The Gentlemen of West London

Runs

London Owls

Runs

Match Report - Back on Track

Inspired by a marathon stand between Peter Denton and Mark Sciberras, who both posted their club personal best scores with Peter achieving his maiden 50, The Gents came out on top against valiant London Owls. The visitors were handicapped by an injury to their captain and bowling spearhead Jonathan Wasse, who badly bruised his thumb attempting a sharp catch. But under the joint captaincy of Toft and Goodfellow they fought back well, restricting Gents to 155 for 6. While the talented Luke Satchell was at the crease Owls were on track with the bat but were shot down by tiptop catching, including a blinder by Mr. Buck.

Poor Tony departed early but we were then treated to a vigilant 21.5 over stand in which, due to some spirited fielding, the batsmen never quite cut free. Both struck seven fours, mainly straight or to the long Balaclava Road boundary, Owls having sensibly reinforced the short Railway side. Scibo eventually fell bowled Mathias but Gilkes was on fire, although the Patels were unable to make a material contribution. Peter Denton’s 50, initially miscounted as 48 by the scorer, was well deserved. So at half-time, both sides were reasonably happy. The Gents’ innings had been bitty, not perhaps helped by the slow-over rate in stifling heat but a par score was nevertheless posted. The outfield was lighting fast but the wicket, though not an atrocity, was variable in bounce. Owls, helped by sub fielders Norcott and latterly Buck, had stuck to their task well. An administrative point worth making is that was a brilliant idea to move, on a hot day, the tables and chairs into the shade of the railway embankment. It had only taken GWLCC 14 years to realise this.

Sanjay yorked Hennessey leg-stump in the second over, by which time Ken had raced to 8. Hill had Gormanly well caught by a diving Norcott (in front of his new Thai girlfriend Tanni) which then set in motion the mainstay of the Owls’ innings, a feisty stand between Ken Toft and Luke Satchell. The latter was a class act, as demonstrated not only by his 8 fours but also his well-judged leave alones and immaculate forward defensives. Toft’s defence was impregnable and the stand sailed merrily on until the 17th. over when Denton took an excellent low catch standing up to Dhruv. The burly stumper has whinged and whinged about his stumping v. Jay Bharat being briefly dismissed (despite the adverb “superbly” being used by the Match Reporter) so let it here be recorded that this was a jolly smart piece of work. Ken had batted very well.

For the next seven overs Satchell looked like winning the match on his own though he soon lost Jameson, victim of a jaw-dropping dismissal off Ketan, a fierce drive to cover Buck being momentarily parried then held. However, after drinks Satchell, by now in some discomfort, was finally out, simply caught by the skipper in the covers off the returning Hill. It transpired that this brave young man is diabetic. His 57 was a fine effort.

Master Norcott, by now frankly showing off, took his second catch, well-judged off the southpaw Clayton at backward square-leg as Scibo went top of the wickets list for 2005. He took another and there were wicket-maidens for Hemin and Buck, who wrapped things up when he had Mr. Burke (batting twice as Mr. Wasse was hors de combat) nonchalantly caught one-handed by Mr. Hill. So ended a good fun game played in the friendly spirit that has characterised this fixture since 1991.

Thanks to Ian Colley, who scored the second innings immaculately and provided his usual gracious, erudite conversation and to the visiting musicians behind the Railway boundary who gave us “That’s alright mama” in a spontaneous rehash of The King’s “Sun Sessions” though they sadly did not play ‘Mystery Train.’