Sunday 23 August 2020
SCCC 271-4 (40 overs)
Chipstead CW CC 132 all out (39 overs)
Won by 139 runs
40 over match
SCCC won the toss
Scorecard
Toby Seeckts writes:
Scottie was handed the captaincy at breakfast time, conditional on punctual arrival. He turned up last, but just in time for the toss. Having sought advice from Grinders, he did the opposite, calling tails and choosing to bat first.
After recent trials of the youngest and oldest available opening partnerships, we went for maximum age gap, almost 42 years separating Pippa and Toby. Good pitch, rapid outfield, decent weather, great opportunity. Squandered. 24-2 in the sixth over, both bowled in the space of three balls. Opportunity generously passed on to Hugh and Keith who, collectively, have spent approximately 133 overs padded up on the boundary during this short season, watching others steal their fun.
They cashed in with a 99 run partnership consisting of calls from Hugh such as “no, no, no, um, yes, yes YES” and “I don’t think we really (inhale) need to”. Keith raced to 25 with Hugh still on 7. Hugh then got to 50, having survived a convincing LBW appeal and been dropped at cover on 49, before Keith had reached 30. It was an exciting partnership to watch with the pair scoring at 7 an over hammering the loose deliveries to the fence, before Keith, who had made a fine 34, missed a straight one. This brought captain Scottie to the crease.
Nice one Centurion
Just as one fantastic partnership ended, another started. Hugh, clearly ‘having one of his days’, punished the bowlers with admirable freedom of spirit and passed his Cryptic career best of 89*. In the 90s, he tried to ‘walk’ for a stumping where he wasn’t given out and, on 99, he played and missed three consecutive forward defences, a novel and absurd tactic. Reverting to type, he cut one to the fence to bring up his first Cryptic century and, at the age of 50, become the oldest ever Cryptic centurion. Eventually stumped for 114, including 18 fours, he joyfully hobbled off and immediately took his grin to the bar to share his success. In a year focussed on essential youth recruitment, Hugh’s innings was a delightful and enormously popular reminder that the old guys aren’t finished yet. He has cheerfully persevered through lean spells with the bat and here was just reward for a stalwart Cryptic.
Scottie played beautifully in the shadows of Hugh’s onslaught, and took on the more aggressive role when Seeckts joined him. 38 runs were scored in the final four overs of the innings, one Scottie six crashing into the sightscreen with a gratifying thud. 271 is the seventh highest innings total in the club’s history.
During BYO tea, first choice wicketkeeper Ingo announced a sore knee would prevent him donning the gloves; reluctant reserve Toby declared he hadn’t brought his kit. Hugh, by now an immobile, heaving wreckage of humanity, would have to keep wicket. His protests were rejected, a degree of coercion was required. His eventual agreement triggered gales of laughter that betrayed a wind up hatched at least an hour earlier.
Chipstead were 7-2 after the first four overs of their chase, thanks to a tidy start from Joe Muldoon and Grinders. Keith gleefully took Seeckts’ usual spot at first slip with Hugh in at second. Sure enough, Grinders found the edge twice in succession, each slip dropping one. A chirp about it being harder than it looks drifted over from mid on. Minutes later Keith spilled another and was ruthlessly sent to cover by Captain Scott where the gremlins followed him as a third, more difficult chance also went to ground.
Chris Muldoon replaced son Joe, took a wicket and was bowling as well as Joe when disaster struck, in the form of a savagely struck return catch that caused horrible finger injuries on its way to the boundary, ending Chris’s spell and season. He was brave and calm while onlookers winced and struggled to hold their tea down. We wish Chris a speedy recovery.
Toby finished the over and carried on for six more with Ed Grinders at the other end. Vickars continued hitting the ball hard, but was the only Chipstead batsman to pose any threat until being undone by a slower ball from Toby. There was little resistance after he was dismissed with the score to 96-5. Toby got Boosey with his next delivery before firing down a wide with his hat trick ball. Scottie came on and bowled 4-2-8-1 joining Ed and Daddy Grinders in taking 1 each. Joe returned, unphased about his father going off to hospital with the car keys, to rip through the tail with all of his wickets bowled and finished with career best figures of 8-2-24-4. A convincing win over opponents who have been considerably stronger in previous years. Chris’s injury aside, a lovely day at a welcoming club with one of the best tracks we play on. Bizarrely, ten of the 15 wickets to fall were bowled; there must be something in it.
Jingle bells.
