We are a London-based cricket club. Although we don't have our own pitch, we usually play our home fixtures in Greenwich Park. This blog records our regular triumphs and occasional failures.

Tuesday 12 July 2011

Selfish returns to steady the ship and give Cincers dramatic victory over Actors

Another week, another struggle to field a side with only three Cincers who played last year in this weekend's side v Actors at Greenwich Park.
But no matter. New signing Mohammad Asif followed up his July 10 debut at Hampstead Heath to help blow away Actors top order after we lost the toss.
Actors were reduced to 43 for 5, with Selfish Simon turning the screw with his whippy seamers (he took two wickets).
Actors new Kiwi strokesman Simon Wood restored their fortunes by biffing 52 (much of them courtesy of another buffet bowling performance by the Skip) to give the visitors a chance of something to defend.
But for a brilliant direct hit run-out by Sam Ladbury, Wood would have taken Actors to a lot more than the 125 they did get off 25.3 overs.
Along the way, another new recruit - Richard Hadlow - took a debut wicket with his offies.
Being Greenwich, the bounce was, er, variable. Actors skipper Jamie got a grubber that doubtless saved us quite a few runs.
For the record, Mohammad had us all cheering as he shattered one Actor's stumps to take his fifth wicket, with the celebrations broken only by the call of 'No Ball' from the umpire.
In reply to Actors, Cincers fielded a new opening partnership of Shebash and Ali (mates of Mohammad and all courtesy of Sean Moloney bumping into one of the cricket-hungry lads in a shop in Blackheath).
Shebash looked good but did not last while James, yet another new boy, also came and went quickly.
But Ali, using a borrowed bat, drove Actors to distraction...literally. Anything on his legs was whipped mercilessly to the boundary.
As he rattled up a score, Selfish (who had opted to drop down to four) settled in.
He looked a bit rusty but then the new father isn't playing that often this season.
But one punched off-drive that hit the tree on the boundarybefore the bowler had finished his follow-through showed us he hasn't lost it.
The Skip is always open to pleas so when Sam politely asked to bat up the order at five, he got his wish.
With Ali undone by low bounce (he scored 43), you'd have thought all Sam needed to do was keep Simon company, with plenty of overs to come and only 60-odd needed.
As if.
An almighty heave off what was only his fourth or fifth ball ended Sam's brief stay at the crease.
Thankfully, Dee - playing his third game for us - steadied the team's nerves.
He scored 21, helping to take Cincers to 107 before he was caught behind.
Just 19 to win and three wickets left (both sides only had 10 men) and plenty of overs to spare... so no problem.
Er, think again.
New man Richard was out first ball and the Skip, who at least can normally stodge for Britain at the death, decided to late cut to first slip. Oh dear.
Keeper Kevin Powley - who some old-time Cincers might remember used to keep for old opponents Blackheath Select - was the last man in.
As he watched Mohammad stride out to bat at 9, Kevin gulped and muttered: 'Are we really going to lose this?'
'Probably,' we all thought quietly.
We didn't. Mohammad held firm. Selfish and he got us over the line with 13 overs to spare (22 overs gone, not 27 as stated in my text message).
A great game played in the usual spirit against sporting and long-established opponents.
By the way, Simon finished on 46 - just shy of yet another Selfish half-century.
As Rockie might say, result all round then!

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