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DT takes a break from a Captain's innings
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
LSSC v Sunderland
Old Haberdashers, 35 overs, June 28
London Saints 165-7
Chalmers 47
Thomas 29
Pearce 22
Wath 20
Sunderland 169-5 (28.2 overs)
Nanton 3-29
Grimes 1-22
Keenan 1-30
With the possibility of late rain on a steamy Sunday afternoon in South Herts, DT plumbed for a 35-over contest. To everyone’s delight he then won the toss and opted to bat, leaving nine-man Blackcats to swelter in the field for the hottest part of the day.
In a rare show of chivalry, Berkeley stepped into the breach for the visitors and fielded admirably for the first 10 overs until their tenth man arrived.
Opening with a left right combination, Grimes almost gifted Sunderland the perfect start, when he was dropped off the opening ball from McGirr. However, in partnership with DT, they settled and were cruising along at just under five an over when McGirr claimed his man with the score on 28.
Up stepped the hero of the hour. Returning from an ear infection/disease/injury that meant he could have toppled over at any moment, professor Chalmers proceeded to flay the ball to all points of the compass, bagging nine fours in his total of 47, before offering a simple return catch to Jones in the 20th over.
At this point (92 for 3), with the captain having been dismissed an over earlier for an admirable 29 (including a glorious six over long on that was not applauded anywhere near enough for Berkeley’s liking – who chided the awestruck spectators from his place in the field) a collapse was a good bet. However, Barber and Wath bucked the recent trend, settled and took the score to 123 for 4 off 26 when Barber picked out the only leg side fielder off left-arm off spinner Campbell.
Wath continued into the 28th over before becoming Campbell’ s second victim having reached 20. With overs running out and with Francis refusing to employ a back lift in his strokeplay Berkeley strode defiantly to the middle. Having seen the number of dot balls climb Berkeley called Francis through for a relatively safe single, only after hurtling 18-yards down the track he was made to retrace his steps to the non-strikers end. Needless to say it didn’t end well for Berkeley and the kitbag took a real kicking once he’d fumed from the square.
Not wanting to be bogged down, after two dot balls Lucan surrendered his wicket to become Campbell’s third caught victim. A feat that not only crowned his 100th inning for Saints and secured his place as the bookies favourite for the Duck Trophy (3 from 4 innings), but also allowed Campbell to even out the three catches that he had failed to hang onto earlier in the piece.
An unbeaten quickfire 22 from Pearce meant that Saints saw out the 35 overs and went into tea relatively pleased with proceedings, although with a sense that another 20 runs would have been handy.
The start of Sunderland’s innings gave hope that the first win of the season was on the cards. An obviously disappointed Jaques was sent back to the pavilion for 3 following a good catch from Berkeley off Keenan.
Upset by being dropped down (read off) the batting order, Nanton, notching up his 50th game, was keen to get involved, and following an inspired piece of captaincy that saw Barber moved to leg slip, Lambton proceeded to loop the ball into his hands without scoring.
Unsated, Nanton then produced a peach of a delivery to dismiss Campbell for 8. Pitching outside off the ball seamed back between bat and pad to clatter into the middle stump, leaving the visitors floundering at 14 for 3 in as many overs.
About now the fairytale took a nasty turn, but unlike those of the Brothers Grimm, their was no happy ending for Saints. Mark Stewart and Jones were at the crease and had every intention of staying – indeed Stewart (59) did deliver the final rites some 25 overs later, having also contributed to a 110-run partnership with Jones.
Jones quickly settled and was soon displaying a remarkable array of shots, albeit uppish at times. Indeed Keenan had a tough chance to dismiss him off the bowling of Pearce, but instead of snaffling the catch low down, his diving attempt only resulted in the near removal of the nail of his middle finger and a trip to A&E two days later (well the weather was lovely).
His run accumulation of 68, which included 9 fours and two sixes, came to end when Nanton returned for his second spell. Berkeley again claiming the catch. However the damage had been done, from 14 for 3 in the fourth, Jones and Stewart had propelled the Black Cats to 124 for 4 off 19.
All that remained was for Grimes to claim new batsman Stewart lbw for 0, with an appeal that was an obvious tribute to the recently-deceased Michael Jackson, moonwalking the complete length of the track with arms raised until the umpire finally broke and raised the finger to a raise whoop and a toespin from the youth policy unit.
Hardy (19) arrived to back up Stewart M for the next nine overs. Fittingly Stewart, who had now reached his 50, administered the coup de grace with almost seven over to spare and game was up for Saints for another week. However, the weather had held off, the showers were still too warm and the new and improved teas had been a rip-roaring success – if not the performance.
The game
Another case of what might have been for Saints. But for a little more luck and touch more class, oh it could have been so different. However, the game was played in good spirit and showed enough flashes of brilliance for everyone to leave with smiles on their faces – particularly the Sunderland players.
Man of the match
Damian, Professor of European Union Law at LSE, co-author of European Union Law (2006, CUP), Jean Monnet Chair, editor of the European Law Review and EU Jurist, Chalmers, for his sublime 47 and ready assessment of the current economic malaise.
Champagne Moment
Having rejected a number of options, including Lord Lucan’s attempt at removing his own finger in the field before leaving his kit bag at Haberdashers, Youth Policy’s moonwalking lbw appeal and Jonty’s sublime knocking back of middle stump with a legitimate delivery, the winner is Speedtwin. The quizzical gaze at his non-fuctioning electronic car keys while he waited for the AA man to turn up and break into his car was priceless.
Scorecard
LSSC
Grimes ct … b McGirr 8
Thomas run out 29
Chalmers c&b Jones 47
Barber ct … b Campbell 12
Wath ct … b Campbell 20
Francis not out 7
Berkeley run out 1
Keenan ct … b Campbell 0
Pearce not out 22
DNB: Speedtwin, Nanton
Extras 19
TOTAL 165-7
Sunderland
Jaques ct Berkeley b Keenan 3
Campbell b Nanton 8
Lambton ct Barber b Nanton 0
M Stewart not out 59
Jones ct Berkeley b Nanton 68
Stewart lbw Grimes 0
Hardy not out 19
Extras 12
TOTAL 169-5
Bowling
Nanton 7-1-29-3
Keenan 7-0-30-1
Berkeley 3.2-0-35-0
Pearce 3-0-22-0
Thomas 3-0-22-0
Grimes 5-0-22-1
