20 Minuters v St. James CC

19th May 2007

.

St James CC 150               20 Minuters151 -8

Match Lost

 

E Dack                  1

O Ehsan                 7

R Singh                  9

F Karim                 36           7-1-24-1                                2 catches

D Smith                 9                                              1 catch  

N Shiraz                               0              13.4-0-52-4          

K Jasavala             26

A Khan                  24           1-0-8-1                   1 catch

R Pierson              0              8-0-38-1

R Bush                   2*            3-0-23-1

S Smith                  1

 

 

The match that almost never was ! NPL having cancelled earlier in the week with only 1 player and an opposition found at the  eleventh hour whose pitch at Barn Elms was double booked and a pot holed cabbage patch was hastily arranged in the not unpleasant surroundings of the Palewell Playing Fields.

 

The sun was out with a bit of a wind, Robin won the toss and elected to bat. In strode Ed and Ousman to get St James started, variable bounce and poor shot selection did for them both and quickly St James were 8 for 2 in the 5th over. Not the kind of start we would have liked but one that is in danger of becoming characteristic. Rehal attacked with a mighty six but then lobbed to point, Faisal did get his head down racking up boundaries and another crisp, clattering sixer over the bowlers head. Partnered with David the score began to ease along before Faisal fell and Nabil stood still and watched the ball pass his bat and  make an awful mess. So, 67 for 5 in 17 overs and the committee members on the boundary were beginning to shift uneasily, although before the match one sage reckoned 100 would win it. Kerman to the crease and, looking assured, began to knock the ball about with an uneasy David who, characteristically lobbed a dolly to gully, before clicking nicely with Adil pushing singles and creaming 9 boundaries between them and cruising on to 138. Robin attended the wicket momentarily on Kermans departure and with Adil going for one too many the Richard & Stan show arrived back in town. A sell out audience held it’s breath but all to briefly it was over with Stan getting forward without contact and experienced the awful stumping feeling for the first time. 150 all out from 37 overs with 35 extras and twenty minutes left to bat was the end of it and feelings were mixed, the sages 100 was bettered but it could have been better still with more application of willow and maximum occupation.

 

A hastily produced tea without tea ensued with members of both teams on a fruitless search for water from a reluctant ground staff who were too interested in that other sport with the larger ball. Hmm.

 

The Twenty Minuters opening three came and went within six overs of Robin and Nabeel with only 15 on the board, so far so similar. Numbers 4 & 5 did get stuck in and the score pushed along despite the best efforts of Nabeel, who bowled eleven straight overs, and Robin and after 14 overs they were 70 for 4 after 14 and the game was finely balanced. Richard was a little costly but picked up number 5, Faisal pitched in in his usual miserly way and picked up number 7 but all the time the opposition pushed the score along without giving too many chances, Adil did take a great catch in the covers ( where else ) after the ball had appeared to go past him and David held a skier at long on. And so it went on to the 33rd over after Adil had come on and tempted No. 8 to the above mentioned skier, when the total was reached by a flashing edge through gully with 10 overs left.

 

So what conclusions can be drawn from the above ? We received 37 overs with 20 minutes unused so a possible 42 or 43, we bowled 33 with 10 left – pretty even there. We scored fifteen 4’s and two 6’s, they scored seventeen 4’s and three 6’s – pretty even there. Our first three did nothing, neither did theirs. They managed a lot more 1’s, 2’s and 3’s, we did not and there I think it lies, too much swiping and not enough “ getting in “ and innings building. St James, for the most part, got themselves out and the bowling, though in many respects admirable, showed lack of netting practice and provided too many non wicket taking balls. The St. James fielding was very good with no appalling  gaffs, excepting Stan letting one through his legs for 4 – but we can forgive him that surely. Only 3 byes against the keepers so another great performance there so answers on a postcard to the usual address, keep our chins up and look forward to a great weekend of cricket ahead.