THE PRESIDENT'S XI |
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v. CLAPHAM NOMADS |
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The Presidents dismal run continues. But - from the beginning - a pleasant surprise to find the pitch pretty dry and perfectly playable after the heavy morning showers. We lose the toss and are required to field - a bad toss to lose in conceding the only decent batting conditions of the afternoon. But we start well with lively and economical spells from Praba and Carey on an untrustworthy pitch, offering movement and and some wildly unpredicatable bounce. The fielding looks better than usual, with some sharp work from Andrew Swan in his first match of the season. Praba's spell is curtailed by a toe injury - but Ravi keeps it tight in a delightful exhibition of variation and menace. Three wickets down and the runs not excessive. A fourth is denied by the first of the afternoon's quixotic umpiring decisions - Hunter, who goes on to make 77, deemed not out to a blinding catch by Andrew at slip off Ravi. Guy comes on to replace Carey - but the fielders are never quite in the right place for the many false strokes he induces. Ravi has a further success in dismissing the dangerous-looking Khan - a fine catch by Jey in the deep. But as the Presidents cycle their bowlers the runs start to slip away. Chanks bats on despite a ugly bruise to the forehead - ducking into an inexplicably kicking floater from Ravi. Hunter finally goes to Jey - a tremor-inducing catch from Gordon at deep long on. But the damage is done - the runs are on the board. Gordon is helped off - the frail knee gone again - and at down to nine men on the field for a time the Presidents can not stem the flow. Kavas takes a well-juggled catch off his own bowling - but the score reaches 200 and we are looking ragged. Despite fighting talk over tea (rather a good one - thank you Anne and Janet) - the sun of the afternoon has now disappeared behind dark cloud. Raymond, bowling fast and straight in the gathering gloom is too much for the President's top order. Robert and Praba resist for a time, but after ten overs the Presidents have subsided to 36-6. Andrew and Guy mount a rearguard and manage to put on twenty-eight for the eighth wicket. Andrew's dive to prevent a run-out causes yet more injuries on a tough afternoon for physical well-being. A heavy shower manages for a time to release fantasies of snatching a draw - or even a win - the Presidents are undoubtedly ahead on run-rate - but the shower does not last long enough to do any more than break the batsmen's concentration. Guy goes - soon followed by Andrew - and with Gordon unable to bat, the innings closes with nine wickets down. Another heavy defeat - but not entirely devoid of solace. We were better than last time. Laurence Worms | |||||||
CLAPHAM NOMADS | |||||||
TODOROW |
... |
4 | |||||
HUNTER, T. |
ct. GORDON SHERIDAN |
77 | |||||
HUNTER, D. |
... |
b. RAVI MUTHIAH |
8 | ||||
GARTH |
... |
0 | |||||
KHAN |
ct. JEY PARTHIBAN |
b. RAVI MUTHIAH |
21 | ||||
CHANKS |
... |
not out |
28 | ||||
SUNITH |
... |
ct. & b. KAVAS |
23 | ||||
CLAUDE |
... |
8 | |||||
SHAILESH |
... |
not out |
5 | ||||
EXTRAS |
... |
... |
35 | ||||
TOTAL 209 - 7 (35 OVERS) | |||||||
7 |
1 |
24 |
2 | ||||
7 |
1 |
30 |
1 | ||||
7 |
3 |
19 |
2 | ||||
4 |
0 |
32 |
0 | ||||
2 |
0 |
22 |
0 | ||||
4 |
0 |
35 |
0 | ||||
2 |
0 |
19 |
1 | ||||
2 |
0 |
12 |
1 | ||||
PRESIDENT'S XI | |||||||
... |
b. CLAUDE |
4 | |||||
... |
b. RAYMOND |
1 | |||||
... |
b. RAYMOND |
7 | |||||
ct. |
b. RAYMOND |
9 | |||||
... |
b. RAYMOND |
2 | |||||
... |
b. RAYMOND |
0 | |||||
ct. |
b. RAYMOND |
6 | |||||
ct. |
b. TODOROW |
12 | |||||
... |
b. HUNTER, D. |
11 | |||||
... |
not out |
0 | |||||
... |
retired hurt |
0 | |||||
EXTRAS |
... |
... |
18 | ||||
TOTAL 70 ALL OUT (19.3 OVERS) | |||||||
CLAUDE |
5 |
1 |
13 |
1 | |||
RAYMOND |
7 |
1 |
24 |
6 | |||
HUNTER, D. |
5 |
0 |
21 |
1 | |||
TODOROW |
2.3 |
0 |
7 |
1 | |||
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