St. Anne's in a spin before Khan fifty seals it

A vibrant, stylish 66 not out from Naveed Khan, his first fifty for the club, saw The Gents to a nine-wicket victory which kicked off their 20 years celebrations in style. He was well supported by HP Denton in an opening stand of 87, no mean feat on a damp, turning wicket on which the hosts' slow bowlers Hemin Patel and Mark Sciberras had taken seven wickets as St. Anne's collapsed after a promising start.

The Gents debuted all-rounder Ravi Inkollu, while Vivek Chayya played only his second game, having spent the years since being dragged along for a game by Dhruv Patel wisely, qualifying as a doctor. Ahsan Iqbal kindly turned up to support, but was loaned out, in civilian clothing, to St. Anne's, where he played with a sunny disposition and no little gusto. Maxie Haddow-Allen kindly ensured that he was fully involved.

Fairfield RG looked in good nick and though thunder, lightning and torrential rain skirted Kingston, the pitch was playable. The game was 30 minutes late in starting, partly due to the dismal weather and partly due to the reluctance of several St. Anne's players to leave the pub, perhaps fearing the worst. In fact, St. Anne's openers made an excellent start, helped by the concession of 5 wides off wayward deliveries from Snelling and Inkollu. Tristan Haddow-Allen was his usual assertive self and Crawford watchful and defiant until Snelling bowled him in the 7th. over. An assault of 6, 2 and 4 by Tristan rather spoilt the big man's figures and at 47/1 after only nine overs the visitors were in a sound position when the big wicket came, Tristan cutting a Sanjay Patel ball that held up low to Khan in the gully.

Thereafter only Scratch Begley provided much resistance as The Gents tightened their grip. Sciberras was tight, inducing a high, spectacular caught behind to dismiss Grant senior while Hemin got some turn from the Albion End, bowling Begley and Stephenson, having Nicol lbw and Iqbal neatly stumped. The Gents' catching was top-drawer, particularly for an opening game, Toft at backward point pouching Gould in Inkollu's improved second spell and Khan obliging Sciberras in the slips to dismiss Duncan. Allstars, batting twelve, just made the ton.

Teas were successfully outsourced to the Albion PH at a bargain 20 pounds, Inkollu eating six cakes. The players were grateful for shelter and the arrangement has much to commend it, though some fine-tuning is needed. The timing of 4pm seemed perfect for the weather was closing in and a long delay looked likely. But the sun soon broke through and conditions were pleasant by the end of the day.

The Gents' opening partnership was masterful, both batsmen playing themselves in against testing bowling from Chadwick and Haddow-Allen. The stand went along at four an over until Khan began to go for his shots, going on to smite 12 fours and a six. He was particularly harsh on the young colt Gus Grant, whose earlier dismissal for a duck had seen Ravi Inkollu charge down the pitch a-whooping to celebrate his maiden wicket. Gus could be heard piping up from the boundary about the shortcomings of The Gents, including a measured critique of a spinner who "has the most obvious faster ball ever" and "only spins it a bit." Great stuff. A ten-wicket victory, which students of GWLCC/20 will know that The Gents have suffered but never inflicted, was hoving into view when Denton scooped Grant to leg slip 13 shy of the ton. There were no further alarms and victory was gained with over 15 overs to spare. At 5.30pm on a rapidly cooling evening there was disinclination to play a second game in order to involve the four Gents who neither batted nor bowled but their time will come.