2012

Sun 13 May                               Crossbatters                           Lost by 3 wkts

We    106/10 in 28.3 overs (Ajit Ramsagar 34, Shahzeb 15, Hammad Rishad 15, Harris 3/17)
They 107/7 in 27.5 overs   (Steve Tomlinson 47*, Rintoul 15*, Hammad Rishad 3/16, Manas Roy 2/11)

The Oratory school’s magnificent cricket ground is always a feast for the eyes.  This year was no different.  Although weeks of incessant rain meant that the normally fine batting pitch resembled a bowl of hummus.  Might have been top shelf.  Organic.  M&S.

KCC’s batsmen wasted no time in making a meal of it.  After being invited to first digs in a shortened 35 over affair ankle high deliveries were treated with disdainful heaves and swipes, like irritant flies.  Before long we folded like the finest pita bread this side of Jerusalem, well short of hundred.  Luckily, Ajit, with a wafty 34, and 12th man (extras, 19) were at hand to help us cross the 100-mark.  Barely.  With six full overs to spare.

Lunch couldn’t have come any sooner.  We feasted on hummus (among other fine culinary choices).  To make matters worse, someone accidentally smashed the bottle of port.  Frustration? A bun-fight in the changing room perhaps?  We shall never know.

Once nourished, KCC came out fighting.  Fine opening spells from a belligerent Maddy (7-3-16-3) and Manas (7-2-11-2), followed by tight spells from skipper Rohan and Tabby pinned the hosts down.  At 48/7, and as many as 5 ducks lining up their scoresheet, Crossbatters were in utter disarray.  The game was firmly within our grasp.

Only to pop straight out as Tomlinson, the opposition skipper, was dropped first ball at square leg.  A dolly it was.  And a costly one too.  Reprieved, Tomlinson launched a fierce counter attack, finishing with an unbeaten 47 off only 15 balls, taking Crossbatters safely to victory.  At the post-game festivities, there was little doubt who the player of the match was and Tomlinson took home the bottle of Johnnie Walker.  There was, however, some consolation for the KCC boys.  Some left-over hummus from lunch.