Reigate Pilgrims

Sun 15 May 11                             Reigate Pilgrims                                 Drawn (but dry)

    We    246/7 in 50 overs      (Syddall 95, S.Thomas 40, Gore 40*, James Pickles 35, Mitchell 2/18, Wood 2/37)

    They 196/9 in 55 overs      (Peddermin 34, Phanasekaran 27, Burnside 25,  T.Khan 3/42, Nayar 2/10, Shailendra 2/35)

We were inserted (always an ominous sign of weakness).  Skipper Neeraj was out for a second ball duck, and thus lowered his ground average by a considerable amount! Syddall and Stevo smote the bowling.  Steve was out for a quick 40 but Syddall kept the momentum going, benefiting from seven lives before holing out on 95.  Jimmy Pickles brought some much needed calm to our innings making 35 in 75 balls.  But San somewhat bucked the trend with an unbeaten 43-ball 40 before Neej declared on 246/7 in 50 overs.  Oh yes, and Tabby got a duck!

Pilgrims’ openers began cautiously against Akhi, Charlie Lamb and new boy left-armer Andrew Jones.  Scottie continued his nurdling way on the leg-side. But in a seldom seen fit of inspiration Neej put San on to bowl his gentle high-tossed offies just before tea.  Well, Scottie couldn’t resist a long hop on the leg-side and gifted Akhi a catch at square leg.  After tea, Akhi picked up two and Tabby three.  But the game was going nowhere with military medium on offer and no risks being taken.  131/7 at the start of the last 20 overs.  The situation cried out for Neej or San to toss the ball and tempt them to a win.  The nettle wasn’t grasped however, and Neej (after much persuasion) came on with only 11 overs left.  He soon picked up 2 wickets but by that time the overs were running out and a draw was inevitable in the gloom (196/9 after 55).  Oh, and it didn’t rain one tiny drop throughout.