Bickley Park CC – 3rd XI vs Bexley CC – 5th XI

Report

The Warren was a lot dryer than might have been expected, given the rain of the previous few days, but it was no surprise when Sunny lost the toss and were invited to bat. A good team talk prior to play left the batsmen in no doubt that the name of the game was take your time, value your wicket and wait for the bad balls which will come along.  It worked!  An opening partnership of 67 saw Marcus Day and Vishesh Manti play solid, sensible cricket shots and then punish the bad balls (which were in plentiful supply with some tennis ball bounce) . Both batsmen displayed some lovely cover drives, hooks, pulls and most of the time had a good understanding between the wickets. (not all, but most!).  The fall of Vish saw Bexley slowly come back into the match as we lost a wicket in the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and having just brought up the team ton, Samit fell for  well crafted 29. Sunny was joined by Leo who played with a freedom of a man who thought he was playing on an absolute road. (it was far from a road, but it didn’t stop him).  Sunny scored a solitary run as 102-5 became 149-6, and Leo just carried on with Yawar having a swing in the last few overs at the other end. His 68 should have been match winning, it certainly took the game away from Bexley who ate their tea in a shell shocked state – truth be told, a few Bickley lads were in awe too.

The Bexley inning started very circumspectly, with Sunny and Leo passing the edge frequently.  Bowling for the first time in a match this year, Leo struggled a bit with his length, but the Belsy openers didn’t punish him for it.  Some smart fielding in the outfield clearly put some doubt in the batsmens’ minds and as the light faded a sharp piefe of fielding from Samit combined with  turn and accurate throw saw Bickley pick up what was to be their only wicket of the innings.  The blackened skies finally began to empty on us, and that was pretty much that.  The covers didn’t come off again and while we might have been able to get on to the pitch eventually, there was no chance of playing the game to a conclusion. Common sense prevailed!