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A negative match reporter, perhaps the mischievous troublemaker from West XI E
Savinalar-Finney, would cite the fifth defeat in seven games and the presence of
five guests, including three debutants, as profound causes for concern. Falling
apart, had to happen one day, etc. Those of a more positive persuasion, to whom
we prefer to listen, would cite the seven wins by early July as being the equal
of the whole of last season, and the sterling efforts by Gents’ organiser
Richard Gilkes to get a team together here in order to honour the fixture, when
weaker men would have folded. The result was a fine game, narrowly if deservedly
won by Jay Bharat, a very impressive mix of colts and senior players.
In the absence of six of the previous week’s team, including five of the top
seven batsmen, Mr. Gilkes roped in his older brother Chris and his bookmaker
Paul. Jim Wright sourced RSA colleague Roydon Bailey and his mate Darryn Harris
(debuts v. Enterprise 2005). That took us up to ten but H Bomb then schmoozed
the services of local JB player Manish Udani who took us up to eleven and became
the 200th. Gents player. He later also schmoozed a lift home off Manish with the
kit, stout work.
Appalling transport problems caused 40 minutes’ delay, during which time HP, all
padded and boxed, enjoyed an extensive net, thrashing the ball to all parts. He
predictably went into his shell once the real action started, but slowly dug in
and began to play some excellent shots before being bowled. JB’s attack was a
mixture of canny seam and top-notch spin. Always an impressive bowling side, HP
himself pointed out the unusually high number of maidens, ten, in the innings.
Harris attacked but a flurry of wickets fell until H Bomb and Sanjay, the former
the dominant partner, saw up the ton, Hemin smiting successive sixes (of four in
the Gent innings) into the railway embankment. Hemin was run out but good late
runs came from Udani (a six corkscrewing into the pavilion) and the Gilkes
retinue. To the question posed by young Rahil (“What is a par score on this
pitch?”) there was no obvious answer. The Gents had satisfactorily batted the
forty overs, losing only eight wickets, but were rarely in control. It looked an
even contest.
The pitch attracted vitriolic comment during the day and it was certainly
variable. Never was this better illustrated than the throat ball, which reared
at Ketan ball three of the JB innings, the batsman treading on his stumps. The
returning Mr. Butt knocked back Darshit’s leg-stump and when a Harris pea-roller
pinned Sohan lbw, JB were 19 for three. The elegant young Rahil complemented the
left-handed captain Ronesh Nathwani well as 54 came up for the fourth wicket,
though the latter was dropped three times, none particularly easy but the sort
of chance to which you must cling onto more often than not to beat good
opposition.
Buck took a beautiful low caught and bowled to out Rahil, but there was more
pain for The Gents in the shape of the tall Sanjay who posted 20 as Ronesh
Nathwani went up through the gears, moving to a composed fifty with eight fours
before H Bomb had him lbw. If you are going to win a game batting second do it
with a six. This was the advice offered to and accepted by Devan, who clumped
Udani into the trees for the winning runs. It was a similar plot to the West XI
game with The Gents not making quite enough runs batting first.
May the JBCC youth policy and refreshing lack of cynicism reap rich reward in
the future and may The Gents actually beat them one day. Finally, we thank the
guests, a smashing bunch, who complemented the regulars well. Spirit remains
good, despite the recent blips.
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