Sawbridgeworth

Sun 31 July                               Sawbridgeworth                                       Drawn

    They 278/4 in 42 overs     (J.Rudkin 106, Sanders 60, Purnell 46*, Inch 30,
                                                          Gorasiya 1/41, Amar 1/49, Shanker 1/57)
    We    186/8 in 39 overs     (D.Behar 42, Shahzeb 41, Shanker 31, Mann 2/26)

A spade by any other name is still a spade.  And so it seemed as a young and fit Sawbridgeworth beat an aging and unfit KCC to a pulp despite what the scorebook read, a euphemistic “DRAW”, quite obviously scribbled by a KCC scorer still reeling from the blows of a blunt instrument.

It all started pretty badly when, under a hot sun, Tabby steamed in and was promptly dispatched for three consecutive boundaries by classy first-team opener Joe Rudkin.  Quite literally, the leather hunt was on and David Behar was permanently posted by Rohan to cow corner to avoid losing more cricket balls.  Joe’s brutal assault ensured that by the time he was dismissed for 106 in the 32nd over, all our bowlers were approaching significant milestones as well – conceding 50+ runs in an innings.  A particularly memorable shot was a straight six which pinged into the sightscreen and rolled back to the middle of the ground, allowing the bowler Sunil to casually retrieve the ball at the top of his mark.  The hosts mercifully declared at 278/4 after 42 overs.  Probably out of boredom.  Matthew was left holding the wooden spoon, the top “scorer” amongst the bowlers with a proud 74 (runs conceded).  But not before some artful skulduggery that involved simultaneously tossing a band-aid at the unsuspecting batsman along with his regulation leggie that doesn’t break.  Although we are yet to reach a consensus as to a name for this cunning delivery, there was unanimous agreement on the result – a thumping six over mid-wicket.

In reply, KCC started off well with openers David (42) and Rohan putting on 30 for the first wicket in the first five overs.  Shahzeb (41) continued the good work taking the score to 96/1 in the 14th over.  We were looking rosy.  Soon, true form, or perhaps age, caught up and a flurry of cheap wickets later, it was left to Amit, San and Bharat to bat out the euphemistic “DRAW”. Joe Rudkin deservedly won the Man of the Match award presented by Rohan.