Having lost our previous two games to rain, it was a nice change to step out onto the turf on a sunny afternoon at Turney Road, Dulwich for a 40-over knock against Green Sox. Captain Ralph lost the toss and the Dodgers XI (padded out by quite a few South Bankers) were put in to bat.
Before long it became clear that the Sox had brought a strong bowling attack, but Komal and Mike started well and our score was building nicely. Komal then holed out to mid-wicket for 18, while Ben Hayes was soon bowled by a snorter. Tom W steadied the ship with an excellent 24, but his dismissal shortly after the drinks break was the cue for a middle order collapse. Phil was unlucky to be given caught behind for a duck, while John could only blame himself for being caught at mid-wicket for the same ignoble total. Ralph and Jack pushed on with some nice hitting before each being caught, and it was left to Giaco to take us to the close with a quick 25* of his own. All the while, Mike kept his head down and anchored the innings, carrying his bat for a glorious 72*. But was it enough?
Tea in the Turney Road pavilion allowed Dodgers to take on fluids, cake and cheese puffs before resuming the game in earnest. Matt P and Jack started very neatly, Jack bowling out two of the Sox top three with cracking deliveries. Their second opener fell to a moment of comedy gold when he skied one straight back to Matt, who clearly assumed that his contract with Dodgers involved only bowling the ball, not also trying to catch it. Instead he let it plop on the ground next to him, at which point the batsman decided he would take a suicidal single and was promptly run out by a juggled misfield. Top quality all round, only surpassed a couple of overs later when Tom W (bowling very nicely with Giaco as first change) went for his own Sheldon Cottrell moment and instead hurled the ball through the covers. More tragedy than comedy, given the final score...
By the drinks break Dodgers were looking good, but Green Sox had only lost a couple of wickets and could afford to open up for the last 20. This they did, and before long our second change bowlers Ralph and Dan were under attack from some lusty middle order hitting. The Sox were by now in the ascendant and the Malaysian bookies had them clear favourites for the game. Step forward secret weapon Ben Hayes, who with able support from a returning Jack and Matt removed the oppo's most dangerous batsmen and stifled the scoring of their replacements. The chase was now well and truly on, and Green Sox were running for everything. Komal, who had replaced Mike behind the stumps, effected two sensational run-outs, the first by throwing down the stumps, the second in a foot race with a despairing batsman. We missed a couple of other chances, and it came down to the very last ball. The Sox needed 2 to win, and their somewhat inebriated no 11 managed no more than a gloved single. The game was tied, our pride was saved and cricket was the winner. Viva!
Man of the Match votes: Mike 9, Ben 1, Jack 1
Scorecard here.
Before long it became clear that the Sox had brought a strong bowling attack, but Komal and Mike started well and our score was building nicely. Komal then holed out to mid-wicket for 18, while Ben Hayes was soon bowled by a snorter. Tom W steadied the ship with an excellent 24, but his dismissal shortly after the drinks break was the cue for a middle order collapse. Phil was unlucky to be given caught behind for a duck, while John could only blame himself for being caught at mid-wicket for the same ignoble total. Ralph and Jack pushed on with some nice hitting before each being caught, and it was left to Giaco to take us to the close with a quick 25* of his own. All the while, Mike kept his head down and anchored the innings, carrying his bat for a glorious 72*. But was it enough?
Tea in the Turney Road pavilion allowed Dodgers to take on fluids, cake and cheese puffs before resuming the game in earnest. Matt P and Jack started very neatly, Jack bowling out two of the Sox top three with cracking deliveries. Their second opener fell to a moment of comedy gold when he skied one straight back to Matt, who clearly assumed that his contract with Dodgers involved only bowling the ball, not also trying to catch it. Instead he let it plop on the ground next to him, at which point the batsman decided he would take a suicidal single and was promptly run out by a juggled misfield. Top quality all round, only surpassed a couple of overs later when Tom W (bowling very nicely with Giaco as first change) went for his own Sheldon Cottrell moment and instead hurled the ball through the covers. More tragedy than comedy, given the final score...
By the drinks break Dodgers were looking good, but Green Sox had only lost a couple of wickets and could afford to open up for the last 20. This they did, and before long our second change bowlers Ralph and Dan were under attack from some lusty middle order hitting. The Sox were by now in the ascendant and the Malaysian bookies had them clear favourites for the game. Step forward secret weapon Ben Hayes, who with able support from a returning Jack and Matt removed the oppo's most dangerous batsmen and stifled the scoring of their replacements. The chase was now well and truly on, and Green Sox were running for everything. Komal, who had replaced Mike behind the stumps, effected two sensational run-outs, the first by throwing down the stumps, the second in a foot race with a despairing batsman. We missed a couple of other chances, and it came down to the very last ball. The Sox needed 2 to win, and their somewhat inebriated no 11 managed no more than a gloved single. The game was tied, our pride was saved and cricket was the winner. Viva!
Man of the Match votes: Mike 9, Ben 1, Jack 1
Scorecard here.
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| Man of the Match Mike Dollin |
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| Our stalwart openers |
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| Happy with the tie |
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