Wombles give Gents something Extra

The Gents' first ever two-innings match was a resounding cricketing and social success, played out in an extremely competitive and feisty atmosphere, which saw a valiant Wombles XI fall just 27 runs short of a combined Gents total of 240. Wombles had the day's best batsman in Barrett, the fastest bowler in Spencly and their groundfielding was generally slicker than their older opponents', but ultimately they lost because of the excessive number of extras conceded.

The Wombles are a team of old schoolmates skippered by the estimable Lloyd Wahed. Though an inexperienced side, they were rarely second-best and counterattacked superbly in The Gents' second innings when they looked dead and buried at 23-6. But they dug deep and so nearly turned the match around, finally being dismissed 27 runs short with 15 balls remaining. Sanjay's men kept their shape though and took the chances when they came their way.

The day's format was a 40 over game split into two Twenty20 games, batsmen to retire at 50 and a maximum of 4 overs per bowler per innings. By reversing his batting order in the second innings SP set a precedent, which Lloyd followed. The Gents used nine bowlers, two wicketkeepers and all bar H Bomb and Snarler batted twice. The returning Jim Wright had a storming match, feeding greedily in the second innings with a cultured 21 and taking three wickets in his second over, but though the Lion of Jeddah top-scored for GWLCC on the day their batting hero was Peter Denton, into double figures both times at difficult periods of the innings.

The Gents first innings was based around a fine 56-run second wicket stand between Dhruv Patel and Nabil Husain, in just 7 overs. Though Buck, SP and Gilkes got a start, wickets fell steadily after they were out, but some sensible and resolute cricket by Denton and Toft rescued The Gents, their stand of 33 inflated by extras but mightily effective. A quick turnaround and Wombles methodically built their innings around left-hander Harry Barrett's superb 57. Keith stayed with him for 6 overs before Dhruv bowled him. Earlier, H Bomb had taken three wickets, including Wahed for a Golden, clean bowled playing back to much whooping.

After tea, wise Buck pronounced that batting would be harder second time around. The pitch, still damp from the Thursday rain which forced the postponement of Dhruv's internal works match, was cutting up a little and it was turning into a long day where concentration would be paramount. Both second innings were therefore more attritional. The Gents' got off to a poor start when Rob Babar bowled H Bomb and had Snarler controversially given lbw by his pal Mr. Gilkes, the disconsolate batsmen nearly decapitating scorer Burman with a meatily hurled bat on his return to the boundary. Had it been the end, what a glorious way to go, falling in the line of duty. Ken Toft pulled a rib muscle and retired hurt but HP and Wright batted very well in a stand of 64 in just 6.2 overs, extras mounting ominously for Wahed's men. Keith bowled Wright and when the ferocious Spencly, the fastest bowler faced this season, bowled Gilkes and SP in successive balls, The Gents were in a state of turmoil. Buck fell bowled Keith and when HP's gutsy, skilful knock ended with a well-judged, one-handed running catch by the skipper off the same bowler the innings had entered a state of corruption and decay. Husain struck two fours before Wahed bowled him and Shanvare was then run out after a misunderstanding with Dhruv, who with Ken Toft (an unsung hero whose runs totals did not reflect his contribution) bravely returning to bat saw The Gents grind out a total of 99, of which just 59 came off the bat. They had survived some loud, creative sledging, mainly orchestrated by Lords of Misrule Babar and Carroll, rather better than they survived the hostile bowling, and it is a source of concern that two potentially strong Gents batting line-up have now been blasted out in a few weeks at this top-flight venue for less than 100.

Defending 127, subtle, accurate bowling from Wright and SP nearly won the game in the first eight overs. In the first, Jim found a steady line and length after two wides. The skipper then bowled Rolsten in the second before Jim sensationally struck three times in one over. Poor Rob Babar was brilliantly caught low-down by diving mid-wicket Sanjay off the first ball, a Golden for him, before Rooney and Nicklin were bowled off the fourth and sixth. Direct hits by Shanvare and Gilkes punished some nervy running to out Hatcher and Nicklin and it was 23-6. Adam Keith and Wahed then counterattacked majestically, smiting 52 off six overs. H Bomb went for three fours in his first over and Snarler for 14 in his second, including a searing Nuclear six over the sightscreen and into the trees at the Pavilion End. Buck finally broke the stand by inducing a Keith hole out to Husain in the covers, the Saudi then ending Wahed's knock with a caught H Bomb, also at cover, before seeing off Barrett with a neat one-handed caught and bowled. Alex Young played some fine shots to keep Wombles within sight of victory but Hemin wrapped things up by bowling Carroll, the narrow victory The Gents'. It was a most satisfactory day's cricket and the second close game on the bounce.

The Wombles had curiously outscored The Gents with runs off the bat by 185 to 166, but conceded 72 extras, compared to 27 by The Gents. This gave the hosts a crucial advantage in runs as well as the luxury of 30 more balls to face than the visitors. The total of legitimate overs bowled during the day was 75.5, but add in the freebies and you get 44.1, thereby vindicating the planned midday (actually 12.30pm) start. Statisticians report that Dhruv Patel passed the 3,000 run mark in this game and in doing so overtook Jim Wright to go third in the all-time aggregates. Jim remains on 2,967 after his 25 here. It was a pleasure to see him again.

The social aspect of the day was exemplified by the provision of an excellent tea sourced and delivered by Ketan Patel via the local Iraqi takeaway/delicatessen (lamb kebabs, houmus, aubergine dip, samosas, spring rolls and salads), a vegetable curry cooked by Dhruv's wife Reika and cakes baked by the dependable Angela Wahed. There was a goodly collection of friends and relations, including the parents of Rob, Sanjay and Dhruv/Ketan, while Paul Kain kindly opened up the bar en route to his away match. Thankfully, the Tennyson Avenue resident whose garden was subject to blitzkrieg by Mr. Kain in June, and who watched these proceedings through the fence with a baleful glare perhaps modelled on the Verger Mr. Yateman in Dad's Army, was untroubled, though Husain's six did hit the protective netting worryingly high up. Bav and Dhilan Patel, sons of Ketan and Dhruv, fielded in the second innings and were quite rightly allowed a bat at the end.

Young Bav and Dhilan were treated well, but sadly guest Scott Kirk was ill-served. He was loaned to Wombles as it was thought they only had ten, but when their eleventh man pitched up he became surplus to requirements. SP hoovered him up and offered him a top-order position in the Gents' second innings but Scott, his back hurting, preferred to make his way home. Apologies are due to him for poor communication.

Wombles upgraded their team name to the excruciating Urban Achievers midmatch but were otherwise, some robust language in front of females and minors aside (something of which The Gents were not entirely innocent), beyond reproach, being reliable (nine of their side played in 2006) and friendly. Provided they find a less aspirational name (boys, life is a struggle where optimism has no place), this looks set to be a regular fixture for many years to come and seems certain, unlike those with some other old acquaintances, to survive the inevitable cull of opponents at the AGM.

And so ends the longest match report for some years, but there really was so much to recount. Days like this more than compensate for the double bookings, the standing about in infested public parks waiting for oppo to arrive, the no shows and the nutters.