Ruislip Victoria won by 49 Runs

Match Report

This match mirrored the previous victory over Baker Street Irregulars, a stronger Ruislip side than in 2010 pacing their innings well to gain crucial momentum. After 19 overs, featuring excellent spells from Kumar and the bowled-through Khan, the hosts had crawled to 45-3 with the stonewalling opener Jani on 10 not out. No boundary had been scored since the second ball of the day, the bowling and fielding tight. The match was then transformed after a drinks break, 120 runs being put up in the remaining 16 overs. The Gents were therefore up against it and accurate bowling on a slow wicket saw Ruislip gain a deserved win. With only two wins in their last nine matches, The Gents are going through a sombre period but all will be well.

The débuts of Kumar's brother-in-law Grover and Caveney's pal Burford brought to 25 the total of players used so far this season. This has certainly set captain and vice-captain some challenges, not least how to motivate each player within a rapidly changing team. You have at the same time to encourage guests and not discourage the regulars. Everyone seemed to get on though and it was especially good to welcome back Turpin who drove up from his new home in Kent to perform his mysterious black arts behind the timbers to a high technical level.

The captain was delayed and delegated the toss to Sanjay Patel, who as instructed won it and fielded. Kumar and Khan got the ball to swing and Joshi, Bhatt, well caught by square-leg Toft running 20 yards, and Almeida fell in the first 12 overs. It was all Gents at this point, though Jani and Virk were digging in well. Their team-mates were, to put it mildly, giving them grief about the rate of scoring but it should be seen in context: Jani's innings, redolent of an early 90s Bignell, was a valuable one for his side. The Patels eventually cleaned up the pair and when Shergil was pinned for a duck, Ruislip were 97-6 in the 29th. over. Chagalani and Hobday then batted brilliantly at 11 an over to disfigure the Patels' analyses, both batsmen impressive in their driving and pulling and finding the gaps frequently. It was a relief to the fielders when the 35 overs were done. A few catches were missed, Chagalani being spilled early.

Openers Denton and Kumar posted a steady 32 in 12 overs before a frustrated Kumar holed out to mid-wicket. It would be the highest stand of the innings. Denton and Grover fell on the same score and Ruislip were tightening their grip. The required run rate was still below 6 an over at this point but all the Gents' batsmen found it difficult to force the ball away. The total of 8 4s in the second innings was 7 less than in the first, and two less than the impressive Chagalani and Hobday managed. Credit should be given to Khan, who looked back to something approaching his best with bat and ball, Toft, Turpin and Burford who batted with conviction and, in the case of the last named, who had never played an organised game of cricket before, no little promise, his first shot sending the ball only a yard shy of a straight 6. It was important to bat through nearly all the overs and the response was dignified, if not enough to threaten a good side who hardly looked as if they were a man short.

©The Gentlemen of West London Cricket Club 2011