It was night-time - almost - when it happened.
A well-pitched up delivery from Frank, a desperate lunge by the batsman in the gathering gloom and down went the stumps.
And up went the cheers.
For this was no ordinary end-of-season wicket.
This was a veritable M & S of a wicket, a little bit of history, a first-ever moment, our maiden win over the mighty Finchley.
After 10 years (virtually) of trying and never really coming close, we'd finally, finally, done it.
In the delirium, the Skip was carried off the pitch into the pavilion where he bumped his head (another first).
Drinks were bought, backs were slapped and hands were shaken.
But my, what a close run thing.
Barely had the cheering stopped but the rains came pelting down.
If we'd been on the ground five more minutes, it would have been 'match abandoned'.
And as ever with a Cincers match, there was nothing plain-sailing about it.
Six hours earlier, the Skip had won the toss and decided to bat, only to realise that nearly half the side still hadn't arrived.
So we had to bat instead.
A scratch order began with Test Match and the Skip making steady if, er, slow progress until the Captain was bowled by Nish, Finchley's left-arm seamer.
Out came Dee and the pair edged forward (literally occasionally).
All the while, there were glances back towards the pavilion to see if Abid, who was ferrying Ali, Shebash and Mohammad, had turned up.
They hadn't.
Thankfully, Tim was getting into his stride while Dee suddenly starting clubbing the Finchley bowling to mid-wicket on a regular basis.
When he fell, for a valuable 20, it brought Tim M to the crease.
It should have been the key partnership of the match for Cincers with our two best men at the crease.
Sadly, Test Match, having looked set, played over a slower ball and was bowled for 42.
Thankfully, Abid had finally arrived at the ground with batters Ali and Shebash.
Pinch-hitter Ali soon got motoring but was clearly flummoxed by Finchley posting two men at longish mid-off and on for his lofted drives.
He was promptly bowled, for 11, trying an outrageous flick off his pads to backward square.
Shebash, so often this season our opener, looked out of sorts at six.
He was run out by a brilliant direct hit for seven but tragically, would have been safe if only he'd put his bat down.
With not much over 120 up and about 10 overs to go, Cincers were in danger of under-achieving.
At the crease was Abid and new-comer Chris who had yet to show his mettle with the bat.
He soon put that right.
Some mighty bottom-hand pulls had Finchley fielders scurrying to long-on and mid-wicket to save fours.
Chris soon had 20 and looked good for more until a disastrous bit of running left him stranded.
Non-striker Abid charged down the wicket, yelling 'one there' but with the ball heading towards extra-cover's hands, Chris stood his ground until it was too late.
Probably unaware that he could have stayed put and left Abid stranded, he finally trudged off but not without an accusatory glare back at his batting partner.
Enter Frank who rapidly set out to sort out the innings and Abid's fitness levels at the same time.
One all-run four had Abid leaning over his bat gasping for breath, with the Skip now umpiring wondering whether he'd have to shout 'oxygen' or 'stretcher bearers'.
In between the gulps of breath, though, we were getting somewhere - 176 for 7 off 35 was at least a defendable score.
It immediately got better.
With the very first ball of our reply, Mohammad bowled Finchley skip Dylan with a quick ball pitched right up.
Soon after, the other opener, Graham, hit Abid to Moyners at cover where he held a fine catch.
Now the contest really began.
Stevie B, Finchley's star performer of the day (he bowled sharply earlier on), was in.
Together with partner Dan, he began to punish the stray deliveries.
The shakey start (Finchley only had about 20 on the board when the second wicket fell) began to recede.
The run-rate of five an over was proving no problem.
It was Test Match who broke the deadlock, skittling Dan for 20.
Soon after, Richard H, with his flighted offies, was wreaking havoc - not without some assistance from Finchley's middle-order.
Richard rapidly had three wickets in the bag - another profitable afternoon for his tweakers.
The odd catch went down, though, and still there was Stevie B, powering past his 50 and looking ominous.
The Skip and Frank started squabbling over field places.
The tension slowly mounted.
But it was Frank who turned the game back in Cincers' favour.
Often his team-mate at Finchley, the Aussie swing-bowler decided Stevie would try to glide him down to third man.
And so he did.
But he succeeded only in guiding the ball into the gloves of keeper Dee who held a smart catch.
The door was open. The run-rate was climbing.
Chris took a fine catch at mid-wicket.
Finchley were teetering on the edge.
The only danger was the weather.
We'd already had one interruption and it was starting to look like rain again.
The light was going.
It got so gloomy that the Skip had to take quickie Mohammad, back on for his second spell, out of the attack.
With just under five overs to go, Finchley needed 30 to win with one wicket standing when Frank wound himself up for one more effort.
It was a miracle he could see the stumps to aim at them it was that dark.
An edge would have gone unseen to the boundary for four.
But he didn't find the edge of the bat.
He found the middle of off stump and the celebrations began!
A fantastic end to an fantastic season.
Victories for the first time ever over Finchley and OWs, together with a clean sweep on the French tour left us with a winning season by a margin of four games - our best-ever performance.
Many, many thanks to all who turned out under Cincers' colours during the 2011 season.
And see you at the winter nets!
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Cincers shatter tour records in stunning victory to close French tour on a high
They told us we didn't have a chance.
After our opening tour victory against Riviera, we were warned.
'Entrecasteaux are strong. They're a very good team. You'll struggle,' warned one Rivieran.
And so it seemed for much of a rain-affected afternoon.
But Entrecasteaux reckoned without two things - an extraordinary late-order innings by Selfish and a superb all-round team effort in the field by Cincers.
The result? An extraordinary victory by three runs with over eight overs to spare.
Under the shadow of the 17th-century chateau of Entrecasteaux, the Skip won the toss and stuck us in.
'Hmm. Is that the right thing to do?' muttered a few Cincers...a versatile reaction oft used when we bowl first.
After Saturday's triumph, the Skip decided to reverse (sort of) the order.
He opened with a very willing JP who, despite carrying a serious injury, was playing his second game in two days.
Despite that, Cincers got off to a quick start - courtesy of some pretty wild Entrecasteaux bowling.
At one point, JP and the Skip entertained the idea of touching gloves mid-wicket even though neither of them had actually touched the ball by then.
Sadly, the pace soon slackened.
JP walked after gloving one behind.
Peter A, gamely coming in at three despite not lifting a bat in anger for years, defended well, got a quick single but then popped up a catch just in front of the wicket.
A total of 27 for 2 off 10 (35 over game) was not healthy.
Mind, the weather was turning threatening so it looked like any total was going to be academic.
Frank strode to the wicket and told the Skip to get on with it..which he did, hitting a boundary to mid-wicket but getting out next ball.
Mark B, Selfish's older brother, arrived at the crease.
(On the way home from Riviera the day before, the Skip asked the Bevan Brothers' dad just who was the better bat. The answer must remain a secret..until the AGM).
Tragically, Frank miscued a drive to give a sharp caught-and-bowled chance while Richard de Q also went early.
It got worse. Stephen H, one of the batting heroes of Saturday, aimed an ambitious drive down the wrong line and had his timbers shivered.
Then came the rains. Heavy ones.
The Skip and his opposite number sighed and accepted that was that.
They even shook hands on it.
But just as on Saturday, the clouds parted and the sun came out.
Pity Cincers' batting fortunes didn't likewise improve.
Shortly after the restart, Jack went cheaply.
So too did Test Match even though Richard de Q had driven back to his villa and got his bat for him.
Cincers were tottering at roughly 80 for eight.
But enter Selfish, batting down the order at 10 (his lowest-ever batting position for Cincers).
What followed won him the Man of the Match award, a thrillingly destructive piece of batting which stunned Entrecasteaux and cheered Cincers.
Ball after ball was despatched to the boundary, including a huge six to square leg.
At the other end, Mark was also firing.
Cincers team members stopped admitting defeat and watched the fireworks sparked by the two brothers.
Was this a case of long-dormant sibling rivalry reborn?
Who cares!
The action continued even after Mark was bowled for 39 and Simon was joined by Stephen W in a cameo '0 not out'.
Cincers closed on 142 for 9 off 35. Not a huge total but at least something to bowl at.
The fightback began almost immediately.
Richard de Q produced a late in-swinger to skittle the opposing skipper while he also snaffled the other opener thanks to a sharp catch at mid-off by Frank.
At 14 for two, Entrecasteaux were no longer firm favourites.
But a stand of 76 for the third wicket changed all that.
Cincers' heads began to droop.
Until...Stephen H, fielding at deep square leg, pulled off a quite superb catch round his ankles to give Test Match a vital wicket.
The door was open.
A sharp stumping by Jack (who kept superbly throughout the day) and a brilliant outfield catch by Richard de Q suddenly had Entrecasteaux on 103 for 5.
They still had plenty of overs, with roughly 14 to go and only 40 needed.
But Cincers' tails were up.
Frank came on to seal up one end and add to the pressure.
Wickets still came but at 134 for seven with 10 overs to go and just seven needed, it still looked all lost.
Cincers, though, fielded like lions, egged on by Frank in his finest Aussie Serjeant-Major mode which involved bellowing at less agile fielders and pretty much usurping the Skip's executive powers.
But the pressure told.
All of a sudden, Entrecasteaux were 136 for 9 - seven short of victory.
To the crease strode brave 10-year-old Tom, son of one of their openers.
Despite the circumstances, the lad got some emergency coaching from Frank on how to hold a bat as Simon prepared to bowl.
It went down the legside.
'I can't bowl that slowly,' sighed Selfish in frustration.
Next ball, the batsmen, Tom and Entrecasteaux president Lennie, sneaked a single.
With Frank coming in from the other end, it was 139 for nine with just four needed for victory.
Lennie turned down a single to square leg.
But then he went for one.
JP, sore hip or not, seized the ball behind point and whipped it in to Jack.
The bails came off, the deafening appeals went up and up went the umpire's finger at square leg.
Cincers had sneaked a thrilling victory by just three runs with 8.3 overs to spare - a brilliant end to our finest tour yet.
Never before have we won both games on our travels, putting aside the fact that both Provencal teams were tough sides.
Many thanks to all who took part in the 2011 tour, with especial thanks to Mr Bevan Snr for umpiring both games and to first-time tourers Richard de Q and Peter A.
The 2012 Tour Committee (Mr Prenesti and Mr Hall presiding) is now in session.
** Many thanks to all at Entrecasteaux for fine sportsmanship and hospitality, including a very fine cricket lunch.
After our opening tour victory against Riviera, we were warned.
'Entrecasteaux are strong. They're a very good team. You'll struggle,' warned one Rivieran.
And so it seemed for much of a rain-affected afternoon.
But Entrecasteaux reckoned without two things - an extraordinary late-order innings by Selfish and a superb all-round team effort in the field by Cincers.
The result? An extraordinary victory by three runs with over eight overs to spare.
Under the shadow of the 17th-century chateau of Entrecasteaux, the Skip won the toss and stuck us in.
'Hmm. Is that the right thing to do?' muttered a few Cincers...a versatile reaction oft used when we bowl first.
After Saturday's triumph, the Skip decided to reverse (sort of) the order.
He opened with a very willing JP who, despite carrying a serious injury, was playing his second game in two days.
Despite that, Cincers got off to a quick start - courtesy of some pretty wild Entrecasteaux bowling.
At one point, JP and the Skip entertained the idea of touching gloves mid-wicket even though neither of them had actually touched the ball by then.
Sadly, the pace soon slackened.
JP walked after gloving one behind.
Peter A, gamely coming in at three despite not lifting a bat in anger for years, defended well, got a quick single but then popped up a catch just in front of the wicket.
A total of 27 for 2 off 10 (35 over game) was not healthy.
Mind, the weather was turning threatening so it looked like any total was going to be academic.
Frank strode to the wicket and told the Skip to get on with it..which he did, hitting a boundary to mid-wicket but getting out next ball.
Mark B, Selfish's older brother, arrived at the crease.
(On the way home from Riviera the day before, the Skip asked the Bevan Brothers' dad just who was the better bat. The answer must remain a secret..until the AGM).
Tragically, Frank miscued a drive to give a sharp caught-and-bowled chance while Richard de Q also went early.
It got worse. Stephen H, one of the batting heroes of Saturday, aimed an ambitious drive down the wrong line and had his timbers shivered.
Then came the rains. Heavy ones.
The Skip and his opposite number sighed and accepted that was that.
They even shook hands on it.
But just as on Saturday, the clouds parted and the sun came out.
Pity Cincers' batting fortunes didn't likewise improve.
Shortly after the restart, Jack went cheaply.
So too did Test Match even though Richard de Q had driven back to his villa and got his bat for him.
Cincers were tottering at roughly 80 for eight.
But enter Selfish, batting down the order at 10 (his lowest-ever batting position for Cincers).
What followed won him the Man of the Match award, a thrillingly destructive piece of batting which stunned Entrecasteaux and cheered Cincers.
Ball after ball was despatched to the boundary, including a huge six to square leg.
At the other end, Mark was also firing.
Cincers team members stopped admitting defeat and watched the fireworks sparked by the two brothers.
Was this a case of long-dormant sibling rivalry reborn?
Who cares!
The action continued even after Mark was bowled for 39 and Simon was joined by Stephen W in a cameo '0 not out'.
Cincers closed on 142 for 9 off 35. Not a huge total but at least something to bowl at.
The fightback began almost immediately.
Richard de Q produced a late in-swinger to skittle the opposing skipper while he also snaffled the other opener thanks to a sharp catch at mid-off by Frank.
At 14 for two, Entrecasteaux were no longer firm favourites.
But a stand of 76 for the third wicket changed all that.
Cincers' heads began to droop.
Until...Stephen H, fielding at deep square leg, pulled off a quite superb catch round his ankles to give Test Match a vital wicket.
The door was open.
A sharp stumping by Jack (who kept superbly throughout the day) and a brilliant outfield catch by Richard de Q suddenly had Entrecasteaux on 103 for 5.
They still had plenty of overs, with roughly 14 to go and only 40 needed.
But Cincers' tails were up.
Frank came on to seal up one end and add to the pressure.
Wickets still came but at 134 for seven with 10 overs to go and just seven needed, it still looked all lost.
Cincers, though, fielded like lions, egged on by Frank in his finest Aussie Serjeant-Major mode which involved bellowing at less agile fielders and pretty much usurping the Skip's executive powers.
But the pressure told.
All of a sudden, Entrecasteaux were 136 for 9 - seven short of victory.
To the crease strode brave 10-year-old Tom, son of one of their openers.
Despite the circumstances, the lad got some emergency coaching from Frank on how to hold a bat as Simon prepared to bowl.
It went down the legside.
'I can't bowl that slowly,' sighed Selfish in frustration.
Next ball, the batsmen, Tom and Entrecasteaux president Lennie, sneaked a single.
With Frank coming in from the other end, it was 139 for nine with just four needed for victory.
Lennie turned down a single to square leg.
But then he went for one.
JP, sore hip or not, seized the ball behind point and whipped it in to Jack.
The bails came off, the deafening appeals went up and up went the umpire's finger at square leg.
Cincers had sneaked a thrilling victory by just three runs with 8.3 overs to spare - a brilliant end to our finest tour yet.
Never before have we won both games on our travels, putting aside the fact that both Provencal teams were tough sides.
Many thanks to all who took part in the 2011 tour, with especial thanks to Mr Bevan Snr for umpiring both games and to first-time tourers Richard de Q and Peter A.
The 2012 Tour Committee (Mr Prenesti and Mr Hall presiding) is now in session.
** Many thanks to all at Entrecasteaux for fine sportsmanship and hospitality, including a very fine cricket lunch.
Sunday, 4 September 2011
Zut alors! Cincers run riot in Provence as Selfish and Test Match drive the clouds away
We started under leaden skies and umbrellas.
We finished with blue skies, sun and a scorching victory on day one of the Provencal tour.
Test Match Tim and Selfish Simon, with Stephen H in support, ran Riviera CC ragged as Cincers overhauled the home side's impressive 189 off 30 overs with six balls to spare.
But it could all have been so different.
For a start, the Skipper's satnav, not at its best all tour, went haywire as the Cincers convoy headed east from our base camp of Entrecasteaux.
Result? We arrived in dribs and drabs an hour late at Riviera's beautiful ground at St Vallier-de-Thiey just north of Grasse.
Bizarrely, the weather saved the fixture.
At midday, it was dark skies and torrential rain - the first in Provence for weeks.
'If you'd arrived on time, we might have called the whole thing off,' said the opposition skip.
But just after we elected to take an early lunch, the clouds parted and the game was on.
We lost the toss....of course and Riviera decided to bat.
Immediately, the Skipper's authority was undermined (not for the first time during the weekend...)
Asked to open the bowling, Frank 'politely' declined and deferred to Stephen H.
The poker-playing seamer swiftly made his mark.
He sent one of Riviera's openers off to hospital with a sharp delivery that struck the batsman's glove and looked innocuous but wasn't.
The poor man broke his thumb.
By that stage, Richard de Q had also made his mark - bowling the other Riviera opener for a duck.
The next guy in, Dogra, strolled out and smashed his first ball for four to mid off.
Riviera's half-century rapidly came up before Test Match cleaned up Dogra by bowling him all ends up.
Wickets came here and there, with Tim bowling well in what turned out to be a three-wicket spell.
The 'Trundler', aka Stephen W, also chipped in with a two-wicket spell.
His second ball was a classic. Short, easy and smashed straight to mid-off where Stephen H took the catch in between yawns.
Riviera were stalling at 115 for 7.
In the field, JP, despite his painful hip, threw himself around like a backward-point reborn and saved us vital runs with his dives.
So what did the Skip do? He brought himself on with his looping leggies.
That injected fresh life into Riviera's innings.
Their skipper in particular tucked in.
Even Selfish for once failed to live up to his miserly reputation.
As a bowler, that is. He got carted for a six as had the Skip.
Peter A, making his debut, bowled a superb first ball.
Pity it was just a practice one!
But manfully, he got through his first over for, er, a few years.
Eventually, a sharp run out (forgotten by whom - please advise)ended the Riviera skip's fine knock.
But 189 off 30 overs (reduced from 35 because of the weather) was a tough ask.
Or was it?
What followed was as fine an opening partnership as Cincers has even put on.
Selfish and Test Match veritably rattled along at around eight an over.
True, there was nothing 'menu fixe' about Riviera's bowling.
Their openers served up wides galore.
But the Cincers' first-choice opening duo were merciless.
Selfish first 10 scoring shots read: 4, 4, 1, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1, 4, 4.
Although he began more slowly, Test March was soon into his stride.
In fact, he played as fine an innings as he has for Cincinnati.
One on-drive (saluted by Selfish no less) and one pull-shot for four stood out.
Worth saying, by the way, that despite their looseness, Riviera's bowling was sharp with few (if any) weak links.
That's what made the century partnership, when it came up, so special.
Selfish departed after a rapid 44 with a mishit to mid-off.
He could have gone earlier but his yelp of 'oh god' as soon as he connected put the Riviera mid-on off his stride and the fielder ditched it.
Enter Stephen H.
The languid Lancastrian likes to make light of his talents.
Thankfully, the Skip doesn't.
He insisted on putting him at number three and he didn't disappoint, despite being sledged as a 'bunny' by the opposition.
There was nothing cuddly and big-eared about his towering lofted six over mid-on.
A mix-up meant Stephen was run out for 34, bringing Jack to the wicket.
Appropriately, Test Match's brother stayed the course with Tim to see us over the line with an over to spare.
Tim finished on 64 not out, with Jack on 14 not out.
A fantastic performance all round and a great win.
Thanks to Riviera for their fine hospitality and sportsmanship.
* Our picture shows the victorious Cincinnati side and Mr Bevan Snr who kindly umpired for us.
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Walloped Weasels cry 'we want to go home' as Selfish and Test Match seal victory
It had been coming for a while but it was Test Match Tim who sparked a howl of pure anguish from Weasels.
A wild play-and-miss outside off was followed by a rasping boundary to mid-wicket.
As Tim held the pose, it was all too much for Weasels' opening bowler Greg.
'Cricket. What a cruel, cruel game,' he cried in pain.
There was more at the end of his over.
'I want to go home. Skip, please take me off,' the seamer sighed.
It was that sort of day for our Sunday opponents at Greenwich Park.
Fielding just nine men (one fewer than Cincers), Weasels won the toss and put themselves in and were going well until a freak dismissal.
New left-armer Chris Payne, in apparently his first bowling spell ever, slipped and sent down a juicy long-hop outside off.
The eyes of Weasels' batter William lit up and he hammered it square for four....only to see Tim M snaffle the catch at point. Thirty-three for one.
Juat six runs later, skipper Bish smashed one back straight and watched in astonishment as Chris took a stunning caught-and-bowled.
With his burly build and muscular approach to the wicket, the Skip spotted it immediately.
Chris is Tim Bresnan's left-handed cousin. Great debut.
Cincers had opened up with Charlie Barker and Richard de Q.
Tight-bowling from both, especially Charlie, kept Weasels in check before Chris took the first wickets.
At the other end, Test Match's accurate swinging deliveries meant the opposition was going at a snail's pace.
Enter the spin twins - offie Richard H and the Skip's lofted leggies now converted into involuntary googlies.
Plus generous leg-stump full tosses which helped Weasels up the pace and mount a bid for respectability.
However, Richard's offies were working their usual magic with a smart stumping from the keeper ....Tom Lowe. 82 for 3.
('Are you going to mention my razor-sharp reactions and superb glovemanship on the blog, Skip?' Tom asked modestly after the match.)
Oh, all right then.
Two clean-bowleds from Richard H meant Weasels had slumped to 85 for 5.
The offie could have had more, dropping a sharp chance off his bowling.
As did the Skip. He put down a c & b for the second week running.
But he picked up two caught behinds thanks to Tom, the first an authentic edge to a full-pitched ball which baffled the batsman and the bowler by shaping in rather than the intended turn away.
The second was ripped straight from the Cincers Book of Shame, a double-bouncing embarrassment which somehow the batsman managed to edge into Tom's grateful gloves.
The bowler decided on a mumbled apology rather than a full-throated appeal.
The Skip, who has sent down far fewer deliveries this year than last, would have stayed on for his full seven overs was it not for a cautionary word from Selfish.
Seeing the new tailender speak with an Aussie accent and smash his first delivery from the Skip for a straight four, Selfish muttered 'could be a honey monster'.
The Captain shivered. Memories of the muscle-bound Australian youth who smashed him round the West of Ireland a few years ago flashed up.
The Skip made a strategic retreat and Selfish and Tim mopped up the last two wickets, the last one being the so-called new Honey Monster for a less than murderous 13.
Still, you got yourself a bowl, didn't you, Simon?
Weasels finished on 115 all out off 32.3.
By now, the overcast Sunday had transformed itself into a gorgeous late summer's day.
Perfect batting weather even if the Greenwich Park was the usual bounceless pudding.
But what the heck - we were fortified by a delivery of scrumptious home-made brownies by Test Match's better half Amy at tea-time.
What could stop us?
Accordingly, Cincers' openers Selfish and Test Match set off a gallop, with Simon in particular punishing the bad balls.
Weasels' frustations began to show as the pair rattled along at about five an hour with only the occasional scare.
Eventually, Honey Monster Mark II trapped Selfish in front when he was two short of yet another half-century.
Umpiring, the Skip didn't move a muscle for seconds..before triggering him.
He left the stage slowly, his partnership with Test Match sundered one run short of the century.
James arrived and made clear what all his cries of 'get on with it' from the boundary edge were all about.
He scythed his first ball for four to mid-wicket. Another followed soon.
There was still life in the game, though.
Test Match was skittled for 43 by Weasels' skipper Bish who bowled as though he had made a mistake by bringing himself on so late (the curse of many a bowling Skipper....).
Moyners trotted out with the formica shelving (he calls it a bat but we know better).
He quickly trotted back - 0ut for a duck after giving himself room for a trademark cover drive that didn't quite come off.
Now he's talking about coming to winter nets. Yes, you read it here first. Tim M at nets. Better get a photographer.
The scene was set for Tom to show off with barely 10 needed to win.
Portentously, he called James down for a mid-wicket conference which went like this: 'Let's get them in singles.'
Decoded, that meant 'give me the strike and you won't see it again 'cos I'll get them in two shots.'
Sadly for Tom, the Skip, still umpiring, had a quiet word in James's ear.
He duly kept the strike and got the winning runs with a sweep behind square for four.
Game over.
Thanks to Charlie for fielding for Weasels to help them make up the numbers.
And thanks to Weasels for a game played in great spirit with the odd bit of self-sledging by them.
Match tally so far this season: Won 5, lost 4, one tie. Gulp.
Next stop the tour in Provence!
A wild play-and-miss outside off was followed by a rasping boundary to mid-wicket.
As Tim held the pose, it was all too much for Weasels' opening bowler Greg.
'Cricket. What a cruel, cruel game,' he cried in pain.
There was more at the end of his over.
'I want to go home. Skip, please take me off,' the seamer sighed.
It was that sort of day for our Sunday opponents at Greenwich Park.
Fielding just nine men (one fewer than Cincers), Weasels won the toss and put themselves in and were going well until a freak dismissal.
New left-armer Chris Payne, in apparently his first bowling spell ever, slipped and sent down a juicy long-hop outside off.
The eyes of Weasels' batter William lit up and he hammered it square for four....only to see Tim M snaffle the catch at point. Thirty-three for one.
Juat six runs later, skipper Bish smashed one back straight and watched in astonishment as Chris took a stunning caught-and-bowled.
With his burly build and muscular approach to the wicket, the Skip spotted it immediately.
Chris is Tim Bresnan's left-handed cousin. Great debut.
Cincers had opened up with Charlie Barker and Richard de Q.
Tight-bowling from both, especially Charlie, kept Weasels in check before Chris took the first wickets.
At the other end, Test Match's accurate swinging deliveries meant the opposition was going at a snail's pace.
Enter the spin twins - offie Richard H and the Skip's lofted leggies now converted into involuntary googlies.
Plus generous leg-stump full tosses which helped Weasels up the pace and mount a bid for respectability.
However, Richard's offies were working their usual magic with a smart stumping from the keeper ....Tom Lowe. 82 for 3.
('Are you going to mention my razor-sharp reactions and superb glovemanship on the blog, Skip?' Tom asked modestly after the match.)
Oh, all right then.
Two clean-bowleds from Richard H meant Weasels had slumped to 85 for 5.
The offie could have had more, dropping a sharp chance off his bowling.
As did the Skip. He put down a c & b for the second week running.
But he picked up two caught behinds thanks to Tom, the first an authentic edge to a full-pitched ball which baffled the batsman and the bowler by shaping in rather than the intended turn away.
The second was ripped straight from the Cincers Book of Shame, a double-bouncing embarrassment which somehow the batsman managed to edge into Tom's grateful gloves.
The bowler decided on a mumbled apology rather than a full-throated appeal.
The Skip, who has sent down far fewer deliveries this year than last, would have stayed on for his full seven overs was it not for a cautionary word from Selfish.
Seeing the new tailender speak with an Aussie accent and smash his first delivery from the Skip for a straight four, Selfish muttered 'could be a honey monster'.
The Captain shivered. Memories of the muscle-bound Australian youth who smashed him round the West of Ireland a few years ago flashed up.
The Skip made a strategic retreat and Selfish and Tim mopped up the last two wickets, the last one being the so-called new Honey Monster for a less than murderous 13.
Still, you got yourself a bowl, didn't you, Simon?
Weasels finished on 115 all out off 32.3.
By now, the overcast Sunday had transformed itself into a gorgeous late summer's day.
Perfect batting weather even if the Greenwich Park was the usual bounceless pudding.
But what the heck - we were fortified by a delivery of scrumptious home-made brownies by Test Match's better half Amy at tea-time.
What could stop us?
Accordingly, Cincers' openers Selfish and Test Match set off a gallop, with Simon in particular punishing the bad balls.
Weasels' frustations began to show as the pair rattled along at about five an hour with only the occasional scare.
Eventually, Honey Monster Mark II trapped Selfish in front when he was two short of yet another half-century.
Umpiring, the Skip didn't move a muscle for seconds..before triggering him.
He left the stage slowly, his partnership with Test Match sundered one run short of the century.
James arrived and made clear what all his cries of 'get on with it' from the boundary edge were all about.
He scythed his first ball for four to mid-wicket. Another followed soon.
There was still life in the game, though.
Test Match was skittled for 43 by Weasels' skipper Bish who bowled as though he had made a mistake by bringing himself on so late (the curse of many a bowling Skipper....).
Moyners trotted out with the formica shelving (he calls it a bat but we know better).
He quickly trotted back - 0ut for a duck after giving himself room for a trademark cover drive that didn't quite come off.
Now he's talking about coming to winter nets. Yes, you read it here first. Tim M at nets. Better get a photographer.
The scene was set for Tom to show off with barely 10 needed to win.
Portentously, he called James down for a mid-wicket conference which went like this: 'Let's get them in singles.'
Decoded, that meant 'give me the strike and you won't see it again 'cos I'll get them in two shots.'
Sadly for Tom, the Skip, still umpiring, had a quiet word in James's ear.
He duly kept the strike and got the winning runs with a sweep behind square for four.
Game over.
Thanks to Charlie for fielding for Weasels to help them make up the numbers.
And thanks to Weasels for a game played in great spirit with the odd bit of self-sledging by them.
Match tally so far this season: Won 5, lost 4, one tie. Gulp.
Next stop the tour in Provence!
Monday, 8 August 2011
Richard H leads the way as Cincers' end victory famine at Old Wimbledonians
A batting masterclass from Selfish Simon, a battling undefeated 39 from BK's Pete and a late blitzkrieg from Tim Cork took Cincers to a memorable victory Over Old Wimbledonians yesterday.
But the triumph, our first ever over OWs, was all built on a fine spell of off-spin bowling from Richard H and a superb all-round effort in the field.
As is now the custom in Cincers' game, it went down to the wire.
But it began with a fatal wobble by OWs
Having won the toss and chosen to stick us in, their Skip had a sudden change of heart.
He was worried we were too weak and the game would be all over in a trice.
Was he conned by our Skip?
It's possible. Many people have been.
The trickery continued.
To lull OWs into a false sense of total dominance, what better than for the Skip to bring himself on with his 'leggies'!
One classic flighted full-toss on leg was wafted effortlessly for four and OWs were up and running.
The trap set, Selfish's famously miserly media-pacers were deployed to replace the Skip.
At the other, Charlie Barker, now rapidly becoming a Cincers regular, started tightly too.
The first breakthrough: technically, batsman run out off non-striker's buttock.
A sharp deflection, a chaotic run and Selfish off his own bowling threw down the stumps at the keeper's end.
(Keeper, by the way, was Corkie - Pete having arrived a mite to late to don the gloves).
Selfish soon struck again - an LBW.
For the rest of his spell, he was a miser - 1 for 13 off 7.
Even so, OWs were striking the ball well when Richard H began with his two-stride run-up off-breaks.
The oppo's eyes lit up. His first over went for 12.
But they don't call Richard the Graeme Swann of Cincers for nothing.
(They don't actually call him that at all yet but we need to get this label up and running).
After being smashed for one mighty boundary, the batsman was bowled through the gate by a sharp turner. 36 for 3 and looking good.
Inevitably, OWs rallied after that.
But then Charlie struck, thanks to a fine catch from a half-asleep Tom L at gully.
He was dozing as Saturday night was his official 30th birthday party.
He was still dozing when he came into bat later.
Back to their innings.
A dry-as-dust and slow wicket was suiting Richard.
Suddenly he got two in two. The hat trick ball didn't materialise but there was run-out off his bowling, thanks to Pete posting himself at mid-wicket and sharply moving to square leg.
The bails were sharply removed by Corkie.
For some reason, the scorebook doesn't show it but he also executed a smart stumping to give Richard another wicket.
All the while, Pete toiled away at the other end, his medium swingers tying OWs down but with little reward until James snaffled a catch at mid-on.
At 119 for 9, with roughly six of their alloted 40 to go, OWs were in dire straits.
They rallied once more to 137 for 9.
Having tried out newcomer Tom Pugh (roughly the same height as Tom L, similar build but not snoring while he fielded) for a couple of overs, the Skip brought back Selfish.
He also took a real gamble. He brought himself back on.
The team held its breath. Was this wise?
It was, thankfully, Only one run came off his two overs, one dropped caught and bowled and then redemption by bamboozling the tailender in the flight. The poor man played on.
Excellent fielding by Cincers had helped keep OWs to 143 off 35.
We clapped Richard off the field for his 4 for 30 off 7.
In theory, the target wasn't taxing.
But this was a combined OWs Sunday thirds and seconds.
As for us, we had a couple of new players to bed in.
It was not going to be easy.
Selfish opened up with Dee who's exaggerated 'leaves' outside off (also known as play-and-misses) were soon infuriating the oppo.
Simon ploughed on in the same old way, watchfully playing late and putting away the bad ball away with aplomb.
We moved along steadily, at roughly 3.5 an over - the overall asking rate.
Regardless, Dee started fretting.
Umpiring, the Skip had to remind him that with Selfish at the crease, there was time.
We'd got to about 30 without loss when fate struck.
Having only just stopped mithering about the run-rate, Dee developed a mystery elbow injury and promptly left the field.
That brought in James who clearly has potential to be a heavy-scoring batter but may be needs a winter of nets and coach Frank's tender mercies.
He was bowled for two whereupon Dee (complete with elbow) returned.
It was a brief stay. He was skittled for 11.
Enter Tom L.
And then exit Tom. Immediately.
Sashaying down the wicket first ball to a legspinner (a proper one), he was so far out of his crease he needed a zones one-to-six travelcard to get back.
Forty-two for 3 rapidly became 42 for 4 when new signing Chris Payne, a mate of Richard and James's, was bowled for a duck.
So began the crucial stand. Pete B, better known for his biffing of Cincers' bowling for old enemy BK, strode out.
OWs were confident.
We still needed the best part of 100 and they probably thought we were done for.
The bowling was tight.
But Selfish and Pete were up to the challenge.
Dot balls a-plenty there were but then also the vital boundary here and there.
Drinks came and went but still the partnership continued.
Selfish duly notched yet another 50.
Unfortuately, our scorebook doesn't record exactly when Simon fell - to one that kept very low - but when he went, a shiver went through the watching Cincers.
We still needed four, or just over four, an over and by this time, OWs had brought some serious bowling on.
The Skip, mindful of his suicidal victory-denying run in the previous game, was pacing up and down as he was next but one in.
Thankfully, he was oblivious to the fact that Tom L, doing a long spell of umpiring as punishment for his golden duck, had just told Pete we had no batting left.
(Despite signalling repeatedly to be replaced as umpire - he wanted to use the loo - the Skip refused, saying he needed some time in the middle after that loony shot).
Happily, Corkie didn't hear Tom's 'no batting left' remark either.
He is a 20/20 specialist opening batter. Not one of life's single-takers.
So just as OWs began to smell fear, Corkie nailed them.
Starting with a four, he whacked three boundaries in all to help Pete take us over the line.
As the scoreboard picture shows, Pete finished with an invaluable 39 not out and Corkie with 15 n/o.
A memorable first victory over fine opponents.
To top it off, we gave Tom L a bottle of champers for his birthday.
He didn't open it.
After his first-ball duck, there had to be some limit to the celebrations!
Many thanks to all who turned out.
* Next game - Sunday, August 21 v Weasels at Greenwich Park.
Tuesday, 2 August 2011
Skipper's doomed dash costs Cincers' victory as pulsating game ends in a tie
Sunstroke. A rush of blood to the head. A misheard call of 'there's one there!'
The Skip was left clutching at excuses on Sunday after a bonkers sprint down the wicket cost us victory.
With seven balls to go (yes, seven) and just one needed to win against new opponents SLICC, he charged down from the non-striker's end like a man possessed.
Terrified, the man on strike - new signing Charlie Barker - was frozen to the crease, baffled as to why a ball hit straight to a close-in mid-off was a run.
It never was.
The bails came off, followed by Cincers' wheels.
The Skip momentarily blamed Charlie for forgetting to switch his phaser to 'stun' and immobilising him at the non-striker's end.
But after several calls to the Samaritans, the captain owned up.
Unforgivable!
His hare-brained charge had broken Cincers' hearts.
Sadly, there were other breakages - starting with Chris Storr's finger.
The digit was severely damaged when he bravely went for a hard-hit catch on the cover boundary.
Very bad luck.
Churlish to point out the drop then went over the boundary for four so we won't.
Chris's injury, confirmed at the conveniently-located St George's Hospital A & E (we were playing near Tooting/South Wimbledon), meant Cincers were down to 10 in the batting department.
That became nine when Mohammad left before he had a chance to strap the pads on.
Our opponents - Southwark and Lambeth Imperial Cricket Club - had the Skip worried as soon as he clapped eyes on them.
There was something about them that spelt danger. It was....youth.
With two Cincers well past their personal half-centuries (Tim M and the Skip), it looked like a tough ask.
SLICC, ironically given his injury, were recommended to us by Chris.
Lawyers, I think they are.
The toss - at Haydons Road Rec 10 minutes from South Wimbledon tube - was won by the Skip.
Although it was a blisteringly hot day, he elected to bowl, fearful that SLICC's rumoured fine quickies would blow us away.
But it was our openers who initially turned up the heat.
Tim Collins, returning for his second game of the season, and Mohammad, started superbly.
The SLICC youngsters hardly laid a bat on ball.
After 10 overs, they were barely at two an over.
But on a lightening quick outfield and dry-as-dust pitch, the change bowlers could not maintain the strangle-hold.
The odd wicket fell - Shebash took a superb catch at mid-off from a fiercely-hit drive off Charlie's medium-pacers.
The Skip came on and bowled a decent two overs, getting SLICC's best batsman (he averages 80 apparently) with a trade-mark stumping by keeper Adam.
But after that, the legspinner lost it big-time and got thumped for about 18 in one over.
Chris Storr was unlucky - as was offie Paul - not to get an LB but then none of the SLICCSTERS departed that way (a moot point given later events).
Apart from the odd heroics, our fielding was, well, rubbish.
Tom at gully and Shebash at mid-off got down to the ball well on a dangerously unpredictable outfield.
But overall, we must have handed SLICC a dozen extra runs through misfields and blunders.
Tom at gully and Shebash at mid-off, though, kept
A score of 199 for 4 off 35 was testing, given the rumour that the opponents were a fine bowling outfit.
Michael Holding in his pomp would have been happy with the run-up SLICC opener Danny took.
He wasn't exactly express but my, he was wild at times - dishing up the odd beamer intermingled with sharp in-swingers.
The full tosses presumably explained why his team-mates were so well versed with the 'above waist-height' no-ball rules.
One full pitch which Shebash played on to a very sensitive area forced him to retire hurt.
Another struck Tom on the glove and left him wincing with pain.
This time, he wasn't acting.
At the other end, SLICC skip Will looked to be bowling a much more controlled length which had opener Ali in some trouble.
That said, Ali plays and misses one ball, then whacks the next for four.
As a pinch-hitter, he's as good as Cincers has had.
So needing over 5 an over, we kept up with the pace even though wickets kept falling.
Ali was LB for 30, Tim M and Adam both went for quickly scored 27s.
Shebash had bravely come back in but could not recover his six-hitting form of last week.
As if to match Chris's misfortune for Cincers, one of SLICC's fielders copped a broken wrist stopping one at mid-off or thereabouts as we went for the runs.
Paul, hitherto known more for his spinning, insisted on being a batsman this weekend.
He played like one.
In fact, his stand with big Tim C - starting with Cincers at 120 for 5 and needing 80 at a rate that had suddenly climbed to eight an over - looked destined to take us to an improbable victory.
Remember, Chris's injury and Mohammad's early dart meant we only had nine batsmen or eight wickets.
SLICC, though they grassed a fair few catches, were far better at ground-fielding than Cincers.
But when you clear the ropes, ground-fielding isn't a problem.
The Tim/Paul combo blazed away, with Paul belting one fine straight six.
But with 20 or so needed off three, he was triggered...by Tim M for 23.
'Moyners' is old school. If he thinks it's out, he gives it.
Regardless of whether any LBs have been given for us.
Paul trudged off, shaking his head. From the side-on view came mutterings that he was well forward.
So enter the Skip, in the batting form of his life, having scored mighty innings (for him) of 25 and 37 as an opener in recent weeks.
What could go wrong?
Anyhow, he wasn't needed.
Tim C kept the strike and crushed SLICC's morale with some mighty blows.
To cries of 'catch it' from the oppo, Tim loudly proclaimed 'you can't catch that' as one disappeared far over the fence.
Then disaster.
With the scores level, Tim M's finger rose again. LB. The batsman left for a majestic and rapid 54.
He wasn't complaining but an unworthy thought flitted briefly across the team's collective mind.
Had the wrong Cincers' finger been cruelly crocked that afternoon?
In came young Charlie on his batting debut for Cincers, two balls to face in the penultimate over.
One to win, one wicket left.
The field came right in.
Charlie's first ball. No run.
So what? Seven to go.
The second ball, whacked firmly to mid-off.
The rest is history. Tragic, bloody history.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
PS: On closer inspection, our beloved scorebook shows Cincers scoring 184 off the bat, plus two no-balls, 13 wides and three leg-byes - 18 extras in total.
Using the now well-established Hindu-Arabic numbering system, that comes to 202.
All together now:
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!
PPS: Next game - Sunday, August 7 v Old Wimbledonians at OWs' ground, Raynes Park.
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Below-par BK blitzed by Cincers as Shebash and Tom spurn the singles for boundaries
BK's long run of victories over Cincers ended in dramatic fashion at Greenwich Park today.
New signing Shebash and Tom blew the old enemy's under-strength attack apart in a hail of fours and sixes - one of them which even Big Jim would have been proud of.
On an unseasonally (this being summer and all) hot and sunny Sunday, Cincinnati actually managed to field 11 players.
Well, 13 actually, if you count Cincers' Dan and his three-month-old son Jack who turned up to watch us.
But BK could only muster seven.
They were hampered by various regulars shunning the real cricket for something called the Test Match at Lord's.
We lent them one (James, 'volunteered' by the Skip) but that still left BK two down on us.
The toss was won by the Skip who invited BK to sample the delights of Mohammad Asif steaming in.
Mohammad was only playing for us after the thwarting of an outrageous bid to pinch him by Cincers' semi-regular Abid for his own league side. Disgraceful!
The dispute, though, seemed to have taken its toll.
The seamer's radar was wonky and he bowled a fair few wides until a sharpish one pitched up outside off bounced and took the edge of opener Hassan.
Keeper Kevin made no mistake behind the stumps.
Nine for one.
The bounce probably took the batsman by surprise on this pitch, another dreadfully low, slow Greenwich Park track.
At the other end, Test Match was finding swing but no luck in a tight opening spell.
The big breakthrough, when it came, was thanks to Shebash.
Cincers' James, batting tidily at three for BK, clipped one of Richard's off-spinners to mid-off for what looked like an easy single.
But after a fatal hesitation from talented non-striker Farhan, Shebash threw fast and hard to keeper Kevin who calmly collected and whipped the bails off.
Richard claimed a slice of the glory. 'There's always a wicket in my first over,' he chirped.
Anyhow, a key wicket. 49 for two.
Meanwhile, latest Cincers' debutant Charlie Barker, a mate of Test Match's, had entered the fray.
He had kicked off with the odd loosener.
But the over after the run out, James's promising innings was ended when Charlie shivered his off-stick. 49 for three.
James had notched up 14, quite an improvement on his two innings for Cincers so far (both ducks). May he should play against us more often!
At the other end, BK's Dan's sweep shot against Richard went wrong and he had his stumps re-arranged. 56 for 4.
With Charlie clattering another BK wicket, the oppo stood at a perilous 58 for 5.
But hell, the Skipper hadn't had a bowl recently so on he came with his loopy (read it as you will) leggies with Rockie doing his meerkat immitation at the other end with his in-duckers.
Cincers was sharp today, not just with Shebash but with Charlie whose arm is going to be an asset to the team (if Abid doesn't try to poach him, that is!)
BK had put on another 18 when batsman Imran tried one too many cross-bat shots.
He fell LBW to the Skip. 76 for 6.
Last wicket pair Seb and Adrian, though, stuck around.
Even though the odd ball from the Skip did something unusual (i.e. spun) and Rockie bowled a very tight spell, the duo racked up a useful 30.
Eight of them came from one incident-packed over from Tom - so incident-packed that the bowler claimed one of his turned clean off the pitch. It's shown as a wide in the scorebook.
On 106, though, Seb darted forward to one of the Skip's trademark flights of fancy outside off, missed and was smartly stumped by Kevin.
Tea was served up by Test Match - a veritable feast of pasta, pizza, home-made sponge cake and brownies of course. Delicious.
Needing 107 off the full 35 overs, Cincers opened up with Shebash and Ali.
Despite a couple of early fours, Ali couldn't repeat his rapid 40-odd of a fortnight ago.
May be he was feeling unwell. He actually left one delivery outside off.
Eventually, he played on to BK opener Hassan. 12 for one.
Test Match has been in a rich vein of form for weeks but BK's opener Andrew ended it today.
He trapped him LBW even though he had got well forward. 19 for two.
A distraught Test Match then locked himself in the pavilion for 15 minutes, ostensibly for 'security reasons' while he had a shower.
Depleted they might have been but with Test Match gone, BK started to hope that once again, they were going to put one over on Cincers.
We'd also lent them a fielder (Charlie and then Ali) so they had nine on the pitch.
But the Shebash/Tom partnership soon crushed any victory dreams BK had.
Tom hit one extraordinary forward defensive-style six to the long-off boundary off Hassan who until then, had bowled very tightly.
But it was Shebash who stole the show.
The strokesman hit 46 in boundaries, six fours and three sixes.
One mighty blow to long-on off spinner Imran cleared the scoreboard, the spectators and almost the tarmac path before disappearing on only the second bounce into the flower beds on the other side of the pavilion.
As the end approached, the two batsmen started spurning the singles in favour of smashing the boundaries.
In the 21st over, Shebash put BK out of their misery and finished the game with a four.
A fine innings, ably partnered by Tom.
But thanks also to BK for sportingly playing the match with men short.
* Picture shows Dan and son Jack (overcome with emotion at our victory) with (left to right) new recruit Charlie, Test Match, Rockie and Tom.
** Next match - next Sunday (July 31) v SLICC at Haydons Road, Wimbledon.
Monday, 18 July 2011
Soaked Cincers drown in Whitstable as Labour Club six-hitters storm to victory
We all need an excuse. Cincers' get-out yesterday v Whitstable Labour Club was the weather.
The Skip won the toss and chose to bat in bright sunshine...that lasted about 15 minutes.
Thereafter, rain. Fine drizzle, then heavy, then drizzle. Plus a howling gale.
Despite all that, the runs flowed.
Sadly, not for newcomer James who was skittled for a duck.
But he was an emergency opener. Test Match was calmly munching a sandwich in the changing room as the innings began.
Cincers' time-keeping was pretty hopeless as usual but happily for us, the Labour Club's was even worse.
They took the field with six players, with the others rolling up here and there.
The early gaps came in handy as Test Match finally joined the Skip at the crease with one wicket down.
The duo like batting at Radfall.
A few years back, they put on Cincers' first century partnership.
Yesterday, the Skip's luck was in again as his flicks off the pads and late cuts helped him keep pace with Tim.
Test Match is in a rich vein of fame, averaging about 70 in recent innings.
One upper cut for four off Labour Club's quickie left-armer stuck firm in the memory.
All the while, the rain kept falling.
With the score on 82 or thereabouts, the Skipper was bowled for 37 (six boundaries included. Nosebleeds all round).
The 82 was off about 18 overs, though as we always play time games in Radfall, none of us seemed to know how good that was.
Enter Moyners who thumped a trademark extra-cover drive for four and then walked straight off.
With all the others.
It was hammering it down.
An hour's interruption, including an early tea, followed.
It was about 4.25pm when Cincers retook the field.
The Skip, by now umpiring, was working on declaring about 5pm, giving Whitstable about the same number of overs as us.
Test Match duly passed his 50 to no applause or apparent interest from the watching Cincers
(Later, we were not great at keeping the scoreboard up to date. Didn't help the batsmen or the Skip trying to calculate when to declare).
In the end, rain ended the innings.
We came off on an impressive 172 for 3 off 30.3 overs, with Test Match on 76 not out and Moyners departing for a quick 38.
Labour Club started with intent, with one of the Wicks brothers carving us straight and wide.
Rockie, gamely opening up with Test Match, got him in the end.
But the opposition were keeping well up with a run rate not far shy of 6 an over.
One over cost us as one of Labour Club's left-handers plundered two towering sixes.
At the other end, Test Match steamed in for an uninterrupted spell of 14 overs.
He did not repeat his epic 7 for 57 off 15 (if memory serves me) which gave us a fantastic victory several years ago at Radfall.
But he snaffled three wickets with some fine swing-inners and outers.
One was a sky-high steepler caught by brother Jack behind the stumps after the Skip and Roger (playing his annual match for us) wisely didn't yell 'mine' from their respective fielding positions.
We Lancastrians know our place...and our catching ability.
Jack's keeping throughout was top-notch.
That'll be because he's playing regularly for us this year (hint, hint, Jack!)
Richard H, in his second game for Cincinnati, got a wicket first ball (sharply pouched by Moyners who clearly mistook the ball for a chocolate muffin).
Stephen Wright, gracing the side with a rare appearance, trundled in and kept the rate down.
Fielding was pretty good, with James and the Skip saving runs with sharp stops and return throws (James has a great arm).
Roger and Richard put their bodies on the line in boundary saving dives, oblivious to the subsidence implications for the pavilion.
Sadly, Mark, Cincers' founding captain and celebrating his 52nd birthday yesterday, got shunted out of first slip to mid-wicket shortly before two sharp chances flashed that way.
But Labour Club's Paddy and skipper Richard put together a fine partnership which took them over the line with an over or two before the closure.
A fine game, played in the usual competitive 'esprit' (getting ready for the French tour, lads) against hospitable hosts.
Could we have won it? Yes, with a bowler or two more and 11 men (we had 10 after a no-show from someone called Alex W).
But what the hell, let's blame the weather.
The Skip won the toss and chose to bat in bright sunshine...that lasted about 15 minutes.
Thereafter, rain. Fine drizzle, then heavy, then drizzle. Plus a howling gale.
Despite all that, the runs flowed.
Sadly, not for newcomer James who was skittled for a duck.
But he was an emergency opener. Test Match was calmly munching a sandwich in the changing room as the innings began.
Cincers' time-keeping was pretty hopeless as usual but happily for us, the Labour Club's was even worse.
They took the field with six players, with the others rolling up here and there.
The early gaps came in handy as Test Match finally joined the Skip at the crease with one wicket down.
The duo like batting at Radfall.
A few years back, they put on Cincers' first century partnership.
Yesterday, the Skip's luck was in again as his flicks off the pads and late cuts helped him keep pace with Tim.
Test Match is in a rich vein of fame, averaging about 70 in recent innings.
One upper cut for four off Labour Club's quickie left-armer stuck firm in the memory.
All the while, the rain kept falling.
With the score on 82 or thereabouts, the Skipper was bowled for 37 (six boundaries included. Nosebleeds all round).
The 82 was off about 18 overs, though as we always play time games in Radfall, none of us seemed to know how good that was.
Enter Moyners who thumped a trademark extra-cover drive for four and then walked straight off.
With all the others.
It was hammering it down.
An hour's interruption, including an early tea, followed.
It was about 4.25pm when Cincers retook the field.
The Skip, by now umpiring, was working on declaring about 5pm, giving Whitstable about the same number of overs as us.
Test Match duly passed his 50 to no applause or apparent interest from the watching Cincers
(Later, we were not great at keeping the scoreboard up to date. Didn't help the batsmen or the Skip trying to calculate when to declare).
In the end, rain ended the innings.
We came off on an impressive 172 for 3 off 30.3 overs, with Test Match on 76 not out and Moyners departing for a quick 38.
Labour Club started with intent, with one of the Wicks brothers carving us straight and wide.
Rockie, gamely opening up with Test Match, got him in the end.
But the opposition were keeping well up with a run rate not far shy of 6 an over.
One over cost us as one of Labour Club's left-handers plundered two towering sixes.
At the other end, Test Match steamed in for an uninterrupted spell of 14 overs.
He did not repeat his epic 7 for 57 off 15 (if memory serves me) which gave us a fantastic victory several years ago at Radfall.
But he snaffled three wickets with some fine swing-inners and outers.
One was a sky-high steepler caught by brother Jack behind the stumps after the Skip and Roger (playing his annual match for us) wisely didn't yell 'mine' from their respective fielding positions.
We Lancastrians know our place...and our catching ability.
Jack's keeping throughout was top-notch.
That'll be because he's playing regularly for us this year (hint, hint, Jack!)
Richard H, in his second game for Cincinnati, got a wicket first ball (sharply pouched by Moyners who clearly mistook the ball for a chocolate muffin).
Stephen Wright, gracing the side with a rare appearance, trundled in and kept the rate down.
Fielding was pretty good, with James and the Skip saving runs with sharp stops and return throws (James has a great arm).
Roger and Richard put their bodies on the line in boundary saving dives, oblivious to the subsidence implications for the pavilion.
Sadly, Mark, Cincers' founding captain and celebrating his 52nd birthday yesterday, got shunted out of first slip to mid-wicket shortly before two sharp chances flashed that way.
But Labour Club's Paddy and skipper Richard put together a fine partnership which took them over the line with an over or two before the closure.
A fine game, played in the usual competitive 'esprit' (getting ready for the French tour, lads) against hospitable hosts.
Could we have won it? Yes, with a bowler or two more and 11 men (we had 10 after a no-show from someone called Alex W).
But what the hell, let's blame the weather.
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!
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!
Six-hitting Cincers brought low by Bedford Row in injury time on Hampstead Heath
A classy 68 from Test Match, six-hitting heroics from Richard de Q, Jack and Behzad plus a fine bowling spell from new signing Mohammad left Cincers just three wickets from victory over Bedford Row.
So enter the Skip to bowl the penultimate over...and blow it!
Dot ball, wicket! and then two fours took Bedford over the finishing line with just eight balls to go.
Heads went down but not for long as this was a great game, especially as nearly half the Cincinnati line-up were newcomers.
The venue at 'The Extension' on Hampstead Heath was the scene of a memorable Cincers' triumph over Bedford a few years back (oh Jim, where have you gone!)
This time, with a depleted line-up (10 men v Bedford's 11) and only six men on the ground at the start of play, we were kindly given the option to bat first.
Test Match (aka Tim R) opened up with the Skip volunteering to join him ...only to remember the tall guy pacing his run-up was Bedford quickie Idnan. Gulp.
Sadly, the guy at the other end was arguably even harder to score off.
Result? A painfully slow opening stand off three for 0 off four overs (all runs wides).
It was only when the Skip actually tried to hit the ball that he got out...for six in about the eight over. Score: 30 for 1.
Enter Abid, armed with his trusty bat and usual bagfuls of advice for anyone who'd listen.
A stand of 62 was the result but with Cincers needing to get a move on post a competitive total against Bedford's strong batting line-up.
Behzad, who made his debut against London Saints in June, smashed one glorious six then lost his off stump.
Test Match strode on, passing 50 but then went for one boundary too many and was bowled.
That left Jack and Richard de Q to light the fireworks.
Playing his best at the crease for many an innings, Jack posted 24 - including a superb maximum over long on. Shot of the season so far.
Hockney expert Richard had Bedford's bowlers tearing their hair out as he smashed three sixes and an extraordinary four to square on the off-side off a near full-toss.
Even so, we needed 39 extras from Bedford to post 194 for six off 35 - a decent total but with unknown bowlers to come, may be not enough against Bedford.
We were also hampered in the field after Dee did his groin in going for a quick single (may have been the one that got Jack run out. Can't remember).
New recruit Jon Reed opened up the bowling, with 1 for 13 off three but hung his head in shame when his wicket came off a double-bouncer.
Fellow newboy Zeeshan looked good till he broke down in his second over, leaving Abid to take up the strain.
Bedford were always up with the rate, with skipper Richard Sharpe dealing in boundaries with close support from partners Dom and Sunil.
As they racked up the runs, it was more than just wounded pride for Cincers.
Keeper Jack took a fearful blow to the face standing up to brother Test Match's off-spinners.
He had to leave the field for a few overs.
While he was off, stand-in keeper Zeeshan took a blinding catch to dismiss Richard Sharpe for 42 - a vital break-through.
Richard de Quintal's quick skidders accounted for two Bedford men but no-one expected newcomer Mohammad to deliver the game almost into Cincers' hands.
Coming on a fourth change, the bowler (found by Cincers' man Sean Moloney, for the record) steamed in a very lively pace to finish with 2 for 10 off seven (both wickets clean-bowled).
So what went wrong?
Well, we needed just one or two more bowlers to keep it tight.
Instead, the Skip went for glory. The rest was history...
(Game played on Sunday, July 3)
So enter the Skip to bowl the penultimate over...and blow it!
Dot ball, wicket! and then two fours took Bedford over the finishing line with just eight balls to go.
Heads went down but not for long as this was a great game, especially as nearly half the Cincinnati line-up were newcomers.
The venue at 'The Extension' on Hampstead Heath was the scene of a memorable Cincers' triumph over Bedford a few years back (oh Jim, where have you gone!)
This time, with a depleted line-up (10 men v Bedford's 11) and only six men on the ground at the start of play, we were kindly given the option to bat first.
Test Match (aka Tim R) opened up with the Skip volunteering to join him ...only to remember the tall guy pacing his run-up was Bedford quickie Idnan. Gulp.
Sadly, the guy at the other end was arguably even harder to score off.
Result? A painfully slow opening stand off three for 0 off four overs (all runs wides).
It was only when the Skip actually tried to hit the ball that he got out...for six in about the eight over. Score: 30 for 1.
Enter Abid, armed with his trusty bat and usual bagfuls of advice for anyone who'd listen.
A stand of 62 was the result but with Cincers needing to get a move on post a competitive total against Bedford's strong batting line-up.
Behzad, who made his debut against London Saints in June, smashed one glorious six then lost his off stump.
Test Match strode on, passing 50 but then went for one boundary too many and was bowled.
That left Jack and Richard de Q to light the fireworks.
Playing his best at the crease for many an innings, Jack posted 24 - including a superb maximum over long on. Shot of the season so far.
Hockney expert Richard had Bedford's bowlers tearing their hair out as he smashed three sixes and an extraordinary four to square on the off-side off a near full-toss.
Even so, we needed 39 extras from Bedford to post 194 for six off 35 - a decent total but with unknown bowlers to come, may be not enough against Bedford.
We were also hampered in the field after Dee did his groin in going for a quick single (may have been the one that got Jack run out. Can't remember).
New recruit Jon Reed opened up the bowling, with 1 for 13 off three but hung his head in shame when his wicket came off a double-bouncer.
Fellow newboy Zeeshan looked good till he broke down in his second over, leaving Abid to take up the strain.
Bedford were always up with the rate, with skipper Richard Sharpe dealing in boundaries with close support from partners Dom and Sunil.
As they racked up the runs, it was more than just wounded pride for Cincers.
Keeper Jack took a fearful blow to the face standing up to brother Test Match's off-spinners.
He had to leave the field for a few overs.
While he was off, stand-in keeper Zeeshan took a blinding catch to dismiss Richard Sharpe for 42 - a vital break-through.
Richard de Quintal's quick skidders accounted for two Bedford men but no-one expected newcomer Mohammad to deliver the game almost into Cincers' hands.
Coming on a fourth change, the bowler (found by Cincers' man Sean Moloney, for the record) steamed in a very lively pace to finish with 2 for 10 off seven (both wickets clean-bowled).
So what went wrong?
Well, we needed just one or two more bowlers to keep it tight.
Instead, the Skip went for glory. The rest was history...
(Game played on Sunday, July 3)
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Max bows out with maiden 50 in tight run chase but Cincers fall short in Kiwi contest
He saved his best till last. Pity Cincers' tail end couldn't quite do the same.
On Max's last outing as a a Cincinnatian at Greenwich Park before he returns to his native NZ, the homesick Kiwi did us proud.
For all his time with Cincers, opener bowler 'Lord Rashbrooke' has been a humble 10 or 11. Like Rockie but with no moaning.
But for his final performance on home soil (he's touring in Croatia so not his last ever game) and with his bad back ruling out bowling, Max was promoted to number three.
My word, he rose to the challenge, A consummate 50, his first ever for Cincinnati, so nearly guided us to victory.
On a humid day in the park, he had only one failing - his sportsmanship and sense of fair play.
Getting a thin edge just after he reached his half-century, the Kiwi walked while umpire Test Match waited for confirmation it had carried. It had but Max was already on his way.
Ironically, the bowler Jack was one of his own countrymen.
The very game, our first against Grafton Lions, was set up to mark Max's departure as the Lions are a Kiwi side with a couple of rogue Aussies thrown in.
They're mates of Chris's...of whom, more later.
The day started nervously. Arriving at the ground, Cincers spotted the young, fit opponents - complete with girlfriend fans - and assumed the worst: humiliation.
The toss lost, we found ourselves in the field in a 35-over contest.
And guess what? The Lions were distinctly less frightening in the flesh, with Jim bowling as well as ever and Stuart steaming in as an Aussie does with the scent of Kiwi wickets in his nostrils.
No luck for him or for Jim to begin with as the Lions struggled for runs but didn't lose a wicket.
But then, it was Max's day.
He broke the deadlock by snaffling a lofted drive off Jim.
It wasn't long before he caught another, also off the big man. Nineteen for 2.
The Lions rallied a bit before the Skip made a fielding change (ok, it was Test Match's idea). He moved out of cover and put Sean there instead.
A lively Saturday night meant the County Clare man's eyes weren't fully open.
No matter. He took a smart catch to give Test Match his first wicket.
Rockie entered the fray, with his slow in-duckers driving opposing skipper Geoff round the bend.
It ended when the batsman played on. 57 for 4.
Sadly for us, the Kiwis panicked and sent two Aussies in. They made hay (the Skip retired after one over for 15!) and reached 172 (er, the scorebook is not clear but it was something like that).
It was not without controversy.
Jim appeared to be denied a nailed-on hattrick when Aussie tailender Miles nicked one behind.
Or so it sounded. He didn't walk. He wasn't given.
We ploughed on.
Earlier, Stuart had finally got one wicket when he deserved a couple more while Sean opened his eyes to take a blinder off Chris's, er, varied bowling. Apparently, it's all that hurling they do in Ireland. Makes them cats in the field.
It's rubbing off on the rest of us. The performance in the field was one of our best, with Keith and others saving plenty of runs out on the boundary.
Someone called Will was keeping wicket. Remember him?
He re-introduced himself which some fine glove work and a very smart stumping off Tom.
Test Match did the tea (enough pasta for a battalion and the delicious trademark Mrs Ross brownies).
Wickets - four for Jim, two for Test Match, one apiece for Stuart, Rockie, Tom and Chris.
Needing about five an over, Test Match and the Skip (no-one else would open) set off on the chase.
Three balls in, the Skipper decided to show off his fine judgement outside off and watched his off stump disappear behind him. Doh!
Enter the Max. Exit the Test Match - bowled by Lions' opener Jack whose quick arm was to prove Cincers' undoing.
Max arrived at the crease to a hastily-arranged guard of honour from his fellow Kiwis in the opposing side (thanks, lads).
He never really looked back.
Sound defence mingled with some punishing pull shots to set him on his way.
This was against possibly the finest spell of sustained, accurate bowling we've faced in many a day, by the way.
Only at one end were there any wides or no-balls.
But bit by bit, first with Tom partnering him and then with Keith, Cincers kept up with the pace.
Unwisely, though, Keith had earlier told the Skip he was in a rich vein of form. The 'Ballinasloe Basher', as he shall be called, duly perished for a hastily hit 14.
Will arrived. A year or so since his last game, he pretended that he'd forgotten how to bat.
But he was always one of the most powerful hitters in the side and he didn't take long to remember.
One drive back over the bowler's head was a straight as could be - right over middle for four.
It was all just going to plan.
But then, one of the few bad balls Lions sent down did for him - a half-track bouncer which umpire Test Match was about to signal as a wide until Will somehow got an edge trying to hit it into next week.
A setback. However, what's a setback when you have Jim in next?
For the next few overs, the big man combined with Max to send a shiver down the Lions' spines as with controlled hitting, the Cincers duo pressed on and kept up with the rate.
It was all going so well...until Lions' skipper Geoff pulled off a superb catch at short cover to send Jim on his way.
Still, we were in with more than a change. Max was still there. We were still up with the rate.
We also had Stuart, hero of a couple of rearguard actions already this season, to come.
But Lions' Jack was too good. Whipping them down, he did first for Max and then for Stuart.
Sean had earlier gone first ball (can't remember if the eyes were open or not).
Last two men at the crease - Rockie and Chris. Just under three overs left. 17 to win.
Tension. Oh, for a wide or a no-ball.
One over went by with hardly a run scored.
The penultimate started the same way.
But then off the last ball of the 34th, Chris struck gold. He hit an exquisite off-drive.
Hope revived. It went for four.
Last over. Nine needed.
Lions had run out of seamers. Back came their left-arm spinner who had gone for a few.
In a dastardly trick, he changed tack and came over the wicket. It was turning.
Rockie got a single off the first.
More tension. Chris took guard. He played and missed.
Then a stroke of luck. He still played and missed but the keeper did too. Four byes.
Two balls to go. Four to win.
Tragically, Chris did not manage another run and we ended four short.
Only later did Chris whisper that he thought we needed a six.
Ah. Perhaps that explains why he tried to hit the leather off it. Oh well.
A fine game against new, worthy opponents.
But above all, a magnificent send-off for Max.
He'll be with us on tour of course but that's him signing off as a UK-based Cincer as he heads back to Wellington.
Or is it?
Rockie, his traditional tour room-mate, has other ideas. 'He'll be back,' said the Sage of Southend sniffing the air.
If that 50 on Sunday is anything to go by, here's hoping!
:: Our picture shows the Hare and Billet post-match celebrations - left to right: Test Match, Chris, Max, the Skip, Tom and Rockie.
Monday, 19 July 2010
Aux armes, citoyens!
Our picture shows our two gallant French (well, Anglo-French) imports preparing for their first-ever innings yesterday in Whitstable.They are the new Wright brothers - sons of Mark's brother Paul and born-and-bred in Paris.
Charles (on the left) adopts a traditional upright stance. John favours the Father Times-style pioneered by Mark.
They both performed heroically.
Two Legion d'Honneur medals in the post!
Jim goes berserk by the sea..... to help brave under-strength Cincers cling on for a draw
Mambo Number 5 was playing on Jim's car stereo as he motored down to the seaside but it was Magic Number 5 he gave us yesterday at the wicket.
The big man blitzed Whitstable Labour Club's hitherto miserly bowling to all corners of the ground in one of - no, the finest - displays of controlled hitting by a Cincinnatian.
Eleven fours, four sixes he smote. Some of them went so high they came down with snow on them on a mid-July day with the Kent sun blazing.
Even Brisbane Joe in his pomp would have been left in the shade.
Jim took us single-handedly from the position of a fairly hopeless run chase to within touching distance of victory.
Not just for a few balls . He kept us there for over after over.
But when a wicket fell (Rockie's, if you must know) and with tail end exposed, the batting hero bowed to the Skip's pleadings.
Selfishly, he gave up the prospect of a thrilling century to bat out the remaining balls and stride off 86 not out.
Amazing.
The day dawned with Cincers fielding only six regulars - another week of last-minute phone calls to get anything approaching a full team.
Our generous opponents gave us one player, Peter, while Mark produced his Anglo-French nephews Charles and John plus local lad Jack. Finally, Test Match persuaded Andrew - slip-catching hero of last year's bout v. Weasels - to play.
Plus, the Captain was just out of three days in bed with food-poisoning and was living off dry toast.
Time game rules in Radfall, near Whitstable, with the Labour Club winning the toss and batting.
For the first time in recorded Cincers' history, the Skip opened with his (variable) leggies with Jim steaming in at the other end.
No joy for either initially on a decent, lowish but consistent bounce wicket untiil Whitstable's Peter (their man, not ours) pulled the Skip loftily to Jim's safe hands behind square.
Spirit of Portugal, banished!
Thereafter, we struggled a bit until Test Match's swingers started hooping. He had Whitstable skip Richard (38) snared off a lofted straight drive by, well, who else? Jim.
Two full swinging deliveries got two men for 0 and Rockie got rid of Whitstable's young opener A. Garvey for a finely-made 42.
Jim removed the swashbookling Joey for a swift 31 and it was looking good...until the Skip brought himself back on.
First over, fine. A nice leggie and some superb keeping from Tom produced a sharp stumping and a late wicket.
But the Skip's next over went for 20 - a mixture of bad balls, casual fielding and sharp dropped catch that skipped on for a 4. Rubbish all round.
That left Cincers needing 183 off an estimated 35 overs after tea.
The plan? We always have a plan these days.
Test Match opened with the Skip, with the aim of surviving the openers and laying a platform for Jim and Tom.
All went well to begin until Test Match was well caught at mid-off by Richard in the seventh over for 10.
Tom arrived and we didn't lose another wicket until the 17th over. Problem was, we weren't scoring enough runs either.
The Skip eventually perished (or was that, collapsed?) for a painful 4, proving once again that if you can't find a fielder, give him a call - he finds them with every shot.
Another wicket went down. Jack was bowled.
But enter Jim to begin his best knock yet for Cincers.
With at least seven an over needed, he started carefully then got off the mark with a four. The rest was history.
On the way, Tom perished for a valuable 34.
But others came to partner Jim, including Peter and Rockie. The runs piled up over by over.
Rockie particularly made sure the big man got the strike for the start of several overs in a lengthy stand.
Whitstable looked worried. One fielder even suspected we'd drafted him in from a county first XI.
'Is this guy one of your regulars?' he asked the Skip now umpiring.
The crunch. Five overs left - 42 needed. Five wickets left but with a fragile tail featuring Mark's Parisian nephews (cricket knowledge limited), Andrew and Mark himself.
We faltered. Ony four off the next over.
Then, crucially, Rockie was bowled.
We still hoped but with M. Charles Wright getting run out, there was a real danger of Whitstable's very accurate bowling brothers Ed and Joey (same surname, must be brothers!) skittling us to get a late victory.
The Skip intervened to ask Jim to put the brakes on with us needing 29 off the last three.
If he'd got out going for glory, it would have been curtains for Cincers.
So the game was drawn, another very fine match at Radfall but then for some reason, they always are.
Very game opposition, a friendly welcome and brilliant weather.
Thanks to Peter, Jack, Andrew, Charles and John for helping us out.
Thanks to Whitstable Labour Club CC for a great day.
But above, Magic Number 5, please take a bow!
Monday, 5 July 2010
'Get up and run!' yells Selfish but late brownies arrival leaves Cincers on the deck
They're like cavalry coming over Cincers' hill. They were freshly baked on the day. They tasted as delicious as ever.
Just one problem. They came too late.
Cincers' traditional supply of brownies, baked by Test Match's better (and we do mean better) half Amy, has powered us to many a fine victory.
But on Sunday at Greenwich Park against the mighty Finchley, the moist, magic morsels arrived after we had started our innings.
Tea had been taken. Selfish and Test Match were already at the crease.
Only the Skipper managed to scoff one before he went out to umpire.
Result? We lost.
In reply to Finchley's 213 for 7 off 36, Cincers got as far as 162 before keeling over, all out off 30.1 overs.
Selfish got 48, Stuart struck a promising 23 but that was more or less it.
The wickets tumbled even while the brownie tin stayed (almost) unmolested next to the scoreboard.
Expecting the full force of a Finchley Second Eleven (due to a mix-up their end), the Skip had negotiated a face-saving, time game format.
As it happened, our opponents sent down a team largely made up of Colts. Young ones. The sort of players that can bend down quickly and stop the ball. In our terms, cheats!
Imagine the shock, then, when we start very strongly against their batting.
Two astonishing catches - one by Abid at mid-on and a remarkable slip catch by Test Match - had the 'kids' reeling.
Dan had already snaffled a fine chance at mid-off, the first of Stuart's three well-deserved wickets in a powerful opening spell of nine overs.
At the other end, the accurate, crafty medium-pacers of Frank (drafted in from FInchley to help us out as usual) had even Finchley's star player - Aussie youngster Nick - struggling to find his touch.
Sadly, he soon found it, first guiding, then hitting, his team to a big score.
Our ground fielding was nowhere near as sharp as our catching and there was a fair amount of disarray with Finchley stealing singles almost at will. Not good.
Frank, who had pulled off a smart caught and bowled, was reduced to sledging his own fielding side.
He did get some revenge on young Nick.
Brought back by the Skip towards the innings' end (after his own leggies went, well, the way they often do - over the boundary), he bowled Nick on 98.
In reply, Cincers did start well, with Selfish picking off the bad balls along with punishing the odd good one.
Problem was the bowling. They aim at the stumps, these lads.
Hence Test Match's departure early on for 10 after one swung in and messed up his wicket.
Alex B showed his usual languid, left-hand promise until he got one that didn't bounce.
Before that, he also got one from Selfish - a hammered straight drive that hit him on the hand and left him sprawling at the non-striker's end.
Dazed and confused, all he could hear was a yell of 'Get up and run!' as Selfish belted down the wicket, clearly outraged that Alex had stopped him getting a four.
Dan struck one mighty straight six before also perishing to a grubber and heads went down when Selfish was caught and bowled for 48.
The heads went back up again when Stuart arrived, even though JP and Jack (first game for him and it's July! Censured!) had just come and gone fairly cheaply.
He played some great shots, first with Alex W as a partner and then with the Skip.
Just when we started to hope, he holed out.
Abid and the Skip looked as though they would hold out with about eight overs left but the Skip played too early and popped one up for silly mid-off catch (one of his favourite dismissals, that. Complilation video to follow).
Frank, who had been fielding for the oppo (did I mention they only had nine players? Better not), was out first ball. No sledging at that point. All over.
We ended up 51 runs short.
Some stats: Stuart 3 for 28 off 9, Frank 2 for 38 off 10, Tim 1 for 40 off 7, Abid 0 for 38 off 5, Selfish 1 for 30 off 3 and the Skip 0 for 25 off 2.
Other batting: Alex B 15, Dan 12, JP 4, Jack 4, Alex W 14, the Skip 9, Frank 0 and Abid 0 not out.
:: Our picture shows a plate of delicious brownies pausing for breath on their way to Greenwich Park on Sunday.
Monday, 21 June 2010
Selfish goes on strike at the crease but Cincers still thump Saints by 166 runs
Selfish turned militant union shop steward at the crease yesterday to down tools in a first-ever strike by a Cincinnati batsman.
The Welsh (batting) wizard was left fuming after his first century of the season (well, first for a couple of years, to be honest) apparently went unnoticed by scorer Rockie.
The one-over dispute mattered little on a day when Cincers racked up the runs - 252 for 2 off 35 - to humble opponents London Saints who could only muster 86 in reply.
Saints arrived with grim memories of previous encounters with our opening batting partnership of Selfish and Test Match.
They didn't disappoint.
The 100 partnership came up in the 19th over, with both looking impregnable but with Selfish especially plundering the accurate but gentle Saints attack.
But as Simon neared (reached? passed?) his century mark, controversy erupted.
Despite the Skip sharpening the scorebook pencil before start of play at Dulwich on Sunday, Graham was accused of missing a trio of Bevan boundaries.
Result? Selfish raised his bat to mark his 100 to be met by confused looks from Rockie who had him on only 85.
Outraged, Bevan balloted himself on strike action and then played out an entire over without scoring a run.
The industrial action was lifted only after ACAS, sorry, the Skipper politely asked Selfish to return to work.
But the strike upset Test Match's rythym and he was promptly bowled for an impressive 57.
Shortly after that, Selfish grudgingly celebrated his 'official' 100 but then cheered up and sportingly retired on 104 approx. not out.
However, he later discovered that Rockie had marked it down as 'retired out'. That won't help his average.
On a coolish day, Cincers, who'd won the toss, pressed on. Test Match was bowled for an impressive 57 to leave us on 167 for 1.
But Tom and Asim - borrowed from BK - provided the fireworks to add 73 off the last five overs.
Tom went berserk with a bat borrowed off Cincers' Naveed to whack 47, including a towering six that clobbered the portable scoreboard.
Saints got off to a slow but steady start but Abid, opening up, soon made inroads - to begin with, thanks to a blistering catch at gully by Tom.
From then on, the wickets came steadily with Abid finishing on three for 16 off 7 (including a sharp catch by Naveed to dismiss the Skip's mate John).
Rockie took 2 for 30 off 7 but were the Scorebook Gods punishing him when JP missed a skier which would have given him a third wicket? Probably.
The Skip risked a nosebleed by returning figures of 3 for 15 off 5, including two in two - including one 'hit wicket'. New keeper Afzal also took a smart stumping for the Skip's third when Hasan (technically on our books but playing for Saints) came down the wicket.
Just before the end, Test Match's Amy arrived with freshly-baked brownies to power Cincers over the finishing line.
It was all over after 24 overs.
Other bowling figures: Naveed 1 for 1 off 2, Asim 1 for 2 off 2 and Sean - making his Cincers bowling debut - a nervous but brave 0 for 18 off 1.
Thanks to Saints for a great day.
:: Pictured above - our batting trio of Tom, Test Match and Selfish with the (dented) scoreboard.
Monday, 14 June 2010
Cincers come up short after no-show by three players and Vice-Skip gets toothache
Cincinnati fell 41 runs short yesterday in a thrilling encounter with the old enemy, BK.
In a high-scoring game at Greenwich Park, Selfish scored a blistering 66 - probably his quickest 50 yet for Cincers - while Adam showed again he's a class bat with a cultured 55.
But the match ended when Ed was run out to one of the Skip's trademark suicide singles - the 'I've hit it so it's a run' reflex which has cut short many a stay at the crease.
But the game only went ahead with the generosity of BK after three of our men simply failed to show.
We knew we'd be down to 10 as JP had toothache.
We didn't know that Adnan, Khan and a new player would not turn up.
Just before the toss, they were supposed to be on their way but it was never quite clear if they were on their way to Greenwich Park.
BK had very kindly loaned us fielders and eventually turned the game into a nine-a-side as the three musketeers never materialised.
The Skip lost the toss and BK's Max opted to bat in a 40-over contest.
Cincers actually took the field with six players as Sudeep had also been held up.
Big Jim, making his debut for the season (hello, mid-June!) was immediately on the spot but without luck.
Ed opened up at the other end and soon had BK opener Simon LB (for the second time, some thought!).
But BK were soon piling on the runs at an impressive rate - partly helped by our depleted bowling resources.
Fielder Ripal took a fine catch off Selfish to remove opener Asim.
Enter the Skip's flighted leggies for what proved a traditional spell of carnage and lost hopes.
He was of the opinion - i.e. threatened to go to judicial review - that he had Gaurav banged to rights for LB. It wasn't given. Boundaries then flowed.
Tom came on and stemmed the tide, and Selfish put paid to Gaurav (for 50) with a nice slower ball.
But BK's Ferhan (56) and Pete (42) still plundered the runs until Pete departed for his classic red mist dismissal against the Skip - stumped smartly by Adam.
BK finished on an impressive 253 for 7 off 40 with Selfish the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 20 off 8. Bit expensive for him.
Ed bowled very well - before his arm went - with 1 for 34 off 6 and Sudeep coming on towards the end for his first Cincers' spell had 1 for 14 off 2.
The rest of us went round the park a bit.
Even Jim - 0 for 49 off 8. Tom had 1 for 59 off 8 and the Skip's figures were 1 for 64 off 8. Miserly for him.
A fine tea - burgers from BK and rather nice spot of cake from Jim's wife Lucy - followed.
Selfish then tucked into BK's bowling with a vengeance. The pick of his shots was a glorious extra-cover drive and a straight drive that would have taken out the Skip umpiring had it not hit the non-striker's stumps.
Tom, opening up with Selfish, was left almost a spectator.
Cincers creamed past the 50 mark well on course until Simon was undone by a ball which lifted sharply.
The old adage - get one, get two - came true when Sudeep popped one up first ball to BK's Simon at short mid-wicket.
Tom perished for 12 before Adam and Jim settled in to give BK some serious stick.
That included a towering six from the big man before he was bowled leg stump.
JIm left confessing he had 'pre-meditated' the shot.
The batmen borrowed from BK were suitably Irish given the Skip's ancestry.
One - Keith - even comes from the same Ballinasloe neck of the woods as the Skip's forebears.
May be that's why he went for a duck but Sean - playing only his third innings ever - got 19, including a mighty six.
Adam eventually went to a sharp caught and bowled. When Sean went too, it left Cincers 51 runs short with only the last pair - Ed and the Skip - at the crease.
They put on 10 before the afore-mentioned daft single.
Cincers closed on 212 for 8 (all out) off 33.3 - not a bad effort, all considered.
Thanks again to BK for allowing the game to go ahead.
The moral of the day?
We're doing ourselves no favours by struggling to get players - even many so-called regulars - every week.
It's a cricket team, chaps, not just a social club.
Use it or lose it.
In a high-scoring game at Greenwich Park, Selfish scored a blistering 66 - probably his quickest 50 yet for Cincers - while Adam showed again he's a class bat with a cultured 55.
But the match ended when Ed was run out to one of the Skip's trademark suicide singles - the 'I've hit it so it's a run' reflex which has cut short many a stay at the crease.
But the game only went ahead with the generosity of BK after three of our men simply failed to show.
We knew we'd be down to 10 as JP had toothache.
We didn't know that Adnan, Khan and a new player would not turn up.
Just before the toss, they were supposed to be on their way but it was never quite clear if they were on their way to Greenwich Park.
BK had very kindly loaned us fielders and eventually turned the game into a nine-a-side as the three musketeers never materialised.
The Skip lost the toss and BK's Max opted to bat in a 40-over contest.
Cincers actually took the field with six players as Sudeep had also been held up.
Big Jim, making his debut for the season (hello, mid-June!) was immediately on the spot but without luck.
Ed opened up at the other end and soon had BK opener Simon LB (for the second time, some thought!).
But BK were soon piling on the runs at an impressive rate - partly helped by our depleted bowling resources.
Fielder Ripal took a fine catch off Selfish to remove opener Asim.
Enter the Skip's flighted leggies for what proved a traditional spell of carnage and lost hopes.
He was of the opinion - i.e. threatened to go to judicial review - that he had Gaurav banged to rights for LB. It wasn't given. Boundaries then flowed.
Tom came on and stemmed the tide, and Selfish put paid to Gaurav (for 50) with a nice slower ball.
But BK's Ferhan (56) and Pete (42) still plundered the runs until Pete departed for his classic red mist dismissal against the Skip - stumped smartly by Adam.
BK finished on an impressive 253 for 7 off 40 with Selfish the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 20 off 8. Bit expensive for him.
Ed bowled very well - before his arm went - with 1 for 34 off 6 and Sudeep coming on towards the end for his first Cincers' spell had 1 for 14 off 2.
The rest of us went round the park a bit.
Even Jim - 0 for 49 off 8. Tom had 1 for 59 off 8 and the Skip's figures were 1 for 64 off 8. Miserly for him.
A fine tea - burgers from BK and rather nice spot of cake from Jim's wife Lucy - followed.
Selfish then tucked into BK's bowling with a vengeance. The pick of his shots was a glorious extra-cover drive and a straight drive that would have taken out the Skip umpiring had it not hit the non-striker's stumps.
Tom, opening up with Selfish, was left almost a spectator.
Cincers creamed past the 50 mark well on course until Simon was undone by a ball which lifted sharply.
The old adage - get one, get two - came true when Sudeep popped one up first ball to BK's Simon at short mid-wicket.
Tom perished for 12 before Adam and Jim settled in to give BK some serious stick.
That included a towering six from the big man before he was bowled leg stump.
JIm left confessing he had 'pre-meditated' the shot.
The batmen borrowed from BK were suitably Irish given the Skip's ancestry.
One - Keith - even comes from the same Ballinasloe neck of the woods as the Skip's forebears.
May be that's why he went for a duck but Sean - playing only his third innings ever - got 19, including a mighty six.
Adam eventually went to a sharp caught and bowled. When Sean went too, it left Cincers 51 runs short with only the last pair - Ed and the Skip - at the crease.
They put on 10 before the afore-mentioned daft single.
Cincers closed on 212 for 8 (all out) off 33.3 - not a bad effort, all considered.
Thanks again to BK for allowing the game to go ahead.
The moral of the day?
We're doing ourselves no favours by struggling to get players - even many so-called regulars - every week.
It's a cricket team, chaps, not just a social club.
Use it or lose it.
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
Batting heroes Alex and Adam put Actors to the sword as the Ham sun shines on Cincers
Cincinnati notched up a fine win this weekend over Actors Anon in the first of our two encounters this year.
Not even Actors' demon opening bowler Sanjeev could prevent Cincers reaching 197 for 6 off 35 after we won the toss and batted first at Ham.
It didn't start well.
Test Match got a unplayable ball from Sanjeev which took the glove. He went for a duck.
The always unpredictable Ham wicket continued in a very nasty fashion with some of the best shots from Selfish and number three Alex B being their leaves.
Apart, that is, from an classic, lofted straight drive with which Alex deposited rival skipper Jamie over the ropes.
Selfish was just getting into his stride - two fours off consecutive balls - when, like Test March, he too copped a vicious lifter and was caught behind.
He walked. 'Thanks, Bat,' chorused Actors.
JP arrived and began the recovery with Alex, before drilling one to a fielder..atonishingly, in a backward point, gully-type position. Odd, that.
Enter Adam S, full of confident, 'got to be done' attitude.
What followed won us the match - a stand of 93 with Alex and Adam even seeing off the return of Sanjeev...to the relief of the Vice-Skip and new man James waiting to come in.
Adam had no idea he'd reached his maiden 50 for Cincers. Hence the sheepish flick of the bat by way of bemused acknowledgement of the cheers and applause from team mates.
Earlier, Alex had arrived at his first half-century for the club, achieved with first use of his new Salix bat.
Was it properly knocked in?
'It is now,' said Alex.
Right on cue, the Skip's aunt and uncle arrived - complete with opera glasses for Auntie, - to see him stride to the crease after Adam got out for 53.
Two overs, one ball left.
So what does he do with the first ball? Leaves it.
The opera glasses wobbled.
But in the next over, the Skip for once got runs in front of square, a cover drive for three through the ring of Actors who'd all come in expecting the traditional dribble round the corner for a streaky one. That'll learn 'em.
The shock of the shot took its toll on Alex. He was caught behind for 57, leaving James and the Skip to scramble a few and take us to 197.
After tea, Actors survived a few early chances and sadly, Max - returning after a long lay-off for injury - pulled up after just two overs.
Tim replaced him.
It was Sam who struck first, courtesy of a brilliant diving - or was it tripping? - catch by Alex W.
Then the Vice-Skip took a fine catch at gully, also off Sam.
Tim struck in a fine spell to remove the number 4 but the key wicket came when Sam bowled Sanjeev who had carved his way in fine style to 29.
Meanwhile, the Skip's first over ended in traditional fashion - a trio of boundaries and instant retreat.
Selfish replaced him, much to the frustration of Actors who couldn't get him away.
He finished on 2 for 8 off 7. Show off.
Alex W was given a spin at the other end. Among the wides and odd no ball, he shipped down a few of highly sharpish deliveries. Memo to coach Frank - one to work on for the winter.
In the meantime, Sam took a fine high catch at mid-on off Selfish.
The Skip brought himself back on after Alex and brought proceedings to a close - partly by combining with Test Match who caught the non-striker several miles out of his crease with a brilliant stop and calmly tossed the ball to the bowler who whipped the bails off.
There was also a couple of late wickets for the Skip's leggies, one caught at point by James and a juggling, almost-dropped caught-and-bowled.
No matter that one of the batsman was fresh out of knee surgery and could hardly walk. They all count.
Actors finished on 143 all out off 30.5 overs.
A fine game played in the usual Actors/Cincers'competitive spirit, including some sledging of umpire Andy by Alex W after a series of wides and no-balls were called.
Other bowling figures: Sam 3 for 39 off 7, Test Match 1 for 22 off 7, Alex W 0 for 29 off 5 and the Skip 2 for 16 off 2.5.
Not even Actors' demon opening bowler Sanjeev could prevent Cincers reaching 197 for 6 off 35 after we won the toss and batted first at Ham.
It didn't start well.
Test Match got a unplayable ball from Sanjeev which took the glove. He went for a duck.
The always unpredictable Ham wicket continued in a very nasty fashion with some of the best shots from Selfish and number three Alex B being their leaves.
Apart, that is, from an classic, lofted straight drive with which Alex deposited rival skipper Jamie over the ropes.
Selfish was just getting into his stride - two fours off consecutive balls - when, like Test March, he too copped a vicious lifter and was caught behind.
He walked. 'Thanks, Bat,' chorused Actors.
JP arrived and began the recovery with Alex, before drilling one to a fielder..atonishingly, in a backward point, gully-type position. Odd, that.
Enter Adam S, full of confident, 'got to be done' attitude.
What followed won us the match - a stand of 93 with Alex and Adam even seeing off the return of Sanjeev...to the relief of the Vice-Skip and new man James waiting to come in.
Adam had no idea he'd reached his maiden 50 for Cincers. Hence the sheepish flick of the bat by way of bemused acknowledgement of the cheers and applause from team mates.
Earlier, Alex had arrived at his first half-century for the club, achieved with first use of his new Salix bat.
Was it properly knocked in?
'It is now,' said Alex.
Right on cue, the Skip's aunt and uncle arrived - complete with opera glasses for Auntie, - to see him stride to the crease after Adam got out for 53.
Two overs, one ball left.
So what does he do with the first ball? Leaves it.
The opera glasses wobbled.
But in the next over, the Skip for once got runs in front of square, a cover drive for three through the ring of Actors who'd all come in expecting the traditional dribble round the corner for a streaky one. That'll learn 'em.
The shock of the shot took its toll on Alex. He was caught behind for 57, leaving James and the Skip to scramble a few and take us to 197.
After tea, Actors survived a few early chances and sadly, Max - returning after a long lay-off for injury - pulled up after just two overs.
Tim replaced him.
It was Sam who struck first, courtesy of a brilliant diving - or was it tripping? - catch by Alex W.
Then the Vice-Skip took a fine catch at gully, also off Sam.
Tim struck in a fine spell to remove the number 4 but the key wicket came when Sam bowled Sanjeev who had carved his way in fine style to 29.
Meanwhile, the Skip's first over ended in traditional fashion - a trio of boundaries and instant retreat.
Selfish replaced him, much to the frustration of Actors who couldn't get him away.
He finished on 2 for 8 off 7. Show off.
Alex W was given a spin at the other end. Among the wides and odd no ball, he shipped down a few of highly sharpish deliveries. Memo to coach Frank - one to work on for the winter.
In the meantime, Sam took a fine high catch at mid-on off Selfish.
The Skip brought himself back on after Alex and brought proceedings to a close - partly by combining with Test Match who caught the non-striker several miles out of his crease with a brilliant stop and calmly tossed the ball to the bowler who whipped the bails off.
There was also a couple of late wickets for the Skip's leggies, one caught at point by James and a juggling, almost-dropped caught-and-bowled.
No matter that one of the batsman was fresh out of knee surgery and could hardly walk. They all count.
Actors finished on 143 all out off 30.5 overs.
A fine game played in the usual Actors/Cincers'competitive spirit, including some sledging of umpire Andy by Alex W after a series of wides and no-balls were called.
Other bowling figures: Sam 3 for 39 off 7, Test Match 1 for 22 off 7, Alex W 0 for 29 off 5 and the Skip 2 for 16 off 2.5.
Caribbean smash 250-plus but storm clouds come to Cincinnati's aid at Greenwich Park
One day, we'll beat them.
But for now, thank god for that late downpour that meant Cincers' first game against Caribbean for two years was abandoned.
When the rains came, we were perilously perched on 66 for 6 off 17.1 overs, chasing Caribbean's 268 for 9 off 35 overs at Greenwich Park.
That was gentle for them. Longer-serving Cincers are still scarred by the 375 for 5 off 40 Caribbean hit a few years back at Sevenoaks Weald.
But even this time (May 16), Caribbean started as they meant to go. Our first ball, or may be the second, disappeared for four.
The barrage continued even as the wickets fell.
Sam finished with 3 for 41 off 7 while Tom stepped up to the plate after the Skip bowled one over of juicy full tosses, took pity on the passers-by and took himself off.
Tom got 3 for 33 off 6 - highly respectable given the opposition.
Ed chipped in with a wicket as did new boy Khan with 1 for 38 off 7.
The tea that followed was heavy on the pork pies (from Ocado, caterer to the Skip who was providing his first spread ever).
But sadly, not heavy enough as Caribbean looked nimble in the field and hungry for wickets.
Selfish and Tom started like the proverbial train. Then both were derailed.
JP was run out for a duck, new boy Adnan was bowled for nought and Adam S holed out for 13......hooking.
'Got to be done,' he chirped to batting partner the Skip as he departed.
Er, why?
All that remained was for the Skip himself, a fine judge of his off stump, to leave one.
The off stump survived. Pity about the middle one, though.
Then it rained. Chucked it down. Deluge.
Thank you, Lord.
But for now, thank god for that late downpour that meant Cincers' first game against Caribbean for two years was abandoned.
When the rains came, we were perilously perched on 66 for 6 off 17.1 overs, chasing Caribbean's 268 for 9 off 35 overs at Greenwich Park.
That was gentle for them. Longer-serving Cincers are still scarred by the 375 for 5 off 40 Caribbean hit a few years back at Sevenoaks Weald.
But even this time (May 16), Caribbean started as they meant to go. Our first ball, or may be the second, disappeared for four.
The barrage continued even as the wickets fell.
Sam finished with 3 for 41 off 7 while Tom stepped up to the plate after the Skip bowled one over of juicy full tosses, took pity on the passers-by and took himself off.
Tom got 3 for 33 off 6 - highly respectable given the opposition.
Ed chipped in with a wicket as did new boy Khan with 1 for 38 off 7.
The tea that followed was heavy on the pork pies (from Ocado, caterer to the Skip who was providing his first spread ever).
But sadly, not heavy enough as Caribbean looked nimble in the field and hungry for wickets.
Selfish and Tom started like the proverbial train. Then both were derailed.
JP was run out for a duck, new boy Adnan was bowled for nought and Adam S holed out for 13......hooking.
'Got to be done,' he chirped to batting partner the Skip as he departed.
Er, why?
All that remained was for the Skip himself, a fine judge of his off stump, to leave one.
The off stump survived. Pity about the middle one, though.
Then it rained. Chucked it down. Deluge.
Thank you, Lord.
Craig nets record-breaking wicket haul but Cincers still crash on wicket from hell
It was the best of days, it was the worst of days.
It was certainly the worst of pitches, a threadbare, sandy outfield and a diabolical track served up by the rather pricey Regent's Park.
But Craig bowled himself into the club record books with an astonishing spell that completely bamboozled our old rivals BK and restricted them to just 128 all out.
On a freezing, cloud-covered day (May 9), the Yorkshireman took every single wioket to fall to a bowler, the other one being a run-out (BK had only 10 men).
But somehow, somehow, we contrived to lose.
BK's Max won the toss and opted to bat. Stuart, back from his long exile, and Test Match bowled tight, hostile spells without success. One chance went down when new man Alex W spilled a sharp one.
(Alex with his trademark quick fag before, after and sometimes during the action is picking up the mantle of the much-missed John Burgess).
BK were well over the 50 mark for no loss when Craig took his first wicket.
What followed will probably never be repeated in Cincers' history.
Apart from a run-out, he took the lot, five clean-bowled's, two caught's and one fine stumping from keeper (and fellow Tyke) JP.
But it wasn't over for the shell-shocked BK-ers.
Craig marched off and promptly told the bemused scorers to remove three runs from his figures, insisting they were leg byes.
The result: 8 for 20 off 7 overs, eclipsing even Test Match's stunning 7 for 56 off 15.2 overs at Whitstable in 2008.
One difference, though - in the Kent match, Test Match won us the game in a thrilling one-run victory.
In Regent's Park, Cincers miserably failed to do Craig's performance justice and were all out for 102 off 28 overs, with only a very late rally holding up BK.
Stuart batted superbly for his 30 not out, Alex W got 10 and last man Craig stubbornly held out for several overs to give Cincers faint hope of victory.
But earlier, not one of the top order reached double figures.
The Vice-Skip got a brute of a first ball while the Skip, normally capable of sticking around, was triggered LB by the Vice-Skip.
Cue a bad-tempered departure by the Skip whose mood as an umpire later one was not enhanced by JP shouting to Stuart and Alex 'Come on, lads, we can still do this!'
We ended 26 runs short.
Sorry, Craig.
It was certainly the worst of pitches, a threadbare, sandy outfield and a diabolical track served up by the rather pricey Regent's Park.
But Craig bowled himself into the club record books with an astonishing spell that completely bamboozled our old rivals BK and restricted them to just 128 all out.
On a freezing, cloud-covered day (May 9), the Yorkshireman took every single wioket to fall to a bowler, the other one being a run-out (BK had only 10 men).
But somehow, somehow, we contrived to lose.
BK's Max won the toss and opted to bat. Stuart, back from his long exile, and Test Match bowled tight, hostile spells without success. One chance went down when new man Alex W spilled a sharp one.
(Alex with his trademark quick fag before, after and sometimes during the action is picking up the mantle of the much-missed John Burgess).
BK were well over the 50 mark for no loss when Craig took his first wicket.
What followed will probably never be repeated in Cincers' history.
Apart from a run-out, he took the lot, five clean-bowled's, two caught's and one fine stumping from keeper (and fellow Tyke) JP.
But it wasn't over for the shell-shocked BK-ers.
Craig marched off and promptly told the bemused scorers to remove three runs from his figures, insisting they were leg byes.
The result: 8 for 20 off 7 overs, eclipsing even Test Match's stunning 7 for 56 off 15.2 overs at Whitstable in 2008.
One difference, though - in the Kent match, Test Match won us the game in a thrilling one-run victory.
In Regent's Park, Cincers miserably failed to do Craig's performance justice and were all out for 102 off 28 overs, with only a very late rally holding up BK.
Stuart batted superbly for his 30 not out, Alex W got 10 and last man Craig stubbornly held out for several overs to give Cincers faint hope of victory.
But earlier, not one of the top order reached double figures.
The Vice-Skip got a brute of a first ball while the Skip, normally capable of sticking around, was triggered LB by the Vice-Skip.
Cue a bad-tempered departure by the Skip whose mood as an umpire later one was not enhanced by JP shouting to Stuart and Alex 'Come on, lads, we can still do this!'
We ended 26 runs short.
Sorry, Craig.
Six-hitting Sinclair and BK's Pete get Cincers off to a winning start over West XI
Cincers began the 2010 season in winnning style last weekend (OK - this report is a month late so use your imagination) with a triumph over our traditional opening opponents, West XI.
A chilly day at a new ground for both of us in Walthamstow began with the Skipper losing the toss and Cincers being put into bat in a 35-over match.
A decent batting line-up, with Selfish and Test Match opening up, looked poised to begin in classic Cincinnati style.....an early innings collapse that left us teetering on 59 for 5 off 17 overs.
Selfish, Test Match, new man Tarang and Tom all departed cheaply, leaving Pete - borrowed for the day - the only hope of a competitive total.
Enter the Skip with his full array of shots (forward defence and leave, anyone? Plenty to spare).
The unlikely combination of Pete's biffing and the Skip's nurdling brought up the first 50 stand of the year until Pete went for 34.
When the Skip went soon after for a monumental 11 and new man Sudeep holed out at mid-wicket, it was left to Ed Sinclair (back after a couple of seasons off with injury) and Sam to take us on.
Selfish, whose scoring had been largely confined to pencil and scorebook, then 'advised' the Skip to tell the lads to take it easy as there were several overs left.
'OK,' said Ed respectfully before hitting one of the non-Jim biggest sixes in the club's history - right over mid-wicket, sending a snoozing Test Match scampering for cover among the kitbags.
Ed finished up on 29, Sam on 16 and Cincers had somehow got to 170 all out off 32 overs.
West XI looked confident but they have a history of early season batting traumas. Why else do we play them in mid-April?!
Early breakthroughs by Sam and Ed were followed by a swing master-class from Test Match who took 4 for 12 off 3 before the Skip took him off to give someone else a go.
So no five for then...
Rick Bullock, another loaning from BK for the day, took two wickets for 11 and West XI were all done and dusted at 97 all out off 22.4 overs.
They want to play us later in the season next year wjem they've warmed up. Spoilsports.
* Other bowling figures: Sam 2 for 23 off 6, Ed 1 for 13 off 4, Craig 1 for 22 off 4, the Skip 0 for 11 off 3.
A chilly day at a new ground for both of us in Walthamstow began with the Skipper losing the toss and Cincers being put into bat in a 35-over match.
A decent batting line-up, with Selfish and Test Match opening up, looked poised to begin in classic Cincinnati style.....an early innings collapse that left us teetering on 59 for 5 off 17 overs.
Selfish, Test Match, new man Tarang and Tom all departed cheaply, leaving Pete - borrowed for the day - the only hope of a competitive total.
Enter the Skip with his full array of shots (forward defence and leave, anyone? Plenty to spare).
The unlikely combination of Pete's biffing and the Skip's nurdling brought up the first 50 stand of the year until Pete went for 34.
When the Skip went soon after for a monumental 11 and new man Sudeep holed out at mid-wicket, it was left to Ed Sinclair (back after a couple of seasons off with injury) and Sam to take us on.
Selfish, whose scoring had been largely confined to pencil and scorebook, then 'advised' the Skip to tell the lads to take it easy as there were several overs left.
'OK,' said Ed respectfully before hitting one of the non-Jim biggest sixes in the club's history - right over mid-wicket, sending a snoozing Test Match scampering for cover among the kitbags.
Ed finished up on 29, Sam on 16 and Cincers had somehow got to 170 all out off 32 overs.
West XI looked confident but they have a history of early season batting traumas. Why else do we play them in mid-April?!
Early breakthroughs by Sam and Ed were followed by a swing master-class from Test Match who took 4 for 12 off 3 before the Skip took him off to give someone else a go.
So no five for then...
Rick Bullock, another loaning from BK for the day, took two wickets for 11 and West XI were all done and dusted at 97 all out off 22.4 overs.
They want to play us later in the season next year wjem they've warmed up. Spoilsports.
* Other bowling figures: Sam 2 for 23 off 6, Ed 1 for 13 off 4, Craig 1 for 22 off 4, the Skip 0 for 11 off 3.
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