbas  2-0-11-0
R. Khan  2.1-0-16-0

Clapham Nomads lost by 9 wickets

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