Given the weather forecast, we were lucky to get in a full T20 against the perennially competitive Green Sox on an overcast Tuesday evening in Dulwich. In the end we lost only 15 minutes to a single rain shower, and quick application of the covers that are available on all pitches at Turney Road meant the wicket remained playable, if slightly muddy, throughout.
Dodgers were granted the opportunity of batting first in view of not having a full complement of players at the ground by 6pm, and Charlie needed no second invitation, opening his shoulders from the second over to notch up 22 off just 11 balls, including a glorious straight six. Given the variable bounce, this was a particularly fine knock - and one that set us on our way nicely. Adam Sayer, guesting along with several of our regular players who hold dual Putney / Dodgers nationality, also lofted a huge six over the bowler's head on the way to his own 23, so that we were scoring at 7 an over until the rain break. Yet the Green Sox bowling attack was as strong as ever, and we experienced a wobble when Adam, Harry and Jatinder all departed in quick succession. Niket steadied the ship with three towering sixes into the bushes before he too was removed for 24, whereupon Brendan continued where he had left on Sunday and added another 10 runs to his season's tally. Satya hit yet another six before falling victim to the accurate Green Sox bowling, which also claimed the wickets of Will and Abhi. Savan and John managed to bat almost until the end of the innings, and Dodgers finished on a score of 108 all out off 19.5 overs.
Abhi opened our bowling with serious pace, and was rewarded with three wickets in a spell that earned him the exceptional figures of 4-0-7-3, while Will picked up his own wicket via a second catch for Satya at point. The incoming batters were all pegged back further thanks to exemplary tight bowling by Savan (3-0-5-2) and Satya (3-0-10-1), so that by the time John and Adam came on as third change, Green Sox were in danger of being skittled out altogether. Will held his second steepling catch of the innings off John's bowling, and Niket claimed the last wicket with a well-disguised slower ball that dipped full toss onto the batter's stumps. Champagne fielding moment of the innings also goes to Niket, whose spectacular direct hit from long-off managed to run out the non-striker at the wicket keeper's end, while smart keeping by Charlie, secure catching in the field and generous captaincy by Jatinder contributed to a fine team performance and a famous victory by 19 runs. Well played, all.
Man of the Match votes: Niket 6, Abhi 3, Charlie 1, Savan 1
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