ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ……….. (How’s that for an
alliterative title?)
In a sometimes bizarre match at Broom Road on
Saturday, the 4th XI returned their first victory of the
season as the match ended in nailbiting fashion. Once again Broom
Road defeated the assembled sat navs of the opposition, or perhaps
it was their lack of awareness of Guinness Premiership fixtures
(note to Mister Varney, untapped markets in the Wembley area!!) so
the fixture started at 2pm, meaning 20 overs from 7pm and another
prospect of the skippers first pint not being till 9pm. The
regulations regarding the toss in the league rules lacking any
clarity, the captains did it the traditional way, the Wembley
captain calling correctly and choosing to bat. This suited the T’s
as groundsman Bendelow was expounding to anyone who would listen
that it was a bowlers paradise and that 120 would be a wining total.
If that was to be the case then after 7 overs the result seemed to
be a foregone conclusion! The bizarrely attired Mahmood (Nike ¾
length shell suit bottoms, gold trainers and trainer socks) playing
his first game for 2 years had hit Bendelow out of the attack (note
to opening bowler, if you prepare a bowlers wicket, use it!) and
greeted Wright with 2 sixes in his first over, bringing up 50 for
the loss of no wicket in no time at all. However a chink appeared in
the armour when, despite not having run anywhere he called for a
drink, to be greeted with short shrift from the comabatitive Rand
that he could have one when a wicket fell. Having hinted at his lack
of fitness, T’s went on the defensive, offering plenty of runs but
cutting off the boundaries and started to pull things back, picking
up 2 wickets as Payne had the other opener so plumb LBW he appeared
to walk and then fooled the 3 with a slower ball that Andy Phillips
pouched at mid off. With Wright and the widely placed field
thwarting Mahmood the run rate slowed and when he sliced to TB at a
deep slip, the Wembley innings began to slide. From 76 for 2 they
declined to 99 all out as clever bowling from Payne (4-36), Wright
(5-39) and Bendelow backed up by superb catching, one effort from
the evergreen Gilbert Sanchez at short midwicket would have won
Britain’s Got Talent as he pouched the ball one handed while
spinning on his head in true Staines massive break dance tradition.
Tea was taken, with the Wembley youngsters
shunning the Sushi and Prawn sandwiches for Mr Kipling’s wares but
while not to everyone’s taste, this correspondent and food critic
scored it a solid B on the Hendometer.
Chris “I could be Nancy, but I play cricket on
Saturday’s and anyway I’m doing Panto in December and January
darling” was promoted to open the innings, not having had chance to
twirl due to the implosion of the Wembley innings and strode out
with Nik Walder with a view to getting this one over with and us
looking forward to getting back to the Green and enjoying a few
sundowners on the veranda. All proceeded smoothly as the score
approached 20 without incident until a mix up led to Marshall being
run out, Green played over the top of one from the trouserly
challenged Mahmood who then bowled Gopal first ball with an
inswinging Yorker. Burgess was unlucky to be bowled off his pads by
off spinner Vakani and when Rand
went next ball bowled by one he didn’t pick up in the descending
gloom it looked like an early finish for all the wrong reasons.
Phillips began to rebuild with Walder but Vakani, having changed
ends, forced the latter to play on for 17 and Sanchez walked out at
50 for 6 in what was by now twilight. Vakani kept it tight at one
end, ending with 14 overs 3 for 8 (3 for 0 at one stage!) while the
Wembley skipper rotated his bowlers from the other end. However
Andy, called up for his fielding, was determined to atone for his 3
dropped catches and despite a confident appeal for a catch behind
(he would have been the unluckiest man in the world as the keeper
was so leaky he was operating with a long stop), continued to defy
the bowling and his partnership with Gilbert, aided by wides and
byes, took us past 80. As Rand
reflected that it was probably a bad day to have given up smoking,
the skies continued to darken and the target inched nearer, Phillips
resistance was finally broken for a determined 18 and with a dozen
still needed Richie Payne joined Gilbert. Looking unrecognizable
having shorn the trademark locks to a streamlined no.2, Richie again
looked to be the man for a crisis as the target approached without
further alarm, finally relieving the skipper’s nerves with a cover
drive for 4 as Twickenham staggered over the line after a full 52
overs of batting.
So 20 points secured and we overtake Wembley as
the league starts to take shape, which is more than can be said of
the team! Playing 4th team cricket relies on the
vicissitudes of selection which can try the patience of saintlier
men than me and so my heartfelt thanks go to all those who turn out
and do their best, pay their match fees and never grumble. It is
from such people that unexpected performances arise and while the
bowlers do their job each week, the batting throws up unexpected
heroes and so the plaudits and my thanks go to Andy and Gilbert.
Wilf
