The Gentlemen of West London won by 102 Runs

Match Report

The first victory of 2011 was ultimately convincing, The Gents recovering from 13-3 and 117-7 to post 205-9 on a true pitch. Baker Street Irregulars batted well in patches after losing their openers to sharp catches but ended 102 runs short. To the one, or perhaps two débutants of a fortnight before must now be added Greg Cloete, well known for his performances for Enterprise and Sanjay Patel's friends Rinku Lall and Pradip Kumar. Each contributed. Cloete struck a violent 31 (3 6s, 2 4s) in a counterattacking stand of 62 in only 7 overs with Kumar before putting in a sound shift behind the timbers. Lall scored a promising if somewhat aerial 8 before two pacy late overs, while Kumar took a wicket and helped Sanjay Patel bat out the overs, adding an unbeaten 28 for the last wicket. These lads are a welcome addition to a squad diminished by injury and retirements.

BSI inserted The Gents on a damp wicket and soon reaped the rewards. Newcombe edged the fourth ball of the day to second slip, who caught it superbly low to his right before Lall top-edged to fine-leg and Jones was bowled off his pads. Caveney lofted two fours before losing his middle stump and Gents were faced with an urgent repair job. Kumar, who struck 12 4s in his 18 over dig and the strong Cloete were up to the mark. The South African holed out in the over after drinks, Kumar (his third successive 50) and Gilkes following in quick succession but BSI lacked a fifth bowler of note and runs came freely, 85 of them in the last 15 overs.

The al fresco tea worked well and it was fun getting to know the BSI lads and their families, including one infant, no more than five, who asked your match reporter every ten minutes who was winning. If he was expecting a simple answer he was mistaken. It was explained to him patiently, captain Gilkes backing up his scribe, that cricket was a game in which fortunes could turn round in an instant. Although Gents were happy with 205, they were also happy a fortnight before with 181. You can never tell is the point. The lad nodded.

Armed with a new ball and with a drying wicket, Sciberras bowled a magnificent spell down the slope and dismissed BSI's openers to good catches. Slip Sumit Kumar took his first ever catch for the club in the second over before Lall pounced diving at gully in the fourth and it was 9-2. Though McWilliams, Sinclair and latterly Bailey and Phillips batted with skill and conviction, the demand was too great and a variety of Gents bowlers, nine in all, plugged away until the job was done. Lall looked a handy fast bowler, Hemin Patel bowled with beautiful flight and there was a rare wicket for the hobbling captain.

BSI, who are looking to play five games this season, were friendly guests, stumping up their half of the not inconsiderable day's costs without being asked. This fixture will be renewed in 2012. They are of an analytical disposition and plainly love their cricket. Their captain estimated that they might have restricted The Gents to 160 with better catching and come pretty close had Sciberras not nailed their best two batsmen.

©The Gentlemen of West London Cricket Club 2011