Salix survive Nuclear autumn

Despite a superb 47 from Nuclear Wahed and steady, sometimes spectacular batting elsewhere, 193 proved just too big a target to chase for a Gents side that set out bravely, if ultimately unsuccessfully, on the post-Nabil Husain era. The best Gents' score here in five visits, 164, was a decent reply to a Salix innings that profited from too many loose deliveries, only Buck, who surprisingly only bowled six overs, exerting any measure of control on a perfect batting wicket. Salix therefore lead this series 4-1 but they were keen to renew for 2008, good news as both opposition and venue are just those to which The Gents should be aspiring. Furthermore, occasional trips north of the River give much needed scouting and orienteering practice to the younger Gents enabling them to develop useful life-skills.

The early overs were The Gents' as Shanvare, facing Salix for the third time with three different teams, bowled Lumsden and Venning with successive deliveries, but with Snarler less accurate than usual it took Buck to break the third-wicket stand, Snarler obliging at square-leg. SP had Rickman caught behind, one of two behind the timbers for Mr. Turpin, whose sterling display also saw no byes conceded. From 80/4 after 20 overs, Salix then cut loose, rather as they did in 2006, adding 113 in the final 15 overs. Once Buck was finished, the bowling came alike to Shaw, Sanwalka, Kulasingam and Padmore, though there were further catches by Snarler and a well-judged one at deep fine-leg by HP. As the score mounted there were the inevitable dropped catches and misfields, though Rob Babar weighed in with three wickets. Salix had, as had Saints five weeks before in a similarly-paced innings, effected an attractive and ultimately decisive recovery, but the bowling had been disappointing, three or four reasonable balls being followed by long-hop or full-toss more often than not.

After a Must Do Better first dibs, The Gents regrouped and set about their task. However, Shanvare fell lbw to Jacobs before Buck was bowled Lumsden. Still, runs were coming at 4 an over, a steady start. A double blow then saw HP edge behind to 'keeper Shaw off Padmore and walk and Young dolly one up to silly mid-on Ellis off Lumsden, 39/4 in the 12th. over, a duck for the lad the day after his 25th. birthday.

It could have been a capitulation, but the middle-order had other ideas. Nuclear Wahed's only four overs on this ground had cost 44 runs but, to paraphrase the Viagra advertisement, he then went from Mr. Small to Mr. Big Boy with a coruscating innings of 47, including three huge sixes and four fours. It was most entertaining and while he and SP were together, adding 74 in 11 overs, Gents had a chance, a chance which dissipated when the returning Padmore bowled Wahed, to be followed immediately by SP miscuing to mid-on Ellis off the wily seamers of Kulasingam. When Snarler edged behind off the same chap, the betting exchanges had Gents grimly odds-on for a sub-130 score, such had been the abysmal lower-order batting in recent weeks. Refreshingly, Carroll (three fours) and Babar (a huge straight six and a four) then batted with vim and vigour to take Gents to within 29 runs of the required total. Mr. Turpin played a few neat shots before charging the bowler and being stumped. High Street was gritty but out of touch, though he and Rob (his Gents' personal best, as was Nuclear's) at least ensured that the 35 overs were batted through, a 7/10 response then to 4/10 bowling and 6/10 fielding performances. Thus, The Gents concluded their 20th. season with three successive defeats, just as 1988 had comprised two losses to West XI and one to a shower of arrogant tossers called East Harrow Cheetahs. Nevertheless, 2007 has to be reckoned a good, if stop-start season, with 11 wins and only 6 defeats. Change is afoot, however, with rumours of changes to the Committee and one or two new players being scouted for 2008.