Match Report
Following a five week run of 200+ scores, Crusaders found run scoring tough on a sticky green topper at Sidcup and relied on a good all round bowling performance to extend the winning streak to three. Gajinder, IPL and Loepreet gave way to the return of Chand, Upkar and G Man, with Spud again deputising for the absent Wajih. Again the toss was won, but this time the decision to bat was a more hesitant one. Overnight rain, leaden skies and a lush outfield presented far from perfect batting conditions, but Spud was confident that his in form batsmen would continue to shine, once the new ball had been negotiated.
Grimsley and Mills were miserly with the cherry and a well set field made the accumulation of runs difficult. Mills soon accounted for Himanshu – chasing a wide ball – and Goldie – mis-timed pull to mid-wicket. Chand followed soon after, probably the victim of an LBW reprisal and at 32-1 we were facing an uphill climb. When Shakil holed out to Mid-Off and Johnny G slapped straight to Cover, the wise money was on an early finish. Lucky and John Rana had other ideas, adding 44 valuable runs for the sixth wicket, before Lucky was bowled by the loopy spin of Jerrom. The last ten overs yielded another 56 runs, with good contributions from Riyad (29) and Upkar (17) to enable a target of 144 to be posted; in truth it was probably worth another thirty runs.
Pommie’s family decided that staying to watch Papa would be a wasted afternoon (Guneet is obviously wise beyond his years) and departed just before his opening delivery cut back through the guard of Shuttle; the perfect start. When Cruze cut straight to Riyad at Point and Edwards was trapped in front, the Blue Star innings was in disarray. Peters led the recovery with a hard hit 64, although he did survive a very confident appeal for a caught behind, that would have curtailed the run chase much earlier. Himanshu increased his status behind the stumps, executing a smart stumping to get rid of the Blue Star skipper; some reward to Upkar for the decision he didn’t get. Shakil supplied the finishing touches with a three wicket burst, including a nonchalant caught and bowled to end Peters stay at the crease and the Blue Star innings meandered to a close, with the Father/Son combination of the Bird family happy to have a net for the last two overs.
