We are a London-based cricket club. Although we don't have our own pitch, we usually play our home fixtures in Greenwich Park. This blog records our regular triumphs and occasional failures.

Sunday 6 July 2014

Cincers finish just behind the eight ball as slow-coach Skipper scuppers the run chase

Cometh the hour, cometh the block....just when we didn't need it.
With Cincers requiring just two good overs to level the score on our Italian tour, a cruel stroke of fate meant the Skipper (yours truly) was on strike.
All that was asked for was a streaky single to get up the other end and give the strike to big-hitter Sajj.
Just one scampered run, one mad dash while the fielders panicked - that's all.
Tragically, that was all, more or less.
There were swings (and misses). There were shots, sort of (straight to fielders).
But what there wasn't was a run.
So becalmed was the Captain that crafty Silvio, the pipe-smoking (when umpiring) Idle keeper pointedly refused to stump him. The swine!
Below: Crisis? What Crisis?! Cincers' Brigadier Block at the crease!
Even worse, this wasn't just any old over.
This was an eight-ball over, in line with special playing conditions apparently designed to save time because of the unseasonably wet June weather in Lombardy
Mercilessly, the bowler, Idle skipper Steve, sent down delivery after delivery right on target.
The over finished. A maiden.
At the other end, Sajj sighed and contemplated how he was going to get 32 off the eight balls left.
Below: Sajj attack - the Cincers' strokesman winds up for a big hit
Gamely, Idle slow bowler Marco was brought back on to bowl them.
His first ball was despatched by Sajjfor a towering six over long-on.
The second was whipped away for two.
Then four off the third!
Just as in our first tour game, Sajj was giving us hope when we didn't really deserve it.
Four balls left, 20 to win.
A surprise victory? Surely not!
Yes, surely not.
Sajj's next shot was an expansive inside-out lofted drive designed to put the damn ball where it belonged - right in the middle of that six-foot high maize field.
Unfortunately, it ended up in the hands of something else about six foot - an Italian fielder at deep backward cover who took a fine catch.
With that, it was game over. Done with. Finished.
20 needed off four. As if.
All that remained was for the Skip, who managed to cross when the ball was in the air, to get himself tamely stumped now that Sajj was out.
The dismissal was greeted by watching Cincers with a resigned silence.
The wind had given up. Even the leaves on the trees were at half-mast.
Dejected, the Skip trudged off.
We played out the last three balls for another run and then shook hands at 81, 18 runs short of our oppo's total.
The day had begun under dark clouds and with fears of impending storms.
So we started early (about 10.45am) and reduced the day's proceedings to 15 eight-ball overs a side (to speed up things by reducing the number of end changes after overs).
Having been invited to bat on day one, we decided to give Idle first use on day two.
They started breezily enough with Sri Lankan player Keerthi giving it a right old biff.
Now, the second day of a tour is traditionally when our fielding lets us down.
You know, up late the night before, drink taken, not much sleep, etc, etc, catches go down.
For some reason, we did all that on day one.
But any hopes we'd got it out of system were rapidly dashed a we started day two in the field pretty much like day one.
It took a couple of heroics from Simon M to wake us up.
Looking decidedly green in the gills at start of play, Simon launched himself to take two catches.
One effort off a Tim R seamer was particularly spectacular as the ball had seemingly already passed Simon by at mid-off before he plucked it out of the air.
Tim turned in an impressive 2 for just 13 off three (maximum three overs a bowler).
Earlier, Richard H, opening up 20/20 spinner-style at one end, bowled a fine spell of two for 20 off three while Chris P also bowled tightly.
Westie, struggling with a virus, stepped up to the plate with a wicket courtesy of a sharp stumping by James W who kept superbly in his first major outing with the gloves.
Sajj chipped in with a wicket, nipping out the dangerous South African Shaun when he was about to cut loose.
But the Italians still posted a challenging 99 off their 15.
Westie was promoted up the order to open with Tim but the big man had a rush of blood and charged slow bowler Marco the first ball he faced...and was caught behind.
Keeper Silvio stumped him as well. Just to be sure.
Tim looked solid before eventually departing for 14.
Following on from his fielding acrobatics, Simon M then briefly lit up the late morning with some fine hitting which promised a fine knock.
Below: Take that! Simon hits a straight drive for four
But he went to a fine catch at gully when he was on 20.
Sajj's brave 31 apart, that was pretty much that.
But this was a great tour, marked by wonderful hospitality and welcome on the part of our hosts Idle CC and a great setting in which to play.
So, grazie mille to Idle skipper Steve, Carlo for much of the hospitality/organising and Joe for contacting us in the first place to arrange the fixture.
And thanks to all the Cincers who came on tour: Tim R, Dee, Sajj, Westie, Simon M, Frank, Stephen H, Richard H, Chris P and James W.
This game played on Sunday, June 29, in Lodi, Italy.
Cincers Man of the Match: Simon M.
Cincers Man of the Tour: Sajj.

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