After last weeks “waterlogged” pitch disappointment everyone was that bit keener for this game. I know this, because they all turned up on time! WHCC, bolstered by little Aarif’s recruits Naveed and Sahad took on Isambard CC, who had a fair sprinkling of Antipodeans, in a conference fixture.
Or they didn’t, at least initially, as persistent drizzle became persistently heavier. Then at 2pm it suddenly brightened and the game was afoot. 35 overs a side, toss won and batting the ‘Zontals needed to get on with it. The skipper, in the sure knowledge he can get out for next to nothing no matter where he bats opened with big Arif, and thwacked a run a ball 8 before chopping on an attempted pull. Rahul couldn’t find his bat so Amit was promoted to 3 and the partnership began to prosper until Amit holed out on the cover boundary for 14. Rahul then followed the skippers lead by slashing a wide one to the keeper, so a degree of circumspection was needed from the next batsman (obviously big ‘Rif was already providing plenty at the other end). It came in the shape of an excellent partnership between big ‘rif and Stiven (sporting a cracking shiner), before rif was finally out for 43. Richard, in at six, had one of those days where all your best shots go straight to fielders, so he changed his bat and was immediately bowled. This brought in Barry, who found himself facing a snarling Australian fast bowler and a 4 slips/2 gully cordon ( I mean come on, what sort of team leaves their best bowler to second change and then has him opening the batting? Eh? Oh). Rising to the challenge Barry steered successive fours straight through 2nd slip, before being dropped at 3rd! Barry was out just before the close of innings, which merely allowed Tom to wallop 5 from 3 balls in the last over. Stiven finished on an excellent 45 (of which, for the cynics amongst you, more later). The 10 men of Isambard performed excellently in the field, which as man for man they were 10 years younger than us was only to be expected.

Tea taken, the Isambard reply began with Amit and Naveed opening up for the ‘Zontals. It was immediately apparent we were going to have trouble with their opening bat,the self same snarling Aussie quick, who seemed able to hit anything for 4, (dislocating big ‘rifs little finger in the process) whilst ably supported from the other end by a classic tip and runner. This state of affairs continued for a worryingly long time before Naveed struck, persuading the tip and runner to chop on. Sahad replaced Amit, but Isambard progress was serene until the Aussie opener reached his 50, out of (about) 75 -1. Skipper Murray, employing classic kidology, joked that it was a tradition at the Paulin to retire on 50, which was politely, but firmly rebuffed. No doubt seething with rage and determined to smash the ball down this piss-taking Pom’s gullet, the Aussie bat was out very next ball, chopping on an attempted cut . In the very next over Sahad persuaded Isambards leg spinning number 3 to chop on. This brought in a tall man who wandered all over his crease trying to “upset the bowlers line” before being embarrassingly bowled round his legs by Sahad. On off stump.
Rahul replaced Naveed (excellent debut spell) and soon had Isambard’s number 6 caught quite brilliantly by Barry at point, inches from the turf. At the other end a Justin Langer looklalike kept Isambard up with the rate, employing savage power through the legside.
Still 5 down and best bat back in the hutch-what better time for the skipper to come on. Unfortunately the skipper’s economy rate has never been the best, and Isambard closed in on their target inexorably. Murray then trapped number 6 lbw, which brought in the Isambard skipper (on one leg). Amit returned but to no avail, and I’ll draw a discreet veil over lil’rif’s attempt to catch the Langeralike on the midwicket boundary. Indeed successive 4s had brought the scores level when JL attempted to bunt Murray to mid on for a single, only for Sahad to take an excellent tumbling catch. There was no dramatic finale however, as Isambards skipper reverse swept Murray’s next ball for 4, and that was that.
In the bar faces were set to stunned when Stiven bought a jug (for continued jug-avoidance), and those remaining gamely helped him drink it.
So, all in all, a decent game against decent blokes in decent weather. Decent debuts from Sahad and Naveed too. I look forward to a return fixture with Isambard later in the summer, if possible.