Old Whits 4th XI  v  St. James CC

14th July 2007

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Old Whits 152 - 9        St James 153 - 852

Match Won

 

 

E Dack                         34        3-0-15-1

S Hamilton-Jones        11

D Owen                        29        8-4-7-1

J Smith                         5          7-2-11-2             1 catch

K Jasavala                   4                                  1 catch

R Pierson                    6          6-0-30-1           3 catches

R Bush                                    0          7-2-12-0

M Woolley                   32*       8-5-14-1

A Khan                                    18*       11-0-53-3

D Smith                        dnb                              1 catch

A Woolley                   dnb

 

 

The mad summer weather had threatened all week and cricket looked a distinct impossibility but the Met Office finally promised a decent day for cricket and so it was, a little cloudy but fine with the sun peeking through the cumulus enough to keep it cheerful. The finely manicured environs of Croham Road greeted us thus, the track looked good and true, the outfield a little long possibly and the opposition keen to repeat the result of our last meeting. The toss was lost and Old Whits put themselves in to bat.

 

Robin opened the attack and had almost immediate success with one of the worst balls of his career, the Old Whits no. 2 edging a tame long hop to a grateful Kermin behind the sticks. Jack partnered from the other end with another tight and probing spell sadly without wickets. Old Whits looked decidedly like a team who were determined to stay at the crease and with only 1 wicket down after 12 overs and a handful of runs on the board Mike and Dave came to the attack to try and winkle them out. Toiling away with tight lines and attractive shapes, occasional loose balls punished but well fielded, a wicket apiece took us to drinks at 20 overs with only seventy odd on the board and only three wickets down. Time for Richard to try his luck and although he delivered his trademark swingeing spell Old Whits refused to try their luck with him, the St James fielders again cutting out whatever runs might have been possible. Adil meanwhile flighted the ball expertly and got them, finally, swinging the bat and although the Old Whits opener remained the middle order fell steadily. Ed made a cameo appearance for an entertaining spell against the youngsters and when he ran out of puff Jack returned to mop up two more, including the opener for 78, and the towel was thrown after 50 overs and 152 on the board. A cat and mouse first half, accurate bowling, careful batting, first class fielding, excellent catching in the deep from Robin and Jack and sturdy batting from Old Whits.

 

Tea was taken and another confident air took over the St James team whilst Robin and David formulated the batting attack best suited to a chase of the tricky variety, not too large to overwhelm and small enough to cause overconfidence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ed and, the returning, Steven padded up, with Dave and Jack in the wings, and strode to the crease with a determined air and did and almost flawless job of it. The score bobbled along nicely with plenty of boundaries and good running against disciplined bowling. A change of umpires heralded the fall of Steven after he thick edged behind and had to walk after the umpire denied all knowledge of the snick that was apparent to most of Surrey after 45 minutes and 15 overs. Dave Owen looked good from the off and worked well with Ed pushing the score along nicely for 5 overs till Ed got cleaned up by the tricky young spinner. Young Jack in and out to a splendid high catch at point, Kermin in and out to a splendid catch at point, Dave Owen lobbing to mid on, Robin scooping to square leg and Richard swishing and swashing and stumped.

 

33 overs gone, 7 down and 50 to get with 9 overs left, all thought of a cake walk long since disappeared and the mumblings of discontent and resignation to fate beginning to sound from some of the St James fan club.

 

Such fears were without foundation of course and had not reckoned with Adil and Mike. Adil at his most belligerent, bruising the ball to all parts and Mike full of confidence stroking and smashing a glorious 6 over mid wicket sealing the game in 6 overs with  Adils’ gloriously struck off drive for the winning 4.

 

So the winning run gathers momentum and this, it has to be said and cannot be emphasized enough, was down to a fantastic team performance from each and every member. An almost perfect bowling attack, 50-13-152-9 from 7 bowlers. Almost faultless fielding with many runs saved from brave and keen hands. An excellent demeanour in the field with all the boxes ticked on the etiquette and conduct fronts.

 

Drinks flowed fast and furious in the club house where both sides enjoyed each others company and said how much they had enjoyed the game, Old Whits made specific mention of how much they had appreciated a game played to such a high standard of both cricket and conduct which is something we should feel proud of and now that standard is set we must make sure we stick to it.

 

Turners Hill next week, torrential rain forecast and the whiff of a hat trick……………..