Blistering Gents’ stand destroys the Beggars

What a victory! It has been over four years since The Gents produced such a spectacular display against their old rivals, fielding first on a hot day, bowling West XI out then winning at a canter with 7 wickets and 14 overs in hand. Nabil Husain, with four wickets and 59 with the bat, produced one the great all round performances in this series, though Chris Wright was not far behind him, Richard Gilkes struck his second fifty as 110 came for the second wicket in only 14 overs, and Paul Turpin took three spectacular catches. Only the groundfielding (“a 4/10 performance” according to the gruff Mr. Buck) let The Gents down; three sloppy boundaries were conceded, which ultimately spared the hosts a nine-wicket defeat. Future historians will gaze in amazement at a scorecard in which Jim Wright, Dhruv, Sanjay and Hemin Patel, a potential top four, did not bat.

Tails failed for SP and Wright chose to bat. Nabil, bowling downhill very fast, immediately troubled the openers, Norcott and Barling, who posted a recent 137 against St. Anne’s (the second highest individual innings for West XI in a record Beggar total of 297 for 6). The powerful Barling struck three fours but became the first of three victims in the Saudi’s blistering first spell, falling lbw. Dane was then yorked middle stump, Norcott bowled pushing forward and The Gents were on fire. The rest of the innings was built around a responsible 54 in 26 overs from Wright, containing only three fours and a six, such was his self-restraint. Rennie and Robinson (in a 50 partnership) gave him stout support, but this was not to be newly married Neepam Bhatt’s day, beautifully caught low down at mid-wicket by Paul Turpin in H Bomb’s first over. When Paul clung on to a low chance at fly slip off Rob Babar to dismiss Robinson, to be followed seven runs later by Wright’s demise to a pearler of a Snelling yorker, The Gents were well on top and though the tail eked out a few the innings closed early for a below par 146. Sanjay had controlled his troops well, even administering a loud team wigging, in the manner of previous club captains, coincidentally just after conceding seven runs off his over.

Wright decided that with such a fast outfield The Gents could not be restricted, they would have to be bowled out. It was therefore total attack with himself and Chris Dane charging in for the first ten overs, supported by attacking fields. HP and Mr. Gilkes were resolute in scoring 28 off the first eight overs before Wright bowled HP. Enter Nabil Husain, given the three berth. What followed was a glorious episode in the annals of the club, a boundary-strewn, chanceless partnership of 110, only the second Gent centurion stand against the Beggars after Ashton and Wright’s 127 in 1995. Nabil’s eleven fours came all round the ground, Richard’s nearly all on the off side, where his timing and placement, despite heavy fielder reinforcements, were exemplary.

Drinks were taken with The Gents 110 for one, prompting Mr. Hill to observe that, had The Gents batted first, they might even have overhauled the West XI total of 263 posted on Black Sunday 1992. Certainly, the batsmen were playing like men with pressing evening engagements. At one point, when Nabil charged Wright and lifted him for successive fours to deep long-off, the batsmanship was sensational. Both men fell in quick succession with victory in sight, leaving Paul Turpin and Rob Babar to steer a very happy ship calmly to harbour.

West XI were powerless to stop the onslaught and took their defeat in good spirit, having held onto the Bob Ashton Memorial Cup rather tenuously, as only two games could be played. They had been weakened by the late withdrawal of Taylor and Bapu, who seems to be fitting nicely into the role of official team eccentric, a prestigious living with much history attached and much current competition. Any man who turns up at the Bank of England looking for the Bank of England cricket ground is alright by us. Honours even, bring on 2007.