Dullness
all around as summer draws to a close
A dull end of season September afternoon set the tone for
a dull end of season match. Eight reluctant and generally
hung-over "Specials" waited for skipper Golding
to announce that, thankfully, we would bat first and give
most of us time to wake up and allow the other two players
to arrive. Morale was boosted when Dominic turned up (with
Jani).
Even
better was a fantastic opening stand of 98 between Tony
Medlock and Mike Herlihy. The latter even matching Medlock
shot for shot, contributing 39.
In the
pavilion Jani was still seething over what he considered
to be the failure of the British team in the Athens Olympics,
singling out Steve Backley for particular criticism (even
though the ex silver medallist was still 4th in the whole
wide world).
Medlock
continued to bat unbeaten for two and a half hours, a chanceless
knock amassing 119 and a supplying a perfectly spoked wagon
wheel chart for his bedroom wall. He wasn't really helped
by Paulo, Naisbitt I. or Cosgrove (out to his signature
stroke) but McGowan chipped in with 19 and "Daley"
Jani a valuable 9. Specials declared at tea with an impressive
220 for the loss of 6 wickets in just 34 overs.
For everyone except Tony and "Fatima" Jani the
highlight of the day was a superb tea which featured home
made scones with cream and strawberries, and being a cold
afternoon no fans (scroungers) were hanging around for left
overs.
Enfield
started very well as Cole and Metha kept out some mean bowling
from Cattel and Pilgrim and began to build a competitive
score. They looked impregnable to quality, if predictable,
bowling so Golding made an inspired change and turned to
guile.
Giving
the ball to occasional player "Hurricane" Ivan
he was rewarded with a wicket first ball. A full bunger
was top edged by Mehta, to who else but "Tessa"
Jani, who made an excellent catch. All the players ran to
congratulate Golding, leaving Jani to console himself that
at least he had done something to restore some pride in
British sport.
A couple
other Enfield batsmen got in, but none had the strokes of
a Medlock and it soon became obvious that a draw was on
the cards. Opener Cole made a determined 48 but seemed to
feel he could have made more against some of the poorer
bowling. Cattel , 2 wickets and Pilgrim 3, gave Enfield
a slight scare but they batted out and reached 168-7.
Winners: Tony, Smiler
the Tea Lady and Jani
Losers: Steve Backley
©
Ivan Naisbitt 2004
