Bowlers riot in southern heat
Asked to bowl in sweltering heat on a “real batting wicket”
(quote – opposing captain at the toss), Old Fallopians responded
with a tremendous
bowling performance, knocking the opposition over for 121 in 26
overs, writes Ed Paliet.
At one stage Old Wimbledonians were 65 for 9 but rallied as the
ball lost its shine on a dry surface, with some big hitting from
their no.11, Ghafur (34) – and a few frustrated wides. Their opening
bat, Wilkins, scored 45, whereas numbers 2 to 10 mustered 15 runs
between them, including four ducks.
The attack was spearheaded by opening bowlers Roy (5.4-1-22-3),
swinging the ball in, and Dummett, back from Indian exile
(7-1-34-3), who bent it out in safari shorts. Paul Spackman also
bowled extremely well on debut, taking 3 for 16 off 4 overs, whilst
Ben Sanders (another debutant) and Greg Clifford were unlucky not to
emerge with scalps.
But aside from the bowling the credit must go to a great fielding
effort – no dropped catches, two pouched in the slips (by Wales and
Fitzpatrick, both brilliantly) and a swallow-diving one-hander by
keeper Clifford. Matt Wales continued his rapid induction into the
crazy game of cricket by keeping wicket for the first time after
Clifford took off his pads to bowl.
Fallopians lost five wickets but victory rarely seemed in doubt
after Wales cracked the first and third balls of the innings past
the bowler for four.
All dismissed batsmen made double figures, and Clifford (22, 2 x 4)
and David Fitzpatrick (44, 6 x 4) only got out to glory shots with
the game all but
won.
Alas, no team photo – but after only 49 overs play, plenty of time
for beers in OWCC’s hospitable pavilion whilst their first XI got
into a fight with
their opponents, providing top entertainment value. Three wins in
three, including the mid-week game: is this a streak?
Old Wimbledonians 121 all out, 26.4 overs (Wilkins 45, Roy 3-22,
Dummett 3-34, Spackman 3-16); Old Fallopians 122-5, 22.3 overs
(Fitzpatrick 44).
Old Fallopians win by 5 wickets.
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