On a warm yet breezy evening Dodgers gathered at Turney Road in Dulwich to take on the might of Green Sox in what was the inaugural year of the Malins cup.
Mike and Tamal got us off to a fine start before Mike was pinned slap bang in front of middle... This brought about an early-ish departure and some ‘good natured’ chuntering as he made his way off the field. Tamal continued apace launching some fine shots including a lovely low strait 6 which brought about a rapid retirement having carved 28 off a mere 9 deliveries. Will had joined him and set about keeping pace, also duly retiring in rapid time having cleared the rope on several occasions.
It was a pleasure to welcome back both Damian and TQ from respective lengthy hiatuses from the Dodgers, the former being extremely unlucky to be caught first ball having not quite got enough on what initially appeared to be a fine pull to deep backward square leg. Marathon man TQ faired rather better hitting some fine shots until his progress was curtailed by an unexpected hamstring injury. In hitting out post drinks break, he chipped one back to the bowler.
Newish recruit Alex did a fine job of keeping a steady head, retiring at just over a run a ball. This brought Charlie and Niket together who both continued to keep our impressive run rate going, retiring in double quick time. Savan, skipper Ralph and Aamir sacrificed themselves for little combined return while trying to keep the run rate going. This did have the benefit of bringing Will back to the crease who marmalised the bowling further leaving us with a fine score of 179 for the Sox to chase. Whilst an impressive score by Dodgers standards, it maybe felt a touch light given the speed of the baked Turney outfield.
And so it proved, with Sox’s openers both setting about their task with relish keeping up with the run rate without particular difficulty. This was despite some fine bowling from the Patel Bro’s who were unlucky not to induce an edge or two. They were also the victim of some highly questionable ‘wides’ as called by the umpire, this despite a convo between Captain’s prior that we would be ‘sensible’ on such things. Duly noted for next year...
Charlie was first change and had a little difficulty with his radar, testing keeper Ralph with some interesting deliveries… Will joined the attack and bowled with his usual aggression unsettling the set batsmen and having found an edge was likely disappointed to see this dropped behind the stumps (sorry Will).
Thankfully that drop wasn’t too costly as a few balls latter he ran out the offending batsman with a fine throw and direct hit at the keeper’s end. A further retirement followed on Sox’s side and it was about this point that TQ fully succumbed to his dodgy hammy and had to leave the field leaving us with 10 in the field. Aamir and Tamal then entered the fray and for a while it looked like they might keep the Sox under the required rate. Unfortunately for us, further measured yet powerful batting took Sox over the line with 9 balls to spare.
Having completely forgotten to take the usual customary team hug photo it was left for Mike and Ralph to watch the might of France be taken down by the tricky Spaniards in the club bar, whilst lamenting the result over a cold one.
MoTM votes: Will 9, Tamal 2
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