Gentlemen of West London

Runs

Pak

Runs

Match Report - Gents Buck up to shade a classic

A game that ebbed and flowed all day ended in The Gents’ favour when Tony Buck bowled Azeem, and celebrated by jumping into Richard Gilkes’s beefy arms, where he stayed for a good ten seconds. So, two points to start a league campaign that will finish on 9 July but of greater importance was the burgeoning of a relationship with talented and interesting oppo. The Gents’ barmily constructed 147 all out – they were 8/3 off 8 overs and 146/6 23 overs later – thus proved a match-winner by the narrowest of margins.

Pak lived up to their reputation as a reliable, friendly side and we were away on the dot of 1.15pm as captain Khurshid Ahmed unleashed the excellent Nasir and Ghafar on a fast, bouncy pitch, soon accounting for Justin caught behind, Scibo and Moon Cat. HP dug in well to support Nabil to the fifty mark. In blistering form from the off, the young Pakistani rattled six fours and a short railway boundary pulled sixer as he and Jim (six fours including a masterful cover-drive ball one) despatched the bowling hither and thither. Nabil fell lbw for 47 but Buck was in masterful form before being caught at gully, posting five boundaries.

However, on came wily spinner Ahmed, from the Ditton Road end and in a jiffy he had two Patels and a Toft to his name. Mr. Butt carefully defended the only ball he faced before Jim was bowled for a fighting but elegant 35. Several Gents expressed disappointment at the total of 146 having hoped for 160-plus, but it had been achieved against very good bowling and youthful, athletic fielding. Even with twenty boundaries and plenty of extras, Pak bowled their overs in two hours, a commendable rate in the warm sunshine.

After a tasty vegetarian tea on an Eastern theme, the bowlers set about their task, Graham unleashing a glorious inswinger to remove Pak’s skipper. Arshad and Fahid then batted well before the former edged low to Buck at slip. For the next hour, the visitors went bonkers, popping up a series of catches which, with the exception of a shell back to bowler Nabil, were all taken. Truly was the spirit of FC Chad abroad in this crazed period of mayhem. Scibo had Anser well held by the skipper running in from long-on, Fahid departed lbw to Wright, Ketan at cover judged a skier well off Scibo to ensure Adnan’s departure before getting the wicket of left-hander Nabid himself courtesy of Nabil’s sharp catch at mid-wicket. At 51/6 Pak were bloodied over the eyebrow, but not down, and Ghafar and Azeem soon began to up the scoring rate off the spin of Hemin and Ketan.

Ghafar essayed one too many lofted drives (Buck again at long-on off Hemin, very nonchalant) and at 80/7 Pak were second favourites but Shez, originally down to bat No.3 had other ideas, assisted by a frankly unacceptable barrage of extras (10 wides and 14 No balls, though HP outperformed his counterpart 6 byes to 18). Jim Wright was the only bowler in the whole day to bowl his full quota and he could be proud of his 7-0-17-2. Buck and Nabil were now bowling in tandem, but runs still came, the batsmen timing their shots well and running like hares. After 32 overs Pak were 134/7 and Buck brought back a fired-up Nabil.

An over of cordite cricket in the raw then saw 8 runs but two corking deliveries to splay back the stumps of Shez and Fawad, six needed to win. Azeem then lofted brave Buck for four over long-on first ball of the 34th. over, blocked the second and gave the third the charge with the field brought in. He missed and it was all over. The first victory of the season, the oppo gracious in defeat, a sunny day, it doesn’t get much better.

Thanks to Ketan Patel for filling in – to some effect – to help ensure The Gents’ first victory without Sanjay or Snarler for many a year. It was in the top ten club performances of all time.