Crossbats v Clapham Nomads

Venue - Hampton wick

With the sun shining and the promise of a 1pm start beckoning, all 11 crossbats fronted at Hampton Wick for the match against the Clapham Nomads.Unfortunately, some of the Nomads were still adjusting to the unfathomable changes of daylight savings and turned up well over an hour late!

Without any further ado, the toss was won and Crossbats elected to bat first.Spiro was first to go, bowled by that straight one again - although, in fairness, it did stay a little low....

Tillson was next out in the very same fashion and Captain Dunbar fell shortly after to leave Crossbats wanting at 27/3.

Smith came to the crease with a focused look in his eye and set about the recovery mission. Wright deserted him after scratching around to compile a miserly 4.

Van Vuuren joined Smith at the crease and the pair began to steady the ship with some well directed dabbles through the slip cordon area and some lusty blows to the boundary.

Unfortunatley the resurection didn't last, with Smith(18) falling and shortly afterwards Van Vuuren(14), leaving the Crossbats tettering at 71/6.

A new addition spawned from the brother of our resident Australian war veteran joined the crossbats campand played with gay abandon, adding an entertaining 14.

Lawrence, Reeve, Jones and Older Gumbley all did their bit in pushing Crossbats through to a defendable totalof 112.

On the casual walk back to the pavilion for tea, the opposition vice captain, whom was of an undisclosed origin, began to amusingly poke fun at one of the larger members of his team, suggesting that if he was not so fat and slow he would be a much better bowler......thank goodness he wasn't in a position to comment on any crossbats physiques! Needless to say the rolly polly gentleman became disgruntled....

Tea was devoured and it was back to the pitch. Dunbar decided to stand in as wicket keeper due to injury of fellowplayers and the wealth of bowlers available to him.

Gumbley and Lawrence took the new ball and it wasn't long before Gumbley had the first wicket, a surprise catch to Dunbar behind the stumps. Lawrence pulled up lame after only four overs and was replaced by Van Vuuren.After one over he found his rhythm, firstly removing the increasingly confident Abdul for 21 and then, very next ball claiming the wicket of Hassan. Both wickets came by virtue of Tillsons clean pair of hands.

Wickets were beginning to tumble and Van Vuuren wanted more. He signalled the slower ball to Dunbar, who in turn crept up onto the stumps, just in time to claim a great caught behind as the batter edged into his gloves!

Another wicket shortly after left Van Vuuren with excellent figures of 4/11 off of his 7.Tillson chimed in with two of his own, first, a lovely bowled and second was another catch behind the stumps to the safe hands of Dunbar, leaving The Nomads in disseray at 62/7.

Crossbats sensed victory and as the rolly polly gentlemen came to the crease, there was just a feeling that something was going to happen...........and sure enough it did. Batting with his captain, RP was at the non strikers end. Their captain turned a ball just in front of squareand called yes to his partner..........fractionally before calling no! Unfortunately for RP, the sudden change in decision left some of his body heading to the strikers end and the other trying to coax it back to the safety of his crease.......

What resulted was RP losing his footing a crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust, hopelessly trying to propell himself back behind the white line........

A quick bit of thinking and the Crossbats had removed the bails and RP was adjudged Run Out.It was what followed that really sent us over the edge. Firstly, the throwing of the bat, followed by various amounts ofabuse to his fellow player, then some loud mutterings as he trudged from the pitch......

With one wicket remaining, Bob Jones got one to turn square, taking the bails of leg stump and leaving crossbats victors by 38 runs.

As we left the park and moved closer to the group of players it became evident the RP was yet to calm down, in fac the had seemingly become angrier and far more aggressive, threatening to knock the lights out of his captain and vowing that he would 'get him'. The captain, understandabley disturbed asked some of the Crossbats to escort him back to the changing room!

With RP safely locked in a car (with the window down just a little bit) we enjoyed a beer with the nomads and looked ahead to our next meeting.