Saturday 9th August 2014 Bandits v Bloomsbury Royals, 40 over match at UCS, West Hampstead Battersea bandits 252 - 2 Bloomsbury Royals 220 - 9 Battersea Bandits win by 32 runs 9 brave bandits filled the boots of 11 during a hard fought victory in the penultimate game of this years campaign. The skipper won the toss, and with a mock forward defensive signaled to the clumsily gathered men that the bandits would be be required to post a score first. Lang RJ and crystal opened the batting, and were forced into a watchful early exchange, due to an illusive left arm seamer and a slow but untrustworthy track. Gradually as the contest wore on the opening pair began to play with an air of authority, and after the arduous opening spell were rarely troubled and went about dismantling the opposition bowling attack. Crystal was eventually caught at the long off boundary putting an end to a commanding innings an agonising 5 runs short of his century on 95. Crystals wicket brought the skipper to the crease keen to push the innings further forward after the loss of the bandit number 2, but it was the other Lang brother who fell next, caught at deep square leg for 115*. With roughly 4 overs to go Clarkey joined the skipper in the middle and under the guise of the two statesman like figures of the bandit ethos, an impressive total of 252 was reached. The skipper finishing on 13 not out, with P Clarke undefeated on 16. That put an end to a thoroughly impressive bandit innings, and means that the bandits have scored almost 600 runs for the loss of 3 wickets against the Royals over the last two encounters. But before the skipper pencils the opposition into his Moleskin for next season, let us look at the opposition run chase, not forgetting that last season they took the contest close scoring around about the 300 mark. Before that it must be said that tea was a typically pleasant affair, Clarke providing his home made vegetarian curry, which as always, was particularly well received. The Royals chase then began, Dickie steaming in with fire in his belly, literally - following Clarkes tea, and figuratively - as the bandits learned that a player Dickie had chinned with a bouncer the previous season was back in the opposition side, and this time, rather sensibly, wearing protection, a situation akin to a red flag and a bull for our opening pace man. Perhaps it were down to these factors that Dickies opening spell was a touch too short, on a slow and unhelpful two tone track for the quick stuff, the opposition capitalised and the danger man from the previous season began scoring above the required rate. Enter Ben Woolman, who with one of his most impressive bowling spells in bandit colours to date, kept the ball well pitched up, denied the opposition the freedom to score runs, and got his reward with the prize scalp of the opposition danger man, who in response to the lack of short deliveries was forced to score from the front foot, mistiming one which fell to the out stretched hand of the skipper at mid off. When it appeared the chance my have fallen short, the skipper got under the eternal pull of gravity with a slow motion forward dive, and claimed the catch from the deck with his arm raised to the sky like the living dead forcing a fist through the earth of their grave. Anil was the next bandit to turn his arm, and he did exceptionally well, keeping the score down and troubling the opposition to the extent that its hard to see how he came away without a wicket. The skipper joined the attack claiming a wicket for his toils. As the wickets began to fall and the required run rate began to rise, Ken put away any serious thoughts of a bloomsbury victory by bowling the middle order big hitter, who looked comfortable on the attack and technically sound against the seam, but couldnt read the slower stuff and was back on his way to the pavilion before the bails had hit the ground following one of Kens left arm lovelies. Clarke and Le Coutier joined the party and kept things tight. Dickie then returned to bowling action when the game was all but done, the bandits plumping the slip corden for the final over as Dickie steamed in, claiming his hard earned scalp via a skied top edge. Bowling figures: Dickie - 25 -1 off 6 overs Woolman 28 -1 off 6 overs Anil 33 - 0 off 8 overs Lang A - 32 - 1 off 8 overs Ken 20 -2 off 4 overs Clarke 47 - 2 off 6 overs Le Coutier 26 -1 off 3 overs The Royals reached 220 - 9 in their allotted overs, and were in the game for the duration really, but the bandits struck at crucial times throughout. With only 9 players on the pitch, such a dominant display with the bat, and a collective sense of cricketing intelligence with the ball, the victory has to go down as one of the most rewarding to date. *Let it be stated, for the record, the bandit centurion was playing with a fractured little finger. An incident while keeping wicket in the previous bandits game lead to a post-match visit to A&E where an x-ray apparently showed no sign of bone injury. However, I received a phone call today, over two weeks later, where I was told that on review the X-ray does indeed show a fracture (an avulsion fracture at the base of the middle phalanx, for those of a medical persuasion) and Ive been referred to clinic for assessment of the digit in question this Friday. Clearly the selectors are anxiously awaiting the outcome of Fridays consultation in light of Sundays tour game, those available with wicket keeping experience and/or credentials may be advised to mentally prepare for the prospect of an innings behind the stumps. To even more unsavoury matter then, fines from the Royals game: Dickie and Ken failed to adhere to the blazer policy, Le coutier dropped a catch, and Dickie dropped 2 catches. Ken and Le couiter lose a point each while Dickie loses 3 points (!). Lang RJ and crystal scored a century and a half century respectively, the skipper took a catch and woolman claimed a run out, so each are awarded a point. Bandit scores for the season then; 0 unless stated: Ken -3 Dickie -3 Clarke -1 Le coutier -1 Crystal +1 Kirby +1 Lang RJ +1 Woolman +1 Things are really heating up in the Bandit of the season award with one game left to play, it now looks like a two horse race between Ken and Dickie for the coveted bandit of the season tankard. The player with the most positive score will win some sort of clubman of the season award, which is likely to consist of a special emblem which can be sewn on to the blazer, and a handshake from the skipper. Thanks to all for a memorable victory at the weekend, and I hope those signed up for the first tour game in bandit history are brimming with anticipation, Im off to research the theory of electro-magnetic field healing, failing that Ill just buy some sellotape. Cheers. RJ Lang The sec
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 06:42:25 +0000
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