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Assertive batting, allied to stupendous running between the wickets, by Mark Sciberras and Wayne Thompson saw The Gents to a victory earned by the seamers but set up by a correct call of the coin by Sanjay Patel. For this was an excellent toss to win with the classic bowl-first juxtaposition of a damp pitch, a drying wind and sunshine. The Gents have yet to bat first in 2004 but have so far controlled games through disciplined bowling and tight fielding.
The Stumps were a new oppo and a very friendly bunch. The park itself and its hinterland of Hampstead Garden Suburbs were easy on the eye too, the only drawback being vandalised, unusable changing rooms. The match was late in starting but by 2.30pm we were away, The Gents having only nine men on the ground at that time. Jim Wright and the skipper opened the bowling and had early successes, Wright yorking the burly Windward Islander Derrick Murray and Sanjay inducing a chip to mid-on and another bowled.
A double-change saw the Kiwi bowlers struggling to find their line as the runs mounted for the fourth wicket, Stumps fighting back well. Stacey was very powerful on the leg-side, Dhokia quieter but composed. The game was settling down into a well-balanced contest when suddenly Thompson unleashed a brilliant inswinger that pitched outside off and knocked Stacey’s leg-stump out of the ground. The innings then went into freefall as Derriman and Scibo cleaned up. Ryon was in the action too with a steepling catch close in after much delegation in his direction from his team-mates. Fifty-five all out by four o’clock, four wickets to Ryon.
Stumps, like St. Anne’s four weeks before, were determined to make amends for their low total and had three early successes. Buck (who had admirably reconstructed the plot of the Squeeze song ‘Up The Junction’ over the previous 24 hours) and Wright were bowled, while Norcott went for his shots before chipping a full-toss to mid-off. Scibo and Thompson then proceeded to win the game with a fine stand. The Maltese Falcon’s back-foot play was the best of the day while Wayne charged at the bowling, using his good eye to improvise shots all round the ground, though he was dropped late on in the deep. There was a four apiece but more importantly three threes to Scibo and four to Wayne. Medical assistance was nearly required when Scibo hooked the ball into his face. He took a moment to recover his composure before asking for the helmet. This increased his confidence to such an extent that he scored a direct hit on V Dhokia’s plums with a straight drive. The Gents were home in under 17 overs. It was a good win, but more important was the birth of a possible regular fixture. Thanks to Stumps for a good day out, an excellent tea and some lively company in the Five Bells afterwards. |
