Whalers CC v Academicals CC – 17^th August 2008

Academicals CC won by 3 wickets

Fresh from two August victories out of two, and in glorious Summer sunshine the Whalers arrived in Warren Farm confident of continuing the winning run. With half the team turning up late, only enough tea for one team and a desperately hungover Si, perhaps we should have been more realistic. The Whalers went down to a narrow defeat against the Academicals CC.

The toss won, Whalers chose to bat first. Al took it upon himself to set the initiative with 14 runs (including 3 fours) off the first over. However, the Academicals started to bowl steadily and runs began to slow down. Al departed first in the 5^th over failing and despite some patient batting from VDP at one end, a succession of wickets fell at the other; most notably Phil bowled off his head and leg, shortly after hitting a cracking four. It wasn't until number 7 Si (28) joined VDP and got over his hangover that we put a decent partnership together (56). VDP eventually bowled for an impressive 45 including one six.

Runs were still needed if we were to put up a fight, and cometh the man, cometh the hour. Captain Dan Osgood initially showed respect to the bowlers, but having watched Khalil biff the opposition skipper for 10 off 3 balls, and with overs running out, Dan took to smashing the same bowler for first a four, and then a six off the very last ball. An honourable mention should go to Rich for some of the finest ‘leaves’ ever seen during the final over. The Whalers finished on a defendable if not unreachable 177 for 9 from our 35 overs.

An emergency dash to Tesco’s ensured the Whalers didn’t go hungry with Toby's fine selection of cakes extremely popular (sorry Ed that you couldn't be there). Perhaps the cakes played a part, however, as the Whalers bowling line-up got off to a slow start. Despite two wickets in an opening spell from Rich, Academicals slowly and steadily built their score. Khalil bowled extremely tightly prompting the oppo to ask which Saturday side he played for (prompting the bemused reply of “The Whalers!”), but wickets wouldn’t fall.

When Dan finally broke the 3^rd wicket partnership followed by a wicket from the still recovering Si, we finally had some reason to cheer. Through some good fielding, and some crazed efforts by James to field with his chin, the run rate got up to around a run a ball. Another wicket apiece from Si and Dan, and there were some thoughts of victory. However, despite a late wicket from James, some lusty hitting from Academicals and a couple of catches that wouldn’t quite hold saw the Academicals home with 9 balls to spare.

Match stats:

Whalers CC 177-9 – Will 45, Si 28

Whalers CC 178-7 – Dan 2-23, Si 2-32, Rich 2-36

Man of the match: VDP

Champagne moment: Dan’s 6

Muppet moment: Toby destroying the stumps (with an honourable mention to Al for forgetting his jock strap)