Saturday 2s vs Shepperton
Author: Rolf "Coinpurse" Merchant
Match Report |
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I started playing for Putney in 2014. Back then, the 2s were a middling team in Division One, having just secured promotion. If someone told me that we’d earn the right to play in the Surrey Championship in four short seasons, I’d have said “no way”. But then no-one saw Brexit or Trump coming. And truly, a Putney team in the Champ is as earth-shattering. A strong team took to the field in the bid to secure our promotion spot. Shepperton, already relegated, had little to play for. They chose to bowl first. We had a shaky start – was it the enormity of the occasion? Karan lost his leg pole and Doug was unfortunate to lose his leg bail after the ball hit both ankles. 5-2 and Shepperton suddenly up for it. Oli Dudman and Amogh settled our nerves with some real application. Oli cut ferociously and drove handsomely; Amogh pulled dismissively and flicked nonchalantly. The counterattack soon had the oppo flailing, “I give up!” moaned one opening bowler after flinging down another wide. The duo got us past 50, then got to work on the second string. Soon it was a hundred partnership – the boundaries kept coming. At drinks we were 107-2 and sitting pretty. Dudders reached 61 before being trapped leg before, Amogh followed suit with 78 to his name. The two shared a 141 run stand – it was superlative stuff. In came Chin and Tush. Chin was in a typically belligerent mood and biffed some boundaries, while Tush opted to swing for the heavens (with limited success). Perhaps hearing Brian’s advice from the boundary, Tush remembered that in cricket you are allowed to score on the offside, and the runs duly came flowing from his bat. Chin (35) was done by a pea roller, Ockwell (18*) replaced him and batting intelligently with Tush (31*). They ran an already hot and bothered opposition into the ground, with a rapid 50 partnership. We finished on 256. Surely that was plenty to defend. Shepperton weren’t going down without a fight. One too many bad balls were doled out and spanked to the boundary to keep the required rate in touching distance. However, Brian struck twice in two overs to check their progress. But the runs kept coming…some slightly sloppy fielding didn’t help matters. Brian, at third man, thought he had stopped a boundary with his right foot, only for the left to swing through and nail the ball for four…a finish Mo Salah would have been proud of. Happily, wickets were regular. Macca (remember him?) trooped in and crowbarred out their obdurate opener, who flashed one to point for me to catch / hug and cuddle into my belly. Macca followed up by claiming the wicket of their dangerous looking number 4, thanks to a fine diving catch behind the sticks by Karan. A clean bowled followed and at 82-5 we felt we were in the ascendency. Tush, sensing glory (and cheap wickets), brought himself on. He took one for the team by dislocating a finger following through from a good stop off his own bowling. Team surgeon Brian was called on to do the relocating, while team nurse Barry applied tape. Recovered, Tush rearranged the furniture of their last recognised batsman. Chin and I were asked to tidy up the tail. We did so. Chin took the final wicket with Shepperton well short. The celebrations began – and my, were they emotional. There was much back-slapping and embracing. Then the Thunderbitch™ came out. I think Tush said something along the lines of “well played guys” – my memory is hazy. Still, actions speak louder than words. Securing promotion twice in two seasons is a serious achievement. Tush and Amogh deserve huge credit and thanks for leading and rallying the team. We had more or less given up on promotion in mid-July but found our winning ways again in the last 6 games. Surrey Championship – we’ll be seeing you next May! ====STATISTICAL NOTES==== Cricket is a team game but we could not have secured promotion without some superb individual efforts throughout the season. Batting – we had 5 players in the top 15 run scorers in the league. Amogh, 3rd overall, led the pack with 478 runs @ 30. Bam Bam was 7th with 382 @ 76, including a memorable 150 against Woodmansterne. Chin amassed 307 @ 30, Karan 303 @ 20, and Doug 300 @ 23. Bowling – Tush and Bri were the stars of the show. Tush, 4th in the league standings, captured 25 wickets at 12.72. Brian, 8th overall, claimed 24 @ 21.58. Chin and Mark “E” Smith deserve mention, getting 17 @ 15.59 and 17 @ 24 respectively. |
Date | Time | Team | Opposition | Location | Putney | Opposition | Result | Scores | Points | Toss |
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01/09/2018 | 1pm | Saturday 2nd | Shepperton | H | 256/5 | 156/10 | W | 20 |