Date	Time	Team	Opposition	Location	Putney	Opposition	Result	Scores	Points	Toss
06/07/2019	1pm	Saturday 2nd	Byfleet	A	266/8	185/8	WinDraw		9

Match Report

There’s nothing quite like a classic, is there? Johannesburg, 1995. Michael Atherton scores 185 not out in an innings lasting 643 minutes to grind out a famous draw. Edgbaston, 2005. Freddie Flintoff dismisses Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting in one over to swing a historic Test match back in England’s favour. Byfleet, 2019. A 15 year old denies Putney victory in a forty pointer that would have cemented our position at the top of the Surrey County 2nd XI Premier League. Okay, perhaps the last one isn’t quite in the same bracket. We arrived at Byfleet looking to extend our lead at the top of the table. We left Byfleet slightly exhausted after suffering a 52 over blockathon. Amogh lost the toss and we were asked to bat. In my quest to become the #BetterRolf, I opened the batting with Ollie Pilkington (and before anyone asks, Amogh had NOT been drinking spiced rum when he made this decision). My quest ended after nine balls when I spooned a short wide one to point. This, in hindsight, was an excellent, strategic decision. Our very own Bhosadiwale Chacha joined Ollie at the crease and together they quickly brought up a 50 run partnership. It might not have been the skipper’s most fluent innings, but he stuck it out. While at the other end, Ollie was putting away the bad balls to great effect. Unfortunately for us, he celebrated his half century by gifting the opposition some catching practice two balls later. The strong start provided our middle order with a platform to express themselves. New boys Alex Ibbotson and Sam Thomas did exactly that. Both swatted the ball to all corners of the park, with Alex’s straight six down the ground a particular highlight. Meanwhile, Sam played everything off his legs effortlessly, sending a couple of balls flying over the boundary and into neighbouring gardens. Both made superb half centuries to take us past the 200 mark. Phil and Chin chipped in with cameos towards the end of our innings and we declared on 266 from 43.5 overs. Tea was excellent, arguably the best away tea of the season. Byfleet started their run chase in the most peculiar manner possible. Brian ‘Bra’ MacMillan watched his first three balls sail over the boundary rope for four, before his fourth delivery was guided to Ollie’s safe pair of hands at square leg. At the other end, Mark bowled Byfleet’s number three, leaving the away side 21-2. With the blockathon in the early stages of development, Chacha chopped and changed. Chin and the Admiral entered the fray and both bowled very tidy spells. Chin’s darts proved too much for Byfleet’s number four who nicked behind to yours truly, while the Admiral dismissed their number six for a duck, ably assisted in the field by Mark. Byfleet, now 73-5, fully embraced the prospect of a blockathon. More bowling changes saw Sam and Chacha turn the arm, with a stumping shout dubiously turned down by a square leg umpire who was too busy watching cricket on his phone through a helmet. At this point, Byfleet’s stubborn opener (the aforementioned 15 year old) was causing us problems. He played a gritty innings, blocking out the good balls and waiting patiently to dispatch the bad ones. He had formed a 70 run partnership with Byfleet’s number seven and as we entered the final 15 overs, we were desperately searching for a wicket. It was Chin who made the vital breakthrough, trapping Byfleet’s middle order anchor LBW, before forcing a nick behind two balls later to leave Byfleet 153-7. Tush came on from the other end to pick up a wicket and we were sensing another late victory. Unfortunately, on this occasion, it wasn’t to be and we had to settle for a winning draw. Key takeaways: • Bra was in a very sassy mood. Following my dismissal, his first words to me were, “you don’t look like a tailender”, while he also made a very disparaging comment about Mark bowling a wide during the post-match beers. Pot, kettle, black anyone? • If Chin ever quits banking, he should be able to make a seamless transition into sports massage therapy. Bra’s back went after his third over and Chin decided to help his friend out by massaging the troubling spot… using his knee. MOM – Chin for taking four wickets Mug – Brian for his disparaging remarks about my batting and Mark bowling a wide The TB”HOEDYDT?” Award – Alex for his straight six down the ground Lewis 'Gerald' Hill