The Dodgers assembled on a sunny May evening at Chiswick to take on the perennially strong Putney Cricket Club, with whom Captain Ralph agreed that we should bat first.
Charlie and Mike started us off with confidence, scoring swiftly until the former was well caught on 14 off a skied off-drive. Mike was removed for 17 by an even more spectacular one-handed catch at square leg, whereupon Diago and Will took over batting duties, each retiring unbeaten with scoring rates in excess of 150 (and, in Will's case, a good many scoop shots to boot). Karan, on debut for Dodgers, also started strongly before being stumped out of his crease, while Brendan hit out effectively to record his highest total yet of 20 not out, the last couple of overs in the company of Dave. As the photo below indicates, we reached a final score of 137 for 3, but the boundaries were short and the outfield quick so there were no grounds for complacency at the turn.
The Putney openers set about chasing down our total with a will, with Manav showing his considerable batting talent against us rather than (as last week) for us. Charlie and Will bowled accurately with both pace and movement through the air, but it was not until Diago came on at first change that we secured our first wicket. Ralph then raised our hopes with an exceptional catch behind the wicket off another swinging delivery from Diago, but the champagne moment of the innings came with Brendan's direct hit from square leg to run out one of the dangerous Putney batters, just one of his many fielding accomplishments of the evening. Matt, Aamir and Karan each bowled in their turn but the oppo stayed up with the required run rate throughout and romped home to a seven-wicket victory with more than three overs to spare. We were well beaten, but it had been a thoroughly enjoyable game.
Man of the Match votes: Brendan 8, Diago 2, Will 1
Comments