Cricket

A tale of two innings. It was the best of times; a Glorious evening in SW1 and a strong looking Club team. The worst of times when we realised that Arvind the wizard, Club legend and talisman, was playing for the Pink elephants. Still shell shocked by this revelation we lost the toss and took to the field in the height of the sun.

The brothers Harwood opened the bowling, Sasha and Tom added some trickery before Magnus and Nick took over the reins. Matt and Alasdair followed and then debut bowling from Elliott. Great to have 9 bowlers on display and all bowled magnificently and with one short boundary, did well to keep the score down to 185. Leading through their past innings in their scorebook this seemed a par score.

Special mention to Magnus, Tom and Alasdair who proved miserly bowlers.

Pink Elephants 185 off their 20

Club centurions Johnny (25) and Sasha (11) opened the batting before Sam hit 6s a plenty and retired on 34. Tom (8) and Falcs (17) kept the momentum going but

Club veteran and gun for hire Arvind came on to bowl and soon the wickets were tumbling. The captain leading by example. Mac then went for 1 before Magnus confidently predicted how to bat against Arvind. ‘You just come down the wicket to him and bish, bosh boundary, just watch!’… Magnus bowled Arvind for 3.

129 for 6 after 13. Game on

Like Rourke’s drift, Nick and Alasdair come to the crease and kept the opposition at bay, cracking along at 10 or so an over.

Then (who else but) Arvind catches the treasurer. Alasdair goes for 15.

High drama.

162 for 7 after 17.3.

24 still needed. In comes wicket taking, best-selling author and high jump coach Matt.

Bowler is landing it on a sixpence.

Dot ball. Dot ball. Dot ball

Nick back on strike. 24 needed from 2 overs. (Elliott still to bat and then retiree Sam can return if needed)

Nick takes guard.

Dot ball. Half-hearted appeal to obscure the possibly wide delivery. They scramble a leg bye.

23 needed from 10 deliveries.

Matt on strike. Bowler taking a longer run up now…Good shot, clipped off his legs…heading fast for the boundary. Certain 4. Stopped on the ropes by some outrageously good fielding from a 20-year-old called Sachin (possibly forced to play cricket in his cradle?) Only 2. Deserved better.

21 from 9. Bowler switches to round the wicket.

Scrambled single to mid on.

20 needed from 8.

Quick single to mid-wicket

19 needed from 7 Matt on strike. Dot ball.

I9 needed from last over.

It’s getting dark now, owls are spotted and as the Bard wrote:
‘Good things of day begin to droop and drowse. While’s night’s black agents to their preys do rouse.’

Nick on strike.

Elephant’s Skipper back on to bowl the last over.

Time stands still.

Nick takes time out before facing the first ball to give some advice to Matt as to which hand he should hold his bat in…play resumes.

Crisply hit but doesn’t make the boundary. Havers retired on 30. Elliot in.

I7 needed from 5.

Elliot out doing the right thing and trying to smash the ball. If he’d connected it could have landed in Victoria. Bowled and departs.

17 needed from 4.

Back strides Sam to the crease. Drama building, light fading fast; even the foxes have come to watch from behind the sight screens.

Bonnie Tyler sang memorably ‘I need a hero; I’m holding out for a hero at the end of the innings – he’s gotta be strong and he’s gotta be fast and he’s got to be fresh for the fight…’

The stage is set.

Bowler produces a good delivery, but Sam is straight on it, thumped over long on. But long on is on the boundary. He catches it. But he was over the ropes. SIX!

11 needed from 4.

Good delivery; ball sliced into the covers; they run one and try for a seemingly suicidal second, but the keeper can’t gather the iffy throw and Nick gets back in (with bat in the correct hand).

9 needed from 3.

Another single; they try for another suicidal run but Arvind (of all people) is at mid-wicket, gathers cleanly and he runs out Matt.

8 needed from 2.

Nick back in.

And sadly, with 7 needed from the last ball the curtain comes down on a fantastic evening’s sport.

Our mission was to almost win and get an invite for next year. Mission accomplished. We have asked the treasurer if we can buy Vincent Square for our home ground and he is looking into it. We retired to the Long Bar and hoovered up the last of the buffet, washed down with Harveys and claret and finished a wonderful evening in style.

Falconer