Dodgers' unlucky record of rained-off fixtures against this week's opponent, Defra All Stars, has resulted in only one played fixture between the sides in the last ten years (a defeat in 2024). Could we avenge that lone loss this time?
The opposition sent us in to bat, and things started smoothly. Our opening pair of Mike and Kunal settled in nicely and each enjoyed a well-deserved not-out retirement; Mike (25*), who got off the mark with a trademark late cut boundary, and Kunal (27* off a mere 17 balls), who calmly produced six cleanly struck fours. Satya and Karan came in next, and although both batters did well to periodically find the boundary our run rate began to slow through the middle overs against some accurate Defra bowling. Sat ended up caught and bowled attempting to accelerate the pace after scoring 22, while Karan survived to retire at 25* in the final few overs. Will arrived to immediately deliver several big blows, as well as some quick running of 2s and 3s, reaching his own 25* milestone after just 14 deliveries. In the final over Charlie and Brendan cameoed to add a run each, bringing Dodgers to a respectable total of 147.
Abhi and Stockers opened the bowling in our defence, and straight away Defra were trying to squeeze singles off of anything that even grazed bat or pad. No amount of running could withstand Abhi's fiery pace, however, as he conceded only nine runs and took a characteristic wicket (bowled) in his three-over spell. Matt was slightly more expensive in his first over but found a line and length that frustrated Defra, keeping them pinned through first change. Fin stepped in to produce a spell rivalling Abhi's, allowing only ten runs off three overs and claiming a wicket of his own by way of a smart catch by Stockers (fielding at gully). Charlie's spell alongside Fin saw us through the change of ends and at the halfway stage the situation appeared promising. Even without finding the boundary regularly, however, Defra accumulated runs by way of their constant running between the wickets without hesitation- several missed runout attempts and some uncharacteristically sloppy fielding only emboldened this approach. A clinical caught & bowled from Kunal also did little to curb their appetite for pushing hard. Unfortunately in Brendan's brief spell new batter Andy did find the boundary, and often, rapidly pushing his side ahead of the required rate. Satya and Will came in at the death to try and see us through to an increasingly improbable victory, but despite some really crafty bowling from both, including two important wickets for Sat, further issues in the field had the opposite effect of increasing pressure as Defra were bailed out one too many times.
In the end we lost before even reaching the final over, heads dropping in frustration as we walked off, knowing that we had squandered at least a decent chance to take a victory on the night. Fair play to Defra, who never let themselves fall far behind the rate thanks to that tenacious approach to singles and twos. Perhaps if we had taken a wicket via run out early on (Will did brilliantly to hit the stumps on an attempt where the batter was ultimately deemed safe) it could've changed the whole course of the game, but as it was we only really have ourselves to blame for not pushing as hard on the runs in our own batting innings and then failing to find our usual tenacity in the field.
Kunal 5
Satya 3
Fin 1
Mike 1
Will 1
Scorecard: dodgers.play-cricket.com/website/results/7699329
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