Husain's golden run continues in day/night clash

The Gents won an overlong game, but one with a number of interesting incidents and good performances. A hard-earned total of 177 on a true but slow wicket proved enough, despite several stout innings from the Weasels, of which the impressive Hoskins' 34 was the pick. The result might have been different had he batted earlier, though as it was his début we suspect nobody knew how good he was, or had Woodhead not been foolishly run out, for the hosts fell behind the rate after a bright start.

The Gents were indebted once more to Nabil Husain, whose 69 (occupying 28 overs, with 10 fours) was the difference between the two sides. When the game finally stumbled into action, Denton was bowled first ball of the match, but veterans Dhruv Patel, a transformed cricketer in 2007 and Tony Buck dug in to provide lively support to Husain in an otherwise patchy team effort, Buck actually outscoring his illustrious partner when they were together. With their four wickets and a catch, the oldest players in the visitors' line up had a day to remember, though sub fielder Alex Young had dropped Dhruv early. The vets are alright!

The youthful Weasel seamers, of whom Alam and Hoskins were the pick, were supported by steady fielding and good catching and made consistent inroads into the batting without inducing a collapse, LB Merton wickets being a cut above RB Kingston's for reliability and even bounce. There is talk of a move there in 2008.

One day soon, The Gents will have to learn to build an innings without a major contribution from Husain, but here he was again, imperious, elegant and impenetrable. His dismissal, an excellent running catch by Hoskins in the deep, was worthy of the innings. Poor Sean Carroll was unluckily run out, the first of three such victims over the afternoon, but his time will come. This was not Wahed's or SP's day, bowled and caught square-leg respectively though Alex Young scored a useful 15. Weasels took 2˝ hours to bowl their 35 overs.

Rob Babar, a potentially fine bat, had been visibly annoyed at holing out for a duck and soon castled Wellington, his first wicket of the season before being blasted for two fours and a two from the aggressive Woodhead. Sadly, he became the first of two run out victims during Regnier-Wilson's defensive 18-over vigil. Snelling was a little off-colour after his bout of the 'flu but Husain's spell of 7-3-14-1 and, to only a slightly lesser extent, H Bomb's 6-1-18-0, forced the required run rate up. Dhruv then prospered in the evening gloom, catching Sidaway off his own bowling and bowling the likely looking Richards and Dyer, while Husain cleaned up Regnier-Wilson. Wickets for Wahed, a great diving catch by Carroll and Buck, a cut to Snelling at point, saw the end of the dismissals with Weasels 60 short when stumps were drawn at 7.30pm.

Sanjay Patel had a quiet day but was pleased with the win, if not the parking ticket affixed in his absence to his white BT van parked outside his Wembley home, the warden insisting to his missus that it should have been moved for the evening's George Michael concert in the nearby stadium.

Thus, The Gents gained their fourth successive win in its 20th. season in a game which had a controversial aftermath. All players will remember the similar start in 2006 and the ensuing midseason slump after and should therefore guard against complacency. Nor when the defeats come will it be time for muffled drums or the pealing of the Sebastopol bell. Keep enjoying it, boys.