Match Report
Sunday 9 August –v- Lenham at Ham Lane
The day began perfectly for Spud and Damon, with tea, samosas and sweet rice at the Sarwar's, before the forty minute drive to Lenham. Still with ample time, the Harvey's in the Red Lion was sampled and Damon received a batting masterclass from Jabs and Danglers. Amazingly the skip had arrived on time and on winning the toss, had no hesitation in batting.
Wajih and Jagdesh got us off to a brisk start, with runs coming at 6 an over, before Jagdesh, having survived an early chance, holed out to mid-on for 15. Wajih played confidently for 24, before he chopped a short ball onto his stumps, attempting to run it down to third man. Nita joined the list of players who had played themselves in and then got themselves out, when he played loosely around a leg stump delivery from Gracie and departed for 29. Johnny G never looked particularly comfortable and it was left to Chand and Jabs to form the only partnership to pass fifty. Chand having scored four consecutive fifties was content to play second fiddle to Jabs. The pair carried the score to 150, before both departed in quick succession, with Jabs falling four short of a half-century.
Don and Dave carried the score to 187 without further loss, with Lenham restricting the scoring in the final ten overs to only 37. On a good pitch with a short quick outfield we appeared to be 30-40 runs light.
After a good tea and some fine Master Brew, Moyse and Sarwar commenced hostilities. It was soon obvious that one opener was intent on blunting the opening salvo, while the other was happy to throw the willow at just about anything. Spud inexplicably dropped the aggressive Smith, but his misery was not compounded, as Jabs snaffled a firmly struck return catch. This was much to the upset of TC who was keeping a count of every run that Spud's drop had cost, desperately hoping to bury the ghost of Sutton.
Crusaders were firmly on top, as Lenham concentrated more on self preservation than attempting to score runs. Jabs and Danglers added a wicket apiece to leave Lenham struggling at 25-3 after 14 overs. Humphrey, who later described Moysey as one of the fastest bowler he had faced and then added that Chand was the fastest he had seen, tried to increase the tempo immediately the change bowlers came on, but only succeeded in lofting Spud to Upkar at mid-on. Upkar replaced Moysey, but struggled to find consistency. Two more wickets each for Spud and Chand reduced the home side to its final pairing, still facing a deficit of 100+ runs.
Wajih called off the dogs and in the absence of Mike, utilised himself as buffet bowler. Lenham's number ten Potter put bat to ball effectively and the last pair gave an air of respectability to the score, putting on an unbeaten 58. Lenham closed on 128-9, with Crusaders victorious by 59 runs.
We were then royally entertained back in the Red Lion, with the pub providing Sausages and Chips, to compliment some more fine ale.
