The Gentlemen of West London won by 3 Wickets

Match Report

The Gents batted excitingly to beat West XI with over 10 overs to spare at sunny Greenford and thereby retain the Bob Ashton Memorial Cup in 2011's two-match rubber. Dubey's superb 54 (7 4s, 1 6) was the individual highlight, but the middle-order showed panache in chasing down a tricky total after three wickets fell either side of tea. Although the resurgence of the batting after several limp displays was of import, it could be argued that this was a game won by outfielding, for The Gents had earlier supported their bowlers with athleticism and taken 6 catches after Boden and Dane had threatened to win the game with the day's highest partnership, 57. It was all things considered the most rounded performance of a difficult season.

Dane won the toss and batted on a strip that was expected to deteriorate. Lall opened with two maidens but it was his new-ball partner Rudru who struck first, bowling Taylor the ball after a cover-driven four. Boden and Dane then added 57 in 12.2 overs in the first of two tough periods for the visitors. Dane gave an early chance but the pair otherwise played the bowling with ease before Sciberras, enjoying the bowling season of his life, pinned Boden with his sixth ball. The umpire miscounted in his next over, Rawlings edging the 7th. ball to gully and a reaction catch by first slip Hibbert via Desai's gloves saw off Wright for a duck. The Gents now had the momentum. Delanian, with minimal backlift but a keen eye, struck out in support of the adhesive Dane before three wickets fell on 109. Dane lifted the fourth ball of Hemin Patel's third over to long-on Sciberras. The batsman had crossed and Delanian fell next ball, lofting to debutant Jignesh Patel at mid-off. Rudru bowled Rennie for another duck and West XI had declined from 65-1 to109-7. Bapu, whose arrival was delayed, batted perhaps too low at No.8 and with Cox quickly added 19 before Lall bowled him. A third wicket for the captain and a deserved first for Sanjay Patel brought the innings to a close for 141, Cox 11*.

As the game had started at 1.15pm and tea was not until 4, The Gents were negotiated into batting for five overs before tea. This hiatus was likely to work in West XI's favour and so it proved, Taylor bowling Sachin Desai with an unplayable inswinger before Rudru holed out off a full-toss and Lall was pinned with the first two balls after the break. Nineteen for 3 off 5.2 was grim reading but Dubey and Sanjay Patel put together a delightful stand of 35 in just 4.4 overs. Boden bowled Patel for a brisk 20 but Hibbert (22) was also in an attacking mood. Dubey hit Wright's final over for .64.1, Hibbert signing off with another 6, the over going for 17.

Hill became another bowler to strike in his first over when he bowled Dubey, the fifth-wicket stand of 41 having taken just 5.4 overs. Hibbert soon followed, but he and his boisterous batting colleagues had bequeathed a target of only 34 runs in the final 17 overs. The Gents needed only 6.3 of them, for Sciberras batted as forcefully as anyone before him. He, Newcombe and latterly Desai also pinched some extremely sharp singles and ran hard to turn ones into twos; intelligent, dynamic cricket. Sciberras fell to give the tricky Hill his third wicket but Newcombe and Desai got The Gents over the line with no alarms. The players greatly appreciated the support of the injured captain, Caveney and Toft. The game was played in a good spirit, now the norm between the teams.

©The Gentlemen of West London Cricket Club 2011