Sunday 27 July 2025
SCCC 186-8 (35 overs)
Blackheath 190-1 (34.2 overs)
Blackheath won by 9 wickets
35 over match
Blackheath won the negotiated toss
Scorecard
Richard Seeckts writes:
A mixed day began with a crafty pre-toss, pre-skipper arriving negotiation in which Blackheath’s determination to bat second was explained as a consequence of a late Saturday night leaving them in recovery. Chins were scratched when it emerged the average age of their side was ‘school’ and their attendant parents ‘young’. One gnarled Aussie aside (and he an over 50 and over 60 international player), Blackheath’s talented youth modelled a catwalk of kit embroidered with the logos and Latin motos of Surrey’s more eminent VAT charging educators, while the Cryptics offered three washed up has-beens and a teacher from one such institution. Thus, the final act of the match was ‘Sir’ being nicked through the vacant slip by Kitson mnr for the winning runs.
35 overs on a parched outfield with half the ground a slope down which few balls are successfully chased. A batting line up with almost 8000 runs banked in numbers 8 to 11 and some hard-hitting allrounders before them. Time for openers Toby and Pranay to do their best Burns and Sibley impressions, both proven quick scorers on their day but respectful of respectable bowling on this day. 74-1 at halfway drinks, a firm foundation for Dom, Hugs and David M to build on with hasty ‘teen scores and the day’s most notable ballsup. Hugs top edged one high enough for the fielder to nod off during its descent and drop it. Perhaps he was surprised to hear Hugs’ late call of ‘yes’ as the striker approached the non striker’s end to meet Archie, fresh to the middle and studiously observing how to drop a catch instead of hearing his partner. The ensuing mid-pitch committee meeting concluded with a verdict of sending the younger man over the top to a certain run out, without facing a ball. Who was at fault? The ginge, obviously.
So we sent in a third gingerboy to rescue the situation. Alec Hudson extended his career aggregate and average to 115 with the savage 51* off 29 balls that was needed from 112-5 in the 27th over. Hugs’ dismissal was immediately followed a heart warming reconciliation in the pavilion, and promises of pints. Ed slapped a few before being run out by a direct hit from 45 yards, Pup ensured Ricky the duck’s tenancy with Archie was very brief by spooning the penultimate ball to midwicket leaving Seeckts Snr to survive, and score a run off, the last. 187 required off 35. Probably not enough.
Blackheath’s tea was as sumptuous as ever. The feasting continued after the break for their openers, two entertaining (honestly) Canberrans of different vintages who, with the help of extras, plundered some wayward bowling for 61 off the first six overs. 126 required off 29. Paul Bridges then found a way past Velstra’s fruitful bat, the miserly Grindrod (Ed, in case you were wondering) suffocated scoring shots, the fielding remained tight as it should with six under 30s out there and the batsmen had to work for their runs. They turned down a two when one complained to the other that he had to ‘go round the Queen Mary’ at the non-striker’s end in Bridges’ final over.
Hudson matched Ed for parsimony but the breakthroughs didn’t come because the batsmen had no need to take risks. Reminders that they had eight teammates eager to have a bat had no impact on their resolute approach to the chase. Their skipper brought on drinks to negotiate their potential retirements which ensued when each reached 50, one off 85 balls and the other off 65. By then Dom and David were ploughing through unexpected overs and the final act with four balls to spare typified Sunday cricket’s charm, for which it is unlikely Mr M will issue a detention when term starts in September.
God bless the Queen Mary. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Queen_Mary