Sunday 3 July 2022

Banstead 219 for 5 (40 overs)
SCCC 220-5 (36.5 overs)
Won by 5 wickets
40 over match
Banstead won the toss
Scorecard

Daddy Grinders proudly writes:

New captain Ed G., Cryptics’ 20th, got off to a typically Cryptic start, first tossing up with only nine players at the ground and secondly losing the toss. Unsurprisingly we were asked to field and off we went.

Sam Gibb, who has never lost and was keen to continue the run, opened the bowling with Young Joe Witt. Sam continued another sequence, but one he is keen to actually lose; he has now bowled a wide first up in each of his four games! Joe continued his run of just being unlucky. On one occasion Grinders Senior ran in (yes ran in!) only to have the ball then go over him and subsequently drop it.

The arrival of Gossy and Cryptic No. 315 (aka Wade Ridgeway) levelled the game up, particularly as Gossy bowled most tidily and off his full run up for the first time post-op to pick up one wicket and Wade snaffled two catches and a wicket with a box of liquorice allsorts (to be expected after 25 years of not turning his arm over).

All the seamers (bar Gossy) either bowled too full or too wide. Keeper Hurman pulled out all his goalkeeping skills to dive both left and right to keep the score down. Banstead seemed to be motoring along, but in hindsight they dealt in boundaries but not singles, to post 219 for 5 off their allotted 40 overs. 

After the most wonderful tea, with the biggest sandwiches on the circuit, the other young guns Seeckts Minor and Grinders Minor were sent out to start the chase. Both batted beautifully, with boundaries and singles aplenty. Toby got a good one, to be caught behind for 18, but Jimmy continued with Hugs giving good company. They put on 86 to put us in control. The introduction of the oppo’s young looking thirteen year old was enough for both Hugh (23) and Wade (7), both caught in the gully. Jimmy continued to play some lovely drives and pulls, ably supported now by Joe Hurman. 

Jimmy had reached an untroubled 96, pretty much guaranteeing victory before unfortunately playing on. The race for the new youngest Cryptic centurion continues with James, Ed and Toby now having fallen in the 90’s. Keith replaced Jimmy to get a cheeky not out, but not before running Hurman out (31).

Skipper Ed almost claimed ‘Ricky the Duck’ but saw us home for what turned out to be a comfortable, impressive victory by 5 wickets and with 3.1 overs to spare.

Jingle Bells (verse 4 for Gibbo)