Sunday 16 August 2026
SCCC 166 all out (34.2 overs)
Binsted 134 all out (34.2 overs)
SCCC won by 32 runs
35 over match
SCCC won the toss
Scorecard
Toby Seeckts writes:
Seven wins on the bounce. Seven wins batting first. At this point, the Cryptics are beginning to look like they have found a winning algorithm for playing on the scorched south England pitches in the never-ending heatwave. With Dom Wood (Leachy) taking the captaincy this week, the Cryptics won the toss and elected to bat, immediately setting about constructing a total which, on a pitch that had a green strip in the middle while either end resembled the dust bowl of Ahmedabad on approximately Day 14 of a Test match, would prove just about enough.
The previous evening, Seeckts Junior had hosted a BBQ and beers, followed by a pre-match padel game and fry-up to cure the fuzzy eyes. With three of the five reprobates hidden down the order by skipper Dom (Dom Wood, Jimmy Grindrod and Ed Grindrod), the most senior member of the party, who had his over-60s bus pass revoked after a one-handed screamer slip catch at Follies the week before, Keith Taylor was instead promoted to open, despite his late bedtime and action-packed morning. It did not end well.
Keith was spectacularly caught at first slip for a duck, reclaiming Ricky (and his bus pass) in the process. Paul Goss followed soon after, bowled by a low one, ending a rare chance in the top four, before Hugh Greenway was defeated by a hooping inducker. Roland Jordan, meanwhile, appeared understandably terrified of taking strike and, when eventually required to face a few balls, nicked off and claimed Ricky. At 45-4, things were looking distinctly less clever.
Toby Seeckts watched the coming and going from the other end. He proceeded to bash a largely chanceless 46 (largely? Either it was chanceless or it wasn’t -Ed) around the ground before finally spooning an eminently catchable chance to midwicket on the ball before drinks, in true Zak Crawley fashion. James Grindrod and Dom both made useful starts without quite kicking on. Harvey Dunham came in and produced the finest cover drive anyone in the vicinity had witnessed since Ian Bell in the 2013 Ashes, and then got out the very next ball. At 86-7, enter Archie Goss.
For the third consecutive week, Archie arrived with the innings in considerable distress and proceeded to turn a collapse into something defendable. His magnificent 48 took the Cryptics to 166, and since returning from Australia he is now averaging just over 53, all coming from scenarios where the opposition had the Cryptics by the scruff of the neck. Should he bat further up the order? Probably. Is it more amusing to brand the man as “Ambush Arch”? Definitely. Archie was briefly supported by brother Rory, who produced a splendid reverse sweep for four, before Ed Grindrod eventually arrived at the crease and finished 6*, with the Cryptics all out for 166 in 34.2 overs.
Rory and Ed, the Cryptics’ spinners, were licking their lips at tea – although this may have had something to do with the impressive array of cake available for sampling. Thank you Binsted.
Paul Goss opened the bowling with first son Ambush Arch, and Senior proceeded to bowl straight through, conceding just eight runs from two scoring shots in his seven-over spell. His second son Rory took a catch for PG’s only wicket, and he would have had another were it not for stand-in wicketkeeper Toby making his annual appearance behind the stumps, attempting to steal a catch from Keith at first slip – Keith, who had spent much of the afternoon patiently waiting for some involvement in the game. At the other end, Archie’s spell commenced with promise and accuracy, though his spell was brought to a halt after two overs having tweaked his groin. Harvey Dunham took over and began with two beamers before settling into seven overs of gorgeous in-swing bowling, taking one wicket.
With Binsted settling into their chase only two wickets down at drinks, the ‘quicks’ came off and were replaced by Rory, Dom and Ed, who were introduced into the dust bowl. All three extracted significant turn and bounce, keeping both the batsmen and wicketkeeper thoroughly entertained. Binsted’s number four then began to cause some concern, tonking the ball around the ground before selflessly retiring on 50 to give the rest of the order a chance. The Cryptics’ response was excellent, and wickets tumbled, with the spinners taking combined figures of 17.2 – 6 – 49 – 7. James Grindrod contributed with a run-out. Dom took a screamer in the 33rd over which brought back the Binsted number four, and Rory Goss then produced an outstanding high-pressure penultimate over to leave Binsted requiring 34 from the final over.
Binsted were eventually bowled out for 134, leaving the Cryptics victorious by 32 runs. It was another excellent defence of a total that had looked marginally questionable at tea.
Eleven Cryptics eventually made it to the pub for the weekly debrief, where club spirits were high and an entirely even distribution of piss-taking ensued. A key question emerged of who is actually the fastest Cryptic across land, and a race has now been scheduled for Woking on the final day of the season, so as not to disrupt selection for the remaining two fixtures by the half-dozen hamstrings expected to go in the process. Goss Senior, being a physio, was on the edge of his seat during the stubborn conversation, contemplating which exotic destination for next year’s holiday he and his family will be able to afford.
With just two games remaining in the 2026 season, both with optimal availability, the Cryptics’ winning run remains full steam ahead.
Jingle bells.