Match Report
Sunday 26 April –v- Norwood at Norwood Lakes
Crusaders recorded their second victory of the season, with a hard fought 45 run victory against feisty Norwood. Skipper Wajih decided to sit the game out and in the absence of Mr Taylor, Spud captained the side. Gordon made his first appearance of the season, employing Chand as his navigator, with the obvious result that we started with nine men. Norwood called successfully and opted to field. The pitch was grassy and the outfield a little long, but the boundary was generous.
Nita and Jagdesh opened the batting in typically bullish style, putting on 41 before both fell in successive overs. The innings then stagnated, with Moysey struggling with his hollow bat, The G Man pumping his little legs manfully and Damon persevering without really looking in failed to add any impetus to the innings. Jabs eventually upped the scoring rate, anchored by Damon, with the pair adding an important 40 to take the total past three figures. Unfortunately Norwood's idea of being competitive involved sustained and vociferous appealing for any delivery that hit the pads or passed close to the outside edge. At best it was extremely over zealous; at worst it was intimidatory and bordering on gamesmanship. Norwood kindly provided an Umpire throughout the match, who was excellent, whilst Don might claim he was 'constructively dismissed' when he was finally given out caught behind by Nita, under pressure from several fielders, screeching, posturing and wildly gesticulating.
We were in real danger of failing to post a competitive score, until a late flurry from the tail added a further 72 runs in the final 12 overs. Chand, after a cautious start put his foot on the gas, finding the boundary ten times in making a splendid unbeaten 60. He was supported by Gordy, Alex and Spud, enabling us to post 186 from our 40 overs.
Norwood responded with all guns blazing, seemingly determined not to fall behind the required rate. This always presented the opportunity for some early wickets, with Danglers polite request for an LBW decision upheld by the umpire and the other opener taking ridiculous liberties on Gordon's arm, to be run out. Norwood continued to bat with abandon, preferring to play big shots, rather than accumulate runs in a steady approach.
Hamid was the exception, looking accomplished, as he compiled an unbeaten 61 to form the backbone of Norwood's innings. The introduction of Jabs into the attack initiated a Norwood collapse, as he completed his eight overs, returning club best figures of 5-39 to go some way towards dispelling the myth that he is just a 'net' bowler. Despite a couple of dropped catches our general fielding was much better than last week, (it couldn’t have been much worse) with the Norwood chase finally curtailed by two contrasting run outs. Jagdesh produced a fine pick up and throw from long leg to remove the last decent bat, before Eeyore relied on several decades of experience, allowing just enough time to keep the batsman interested, before lobbing the ball to Damon to complete the dismissal.
Norwood did a bit of a disappearing act, so we took refreshment in The Jolly Woodman in Beckenham for some fine Harveys, where it was good to see Man of Match Jabir and Nita partaking of the Holy Waters of Lewes.
