Touring Theatres v Clapham Nomads - 29/6/14

Last Sunday's game against our oldest cricketing friends the Theatres, at the Del Ballard Rec in Wimbledon,  looked likely to be over before it started as we arrived to find games in full swing on both pitches.  Fortunately, a quick phone call from Home skipper Ben Trenchell solved the problem and 2 of the teams trooped off to Raynes Park Sports Ground.  This meant that the 2 pitches were occupied by; Touring Theatres, Clapham Nomads, Caribbean Mix and Kings XI.  This represents an incredible cross-section of South London Sunday Cricket.
John Crossland was the captain for this one and Emil had done well to put out 10 men starring controversial, outspoken and injury-prone Medium Pacer Andrew West in his first appearance for a year. Nomads batted first in a 35 overs per side contest as angry clouds lowered and drizzle came and went.  This hadn't been forecast but was to be expected I suppose on what was the middle Sunday of Wimbledon and also Glastonbury weekend.
Another fine stand between Mark Bradshaw and Prasanth Pattiyil realised over 50 before Prasanth fell caught behind to Blackmore.  An even better stand followed between Bradshaw and Darwin, who is hitting it so hard at the moment that any fielder of less than the highest level of athleticism will not stop the ball unless it is hit straight at him.
Bradshaw passed 50 and then plundered 12 off an over from Dirk Fieldhouse to take him into the mid 60s with that intangible aura of a potential centurion starting to surround him.  Darwin, who had feasted on the Cover and Mid Off area was unfortunately out 4 short of his maiden Nomads half-century.  A quiet spell followed around drinks with Fieldhouse bowling accurately and John Warnaby turning the odd ball - one really sharply from outside off to missing leg.
Mahesh made 12 and Mark began to pick up the pace again, racing through the 80s and 90s accompanied by debutant George Poole (who hit a nice 4) until he reached 99 with Emil Todorow at the other end.  A quick single was attempted but Todorow was run out by inches.  The now steady rain suddenly turned torrential as it teemed out of a monochrome mid-grey sky.  Both teams fled the field and for a minute or so it looked as though Mark would miss out on his first ton for Nomads in the unluckiest of circumstances.
Fortunately the sky turned a paler shade of white and play resumed after 20 minutes, but Adam Paz was quickly out to a catch in the deep. This left Mark still on 99 and on strike with Nick Lefebve, John Crossland and Andrew West (who had only batted 3 times between them so far this summer) to accompany him and around two and a half overs to go.  Thankfully he managed to steer one down to the man on the Point boundary and a comfortable single was taken to bring up a fine and well-deserved Century for Mark. John Crossland promptly declared (possibly the first captain ever to do so in a Limited Overs Match.) on 200 for 6.
Over tea, Crossland explained his rationale; with further rain breaks likely, he figured that bowling the full 35 would be unlikely but he wanted to to maximise the amount of daylight in which he could knock over all 8 wickets of a 9-man Theatres side rather than having to claim a spurious faster ran rate or - God forbid - a Duckworth Lewis Method victory.  This seemed sensible and who could doubt the genius of the man.
Crossland gave Emil Todorow the first over but all eyes were on Andrew West at the Leather Bottle End.  The big man did not disappoint, producing an excellent 7-over spell in which he removed all 3 of Theatres' best batsmen on the day; Ben Martin, Ben Trenchell and Sujeesh.  With his unerring accuracy and use of the drying pitch, he was inevitably compared by fielders to "Deadly" Derek Underwood of Kent and England.  One thought back, misty-eyed, to Underwood taking the field after a large Canterbury tea, strolling past the lime tree and immediately finding the spot.  Yes, the West of his era, though Underwood did not swear quite as much and got hit in the bollocks rather less.  He also, like West, had a telepathic understanding with his wicketkeeper, Alan Knott, who with his hyperactivity and acrobatic keeping was a bit of a Crossland clone.
Anyway, enough utter drivel.  Emil Todorow also bowled pretty well for few runs but no reward. Adam Paz replaced Todorow downhill and bowled even better.  His figures were dented by a few highly debatable wides but he did take the wicket of our own Chris Kennedy, who plays for both sides these days.
Prasanth Pattiyil had not bowled for a while and had a tough task in replacing West but he did a splendid job and took 3 quick wickets for next to nothing to wipe out the Theatres late-middle order.  I had to leave for work at this point (7 down for around 41) but in fact it turned out to be all over as the last man didn't bat.  This was not really a surprise as I saw him getting out of his car some way away near the tram stop, dressed in his civvies.  He may have had arm ache after his umpiring stint.
A good win after a day that started badly.  Mark Bradshaw was obviously Man of the Match and becomes only the 8th player to score a ton for the Nomads.  Plenty of very good players have not managed to score one for us.  Other excellent performances from Prasanth, Darwin and Andrew.  Adam and Emil bowled well. John had a good day as skipper; my only criticism is that he didn't give George Poole a bowl.  I hope it didn't put you off, George.  You'll definitely get a bowl next time.  Fielder of the Day is tough as there wasn't that much fielding to do.  Adam Paz and John Crossland took a catch apiece.  Nick Lefebve was sound, and quite busy, despite a back injury, but I will give to Andrew West who managed to make several good stops, using various parts of his body, without injuring himself.

Clapham Nomads 200 for 6 declared from 33.3 overs

M. Bradshaw  not out 100
P. Pattiyil  24
D. Gunawardene  46
M. Vyas  10
G. Poole  4
E. Todorow  3
A. Paz  3
N. Lefebve  not out 0
Did not bat; J.Crossland (capt/wkt), A.West

F.O.W. - 60, 157, 170, 176, 186, 199

Touring Theatres  41 for 7 (All out)  from 17.2 overs

Nomads bowling;

E. Todorow  7-0-13-0 
A. West   7-2-20-3
A. Paz   2-1-4-1
P. Pattiyil  1.2-0-3-3

Clapham Nomads won by 159 runs


Next Match should be 20th July.