Monthly Archives: June 2019

Whalers Get Fright in Tight Finish with Salix

Whalers CC vs Salix CC; King’s House Sports Ground; Sunday 16th June 2019

Two  weeks with heavy rain and without cricket didn’t dampen the spirits of the 11 Whalers that assembled for their only Fixture against Salix this year. Captain Jack won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch with variable bounce and slow outfield.

A typical slow start saw much playing and missing by Will and Dean. In fact Dean offered a catchable drive that just cleared mid on. Then the decision of the day arrived: Dean missed a ball, the fielders thought they heard a sound and the Umpire Roland remained unmoved. With no obvious deflection and with Dean holding his ground and probable pad involved the right decision was probably arrived at.

Soon Will was out to LBW to their bowler Sai for 11 with the partnership on 45 runs, Channa didn’t hang around also out LBW as well, beer goggles still on?  This bought Special K to the crease and Salix smelt blood bringing close catchers all around. Some prodding and poking was soon followed by a floaty cover drive that went for 4 much to the delight of the Whalers team.  By now Dean was in his pomp and was driving and pulling anything long or short.  Special offered a catch and was gone with the score on 100. Roland didn’t hang around either again another LBW decision with a Ball that was high. ??. Nearer his box than knee roll and whalers were 4 down [Editor’s note: Roland is writing this match report]. The collapse continued – our guest Whaler Amit offered a return catch and then their keeper missed a potential stumping / catch off Dean who decided to go for a run of the  misfield and  Aseem was run out without facing. Amit also departed which brought trusty Dan to the crease to give his usual doughty innings of ones and 2’s and offering Dean the strike. 50 Runs were added in the last 4 /5 overs and Dean soon passed his ton to finish with a super much needed 128. Extras on 22 and Dan third top Scorer on 13. Nick chattering away as normal having to pad up and not even get  out in the middle.

After tea the wind picked up and soon the heavy clouds drifted away and the sun made an appearance. Dan was in on the act and had the opener caught and then clean bowled their Number 2. Nick meanwhile bowled a beauty to remove their number 3 for just 16 runs and Salix were 3 down for about 40 runs. This bought out their number 5 batsman who began by blocking everything. The run rate was helped by the appearance of the wind and some wides. Jack came on as first change as was swinging it in nicely. Amit and Aseem were soon sharing the other end, but their number 5 was accelerating nicely.  

Jack removed their number 6 by a nice smart catch from Nick. Another easy catch was soon dropped by Channa. The ball was driven straight to him chest height, Channa mis-sighted it and ran in 5 yards only for the ball to strike him on the collar bone and he dropped down like a sack of potatoes .  Much mirth ensued. Then another calamity happened as Salix were running for anything – an edge went near the wicketkeeper then Roland threw it at the stumps and missed, Next Will had a go as well then another fielder had a shy at the stumps and missed another good chance. So 3 missed  run outs and Salix had run 3 ???!!!

 

Their Number 5 was by now past 50 and doing most of the scoring, with good support from their Number 9 who was running for anything and Salix were threatening the Whalers total . With 30-ish needed from the last 3 overs, Dan came back in to bowl and was soon tight as well and he bowled their Number 5 to really stifle Salix who finished on a classy 74.  Nick also came back on and reduced the free runs. Soon 19 Runs were needed of the last over and 2 run outs ended the compelling finish of a match. Dan finished with 3 wickets for 34 runs, Jack finished with 3 wickets for 20 runs and Nick bowled his 7 overs for just 22 runs and 2 maidens.  But 40 extras on wides and no balls told its own story of how close Salix came to pinching it.

 

Champagne: Kamal’s floaty cover drive for 4

MUPPET: Channa trying to catch it with his shoulder

MOM: Dean 

Salix report HERE

The One with Gouldy Gold and Deano Dynamite

Whalers CC vs Clapham Inn CC; King’s House Sports Ground; Sunday 2nd June 2019

The last time we met CICC was at the end of season social, a night that ended in a haze of rum and cokes. Today’s meeting was at a very different venue, with cloudy skies and goose shit across the outfield of an otherwise pristine Kings House. 

It was to be a reduced overs game, though I’m still not sure why. 30 overs each of the best that English cricket has to offer. 

Skipper, Will, won the toss and elected to bat. Openers Dean and Al got stuck in and the score started to tick over, though slowly. The partnership was short lived however with Al being caught for 17 in the 7th over. 27 for 1. 

Channa, on season debut, didn’t really trouble the scorer, when he was bowled for 9 in the 10th over. The Whale was 44 for 2, Roland in next. Despite some initial spluttering Roland soon settled in to playing a supporting role to Dean. The bowling had turned into  =some slow medium pies and Dean, who had not quite managed to find the middle of the bat initially, soon made up for with with a flurry of boundaries and a couple of back to back sixers.

The run rate escalated rapidly with the Whale reaching 100 in the 16th over.   Dean continued to tonk it around, soon reaching a well deserved century. He went on to make 112, before deciding that the gentlemanly thing to do would be to retire and give someone else a go. He was later fined for protecting his average. At the end of the 23rd over the Whale was sitting pretty at 161 for 2. A remarkable 100+ run partnership. 

Roland continued carrying out an admirable job at the other end, and joined by Sipper Will, kept the board ticking. It wasn’t much longer though until Roland was bowled for 33. 190 for 3, 26th over.

Seth was up next. Having flown all the way from Australia to play for the Whalers, he started his innings with a trademark nurdle. Skipper Will was never allowed the freedom to loosen up, and despite some lovely shots, didn’t really have time to get settled in. He was caught of the very last ball, trying to hoik. Very admirable Captaincy. He made 20, and alongside Seth took the Whale to an impressive 209/3 of 30. Next up, tea! 

Kings house Teas are certainly a lot different to the ham sandwiches of old. Cori chicken wraps, ploughmans thick, the occasional lemon slice. It was all happening. 

CICC came to the crease, and from the outset were aggressive. They had to be. Batsman 1 took a shine to Viren who was dispatched around the ground. Aseem, from the other end was bowling his medium pace off-cutters and finally forced batsman 1 to hit the ball straight to Gouldy at long off. The look of pure horror on Gouldy’s face as he saw the ball head towards him, and the utter relief on his face when he caught it, is an image that will stick with me for a long while. This is why we play cricket. He deservingly won Champagne moment for holding his nerve.

Aseem kept the batsmen busy and it wasn’t long until batsman 3 stepped forward for a hoick, only to hear the death rattle behind him. The score at this point was around 40 for 2 of around 5 overs. Keeping in mind that this was a 30 over game, and that batsman 2 was still in the crease and looking increasingly dangerous it was no wonder that the score board began to tick over. There was a bowling change with Kamal and Seth stepping up. It must be said that the Whale was sharp in the field, and limiting the singles soon forced batsman 4 to take a hasty run. Gould was up for it, throwing it to the keeper who ran out Batsman 4 for a well made 22. Gould was in the action soon after when he stepped up to bowl, forcing Batsman 5 to spoon one up to Skipper Will. 

The Overs were ticking over and with CICC at around 120 for 4, the in-form batsman 2, smacked the ball around. There were a few drops, notably from Dean, who managed to get his hands to one, only to juggle it a few times, before dropping it. Later at fines he was fined for 3 drops, which is absolutely what we saw on the field. With Roland now safely behind the stumps Dean stepped up to bowl, finally getting Batsman 2 to take a step too far forward, forcing a good stumping by the Hogg. Well done Gregory, (Batsman 2), on your 83.  

With the overs running out there was one final bit of excitement as batsman 6 was caught and bowled for 8. The remaining batsman got CICC to a very respectable 187 of 30, but they were outdone by the Whalers batting (and by that I mean Dean’s). Notable bowling by Aseem who bowled 6 overs, 2 maidens, 2 for 18. 

The win went to the Whale and we all celebrated with beers. 

Whalers 209 / 3 (30)

Clapham Inn 187 ao (30)

Champagne moment – Jimmy gould’s catch, preceded by a look of horror and then the look of utter relief.

Muppet – Deans drop, which went like this. Catch, juggle, catch, juggle, drop. 

Man of the match went to Dean for his terrific century, with honourable mentions to Roland for runs, a stumping and being involved in an fantastic Run out (thanks for Gouldys efforts)