Wembley - 18 July 2019
Wembley CC v Gaieties 18 July 2019
It had rained heavily: the pitch was wet, and very green. We batted first.
Soon we were 30-3. James, hunkering down for a captain’s innings, put on healthy partnerships – first with Charlie, who looked in sumptuous form, and then with Sam, whose drives, lofted and grounded, elegantly reminded us of what we’ve been missing – to steward the score to 150. Sam’s departure for 44 did not stall James, who reached his fifty with a satisfying flat six and set about another partnership, Jack his composed and clean-hitting companion, pushing us over 200. The last wickets came in a flurry – James out for a valuable 75 – including a couple to one of their two impressively ancient players, all bones and joints and no teeth. The other, his twin, kept wicket, tidily.
With 212 on the board, and Jack and Sam to take the new ball, we were cautiously optimistic. Our hopes were rewarded: each took an early wicket apiece, and settled into long, skillful spells, eight maidens between them in 17 probing overs. It was clear one dismissal would matter more than the rest, as their Australian (and very nice) overseas blunted our opening burst – and began to bludgeon. At the start of the last 20 overs, they needed 145, we eight wickets. All results open. As if to confirm it, the Aussie took the first over for 15.
Then the game changed. The Aussie was run out, and the obdurate number four stumped off Jeremy’s shapely awayswingers. When Timon, flighting the ball nicely and getting plenty of spin on debut, winkled out numbers 5 and 7, it became a chase for wickets not runs. Chances were created, dubious umpiring decisions made – but the breakthrough didn’t come until just five overs remained. And try as we might – Jack returned wholeheartedly, finishing with figures of 12-5-31-3, and was well joined by Joe, Mike and Charlie in pursuit – the last two wickets would not fall. The game ended, a little frustratingly, with them 147-8.
But by then the sun was shining.
