Dodgers convened at rural Putney Heath for a 35-over afternoon game in the June sunshine, and took the field against a Roehampton side that was lacking a couple of players but still brimming with talent. Abhishek and Gary started conifdently for us, backed up by Chairman John, Satya, Neil's father Frank, Brendan (on a commendable bowling debut) and Dave H. Satya's figures (7-1-17-3) showed most success, followed by Dave (6-0-24-2) and Abhi (7-2-18-1), but all contributed to a tidy performance against a competent batting line-up. Neil kept excellently behind the wicket and picked up three catches, while two of the chances taken without gloves went to Frank in the gully and John (rather miraculously) at mid-wicket, thus proving the value of age and experience; the somewhat younger Satya pouched the third. We had, however, allowed Roehampton to notch up 192 off their 35 overs, which was always going to be a competitive score.
Neil and Mike D opened our innings against some tidy bowling from the Roehampton pace attack, with Mike falling LBW before he could get going. Harry and Frank each found the boundary before being dismissed in their turn, while Phil rolled back the years to score a swift 18 that included a glorious straight drive four lofted high over the bowler's head. Dave followed suit with 21, his straight drive travelling even further for six over long off, while Brendan was unlucky to nick his first ball and depart without troubling the scorers. Yet all this time Neil had anchored the innings at the other end, building from a solid start to a thunderous crescendo and ending with a magnificent 128 not out. He was joined by Satya for the final few balls as Dodgers swept to victory with room to spare. Plaudits to Mike for his excellent captaincy, but the day went to Centurion Neil for his cracking performance with the bat.
Man of the Match votes: Neil 10, Satya 1
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