Sunday 4 August 2024
Claygate 255 for 4 off 40 overs
SCCC 240 for 8 off 40 overs
40 overs match
Claygate won by 15 runs
Toss Negotiation attempted Claygate won
Scorecard

David Grindrod writes:

With only ten players again and only three regular bowlers, one of whom was on debut and another who had a serious case of the yips last time out, Toby was sent out to negotiate a declaration game. Their skipper did not seem to appreciate the opportunities this could raise so we ended up playing what turned out to be a 40 over slugfest. (In hindsight, if Toby had got his way an even better game would have materialised. Read on.)

Sam Gibb, with a midweek net and encouraged by senior pro Grinders to shorten his run up, opened up and bowled well. His good balls proved too good unfortunately. With Grinders having no luck either, the ball was tossed to debutant Nick Beresford. He kept a good Cryptic tradition going, by getting a wicket in his first over, well caught by Ingo behind the stumps. Nick then went one further to claim a second wicket in the over in the most bizarre fashion. The other opener defended the last ball of the over, but somehow proceeded to then use his hand to throw the ball onto his stumps!! The briefest of chats about whether to call him back followed, but ‘no’ is briefer than ‘yes’.

What followed was tough. Those who stepped up to try and fill the other two lots of 8 overs and the three regular bowlers bowled far too many loose deliveries, which on a very fast outfield and with only 10 players (no offer from the opposition of help with a sub fielder, unlike Blackheath last week) the third wicket partnership went on to post 133 runs. 

Nick in his second spell finally made the breakthrough. Jimmy G then grabbed a catch to please his Dad.

With one over left Claygate’s Roberts had clubbed,edged and chipped annoyingly into gaps to reach 99. With the field in, to make it a difficult as possible, Archie Sidwell bowled three beamers, all of which were hit for four and Roberts walked off 119 not out. 25 off the final over.

After tea we set off in pursuit of 255. Ingo, who had had a great day behind the stumps, went off like a train hitting 6 boundaries in his first 10 balls. A 5 run penalty helped the partnership reach 40 by the time fellow opener Toby got off the mark. He then jumped on Ingo’s train and almost caught up with him, game on at 68-0 off 7 overs.

There followed a derailment as both fell almost together (Toby for 25 and Ingo 28). Seeckts Snr and Jimbo G took up the chase. With Jimbo nicking the strike, it took a while but Richard finally got the 10 he need to reach 4000 Cryptic runs, during which he also hit his 400th four. Congrats Seecktsy. 

Jimbo pulled through and over the leg side regularly and had just reached his third consecutive half century, joining illustrious company*, when he missed a straight one on his pads. (* Scottie, Atkinson x3 and MacDonald and less illustrious Espejo and Windeatt).

Seecktsy kept going, joined first by Keith and then Nick B who both hit brisk 15 and 16s respectively. We had reached 214 with 5 overs left and still in the hunt. Then Grinders Senior, not believing Seecktsy could ever hit a firm straight drive, got run out backing up, Richard departed on the same score for a well made 40 and Archie got castled first ball, denying himself the chance to run any teammates out. When complaining that it didn’t bounce, he was reminded that neither did any of his beamers in the last over of their innings.

Roly and Gibbo as the 9th wicket last pair added 26 runs meaning it would have been an exciting drawn declaration game, we would have won if it was 39 overs aside but the scorebook ultimately shows a gallant loss by 15 runs. Gibbo’s front foot driving was a revelation.

The only ‘Jingle Bells’ was on our sponsored tile at the bar, from which several jugs were purchased in a merry sun-dappled apres session.

Onwards to Follies.

4000 runs for Seeckts Snr at Claygate 2024

4000 Cryptic runs at last