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An heroic Gents’ batting performance, led by the outstanding Richard Gilkes, on a beautiful batting wicket was not quite enough to secure a win in this maiden fixture, played at the very impressive Old Ruts’ ground in Morden. Ruts, a mixture of colts and Saturday league players, were a very handy outfit and deserved to win but, chasing a mammoth 216, a blistering opening stand of 66 in only 14 overs between Gilkes and Norcott gave The Gents an excellent platform. Wright and Patel built on it but the pressure was in the end too much and the middle-order failed before Buck, Denton and Lewis at least ensured that the side was not bowled out.
The Gents were all on time and as it became very hot indeed there was uniform disgust at Mr. Buck’s appalling loss of the toss. Young Mike Dodds (six fours) and Steve Dolben (seven) then proceeded to knock off a chanceless 102 stand in 21 overs. Medical student Ardley (nine fours and a six) was even more brutal but some tight bowling from Buck and Scibo restored the position somewhat and avoided a massacre. Mister Snelling’s radar was not quite working but he kept plugging away while The Gents had a better second half of the first innings in the field, debutant Paul Turpin impressing with some good running and throwing.
The reply began sensationally. Mr. Buck would later describe it as “the best 50 minutes’ Gents batting he had ever seen.” He had a point. Some of the bowlers were very young but they had all been properly coached and were well up for the game, clearly not wanting to lose to a bunch of flannelled fools approaching their twilight years. Norcott was easy on the eye and struck three fours. Gilkes, on fire from the off, left spectators (and there were about 30 of them) aghast. One shot, a rocket of a six over cover and into the road, was worth getting out of bed for on its own and could be set proudly alongside his nine fours. Wright and Patel (three threes, a four and a five!) continued the good work and The Gents were in with a chance until the last ten overs.
It would be wrong not to credit the Ruts’ varied attack, including two left-arm spinners, for forcing the win, rather than blaming it on Gent deficiencies, but the middle-order played some poor shots, Derriman in particular wafting over a straight ball from Start that did little. Buck, Denton and Lewis restored some pride but the final margin was comprehensive enough. It is a pleasure to report that Ruts’ amiable captain, Marc Jones, expressed an interest in renewing the fixture in 2005. Expect Master Gilkes to be the first to conform his availability for that game, probably within thirty seconds of the publication of the fixture list next winter. |
