2nd XI vs Battersea Ironsides 5th XI
TCSL Division 4
Saturday 23rd May 2009
Raynes Park, Pitch 1.


An all round team performance from the Corinthians was enough to convincingly beat Battersea Ironsides on a sunny day in south west London. On a muggy day, Battersea Ironsides won the toss and inserted their hosts.

The pace and movement extracted by the opening bowlers Farrukh and Hassan belied Ironsides' position in the table and the pressure quickly tolled on Pal, who miscued a rare loose delivery and was easily caught at mid wicket for nought. The skipper joined Girish at the crease, with clear intentions to curb his natural game and negotiate the new ball. The pair partially fulfilled their brief, before Clifford again fell victim to a miscued legside shot off of a loose ball, this time skying a leading edge off of a hip high full toss, the steepling catch excellently taken by Eaton running towards square leg.

Enter Azam Malik, who was true to his promise of playing positively. He found his stride immediately, mixing positive footwork with out and out brutality. He was particularly vicious through the off side, one cover drive sticks in the mind, as it nearly decapitated the opposition captain.

Girish was content to play second fiddle, however his nudges and nurdles won the race to fifty, although he fell immediately after, bowled by a googly from the young legspinner Spencer, who took some punishment, but impressively didn't lose faith in his flight or variation.

No respite for Ironsides, with Nadeeka coming to the crease at 120-3 and upping the tempo. Like Azam, he favours a mix of strength and technique, bludgeoning boundaries but with an air of grace and delicacy. Azam knew he had met his match and surrendered his wicket tamely, playing all around another googly.

With wickets in hand and overs to spare, it appeared Corinthians were set for a huge score, however there was a collapse of sorts, as the final 7 wickets fell for less than 70. Muller, Gopal and Angry Allan all scoring quickly, but the innings closed on 225 with 11 balls still to face. But the camp was condicent that this was enough, especially against a side whose opening day capitulation for 26 must still be in the back of their minds.

As it proved, the confidence was well places. Muller and Andy opened the bowling with pace and control, each clean bowling two upper order batsmen. At 14-4 the game was over as a contest and the chance was taken to utilise some change bowlers to get match sharpness in the build up to some big games over the coming weeks. Gopal Patel looked useful, eventually building up good pace, particularly in the face of a violent assualt from all-rounder Paul "Andre Nel" Todd.

Ironsides were eventually all out for 67, the final wicket thanks to a sharp piece of fielding from Sanket Mali and Gopal.

Man of the match

A close call. Let's say "G Patel". As Dad got 50 runs and son took 3 wickets. Notable mentions of course for Nadeeka (41), Azam (48), Muller (2-11) and Angry (2-11).

Jonty moment

Sanket's pick up and throw back to Gopal to finish off the game

Monty moment

Angry, sat on his haunches having a drink at fine leg, as the ball trickled towards the ropes. He was eventually persuaded to get off his backside and field the ball...

Thanks for coming award

Tush. Massive wipe at his first ball. Run out going for a fourth run off of his second ball. Appealing like a big girl from slip. Bowling his entire allocation of overs off of two paces because he was scared of hurting the small boy that was batting. Thanks Tush!

Liphook and Ripsley 1st XI vs Corinthians 2nd XI
Saturday 2nd May
Ripsley Park, East Sussex


Batting implosions and traffic jams made this a day to forget for the new look 2nd team. A delayed start in the admittedly impressive surrounding of the East Sussex (!) countryside saw Amit and Tush fall early, with the Corinthians quickly 10-2 and staring down the barrel. Pal and Azam dug in and saw us past 50, before another flurry of wickets saw both depart, along with Steve O for an early season golden duck…

Brief resistance from the skipper was ended by an excellent diving catch at short cover by his opposite number and the innings fell away afterwards. The only remaining highlight being a (literally) whirlwind cameo from Geoff. All done whilst wearing a flat cap.

93 all out. Game over?

Well, an early wicket from “the other” Andy A (caught expertly at slip by a briefly airborne Pal) gave us hope, however it was not to be and the home side coasted to a 9 wicket victory with plenty to spare.

The 2s went back up the A3 with their tails between their legs, although one bright spot was that there was enough time left to get to Putney to watch Theooooooo’s Warriors win their first game under his captaincy.

Man of the match

Pal, in the absence of any alternatives.

Jonty

Pal, nice catch at slip.

Monty

Geoff, failing to even drop a chance at fine leg.

Banstead vs Corinthians Sunday XI
Banstead Cricket Ground
Sunday 26th April
Timed game

On another unseasonably hot April day, the Sunday boys started their season in the pleasant surroundings of Banstead cricket ground. The last visit to this ground was in the driving rain, as the AJ T20 competition

ended up as a bit of a damp squib, no such dangers today though, as hats and suntan lotion were the order of the day.



We lost the toss and were, unsurprisingly put in to field. Returning hero Andy "Angry" Allan took the new ball and bowled with pace and hostility, with Ryan bowling from the other end. On a placid pitch, against some very high quality batting, the boys were always up against it, however chances of varying difficulty were shelled in the cordon, much to our resident Kiwi's disgust.

Change bowlers came and went and still we plugged away with no reward. Hangovers were setting in, sunstroke was setting in, even old age was threatening to strike down some of our team, thankfully just after the score made three figures, Majid made a breakthrough, picking up a wicket with a nicely flighted delivery.

Brian was next into the attack and struck with his first ball, albeit in embarrassing fashion. His "loosener" pitch somewhere near the edge of his end of the pitch, then sat up invitingly, but was ploughed straight up in the air and caught by Jadid at full stretch in the deep. Cliffo at least had the good grace not to celebrate.

Further wickets fell as Banstead looked to force the pace, Mike Tennant bowling excellently, as ever and pouncing an impressive caught and bowled, running backwards and catching on the turn at mid off.

Banstead closed on 231-5 off 40 overs. It had been a long afternoon.

Excellent teas followed, as the boys cooled off, but soon we were back out there and back under the cosh. Tush (14) opened up with some lusty blows, but soon departed with a wild swish outside off stump. Jadid (4) came and went, commendably walking for a leg side tickle and Maj (4) followed suit, deceived in front of all three by a well disguised slower ball. Ryan (2) was next, lofting to mid off.

So, 40-4 and a further 192 required or another two and a bit hours to bat. In came a sore and aching Brian, to join Imran who, as ever, looked in amazing touch. Clifford's first ball was nicked wide of the slips for four, but from then on, it was a grim, dull slog. The plan was to get to 20 overs, then look to counter attack and put the pressure back on. However, this never quite got going. With the best part of two hours left, it became painfully clear there wasn't enough in the tank to attempt a counter attack, so instead an attritional period of defence took place.

Imran was the more aggressive of the two, unable to curb his attacking instinct and opening up with some glorious shots, particularly off the slow bowlers. Brian was less nimble on his feet after a long day on Saturday, so struggled against the slower men. However, the pair of the eventually batted through to secure a credible, if at times mind-numbing, draw.

Imran was out in the final over for 79, looking to smash his way to a late century, robbing himself of a richly deserved not out.

MCCC Man of the match

Imran, by a country mile.

Corinthians 2nd XI vs Churchleigh
Great Park, Warlingham
25 April 2009


And so, another season begins. A surplus of players, a smattering of debutants, people getting lost on the way to the ground, and unseasonably warm weather.

Anyway, to the game. WCCC (aka The Toilets) won the toss and inserted the opposition. Captain Cliffo jokingly mentioned on the way back to the dressing room that he won the toss here two years ago and fielded, only to start with 9 players on the pitch...

And so "The Toilets" came to field with 8 men. Newbies Rob and Mike started in fine Corinthians style by being a couple of overs late for the start, while "Jay Dub" totally outdid them by turning sometime mid innings. Drives as slow as he bats that boy.

New opening partnership of Cliffo and Andy Allan took the new ball, as Rich was too hungover to bowl. Both bowlers settled into a tight line, which was handy considering the lack of fielders. One chance did come, with a bouncer hooked high into the sun for Geoff to catch, however having circled and done a mini-Haka, he failed to even drop it, as the ball landed 3 feet in front of him. No joy for the skipper.

Andy A eventually made the breakthrough, two in two overs indeed, both knocking middle stump out of the ground. Thankfully we were up to a full complement of players by this point, so everyone joined in the celebrations.

Bowling changes ensued, with Rich and Azam taking charge. Last time these two were on the same pitch was the intraclub game when a one-man riot nearly started after a tight no ball call against Bam Bam... Anyway, the only fireworks here were of the wicket-taking variety, as Rich bowled beautifully to rip through the middle order, picking up three cheap wickets with an impeccable stump to stump line.

To call Azam's bowling a mixed bag, would be a disservice to pix-and-mix tradesmen the world over. All of his first over pitched in his half, most of them at Pinkney speed. The second over got a bit fuller, a bit quicker and a bit more consistent. Then, having begged to be taken off after his second over, he surprised the batsman with one that was actually hitting the wicket and picked up an lbw.

More changes came with Rob being given his first bowl and impressive with a Rich-style display of consistency. Geoff bowled with pace and, er, more pace from the other end. He gave Steve V a good workout behind the sticks, before finally whacking middle stump with a pearler of a yorker.

After that we rather took the foot off the gas, Mike bowled an over of Azam-proportions. The unlucky soul couldn't get the ball to go straight, but still nearly picked up a (undeserved) wicket with the final ball of his very long over, as the batsman slashed wide of slip for four.

Pal bowled a very tidy spell, with plenty of variety. He took two wickets, the first an outstanding caught and bowled from a straight drive that would have killed the umpire had he not plucked the ball out of the air, the second a steepling catch for Andy, from a loose full toss. They all count though.

Eventually the innings closed on 117, containing a remarkable 63 extras!

Excellent teas were soon had and the boys got ready to pad up. Pal and Ewan were to open, with Ewan having promised the skipper a new personal best. After a steady start, the promise was unfulfilled, as the opening bowled got a ball to jag back down the hill and take off stump. Jason and Pal continued to consolidate, scoring was slow, as we were confronted with a slow pitch, slow outfield and disciplined attack. This was clearly going to be attritional.

Jason opened up with a couple of beautiful square strokes, however he didn't get proper value for them, due to the length of the outfield. Pal took the aerial route with greater effect, however this eventually proved to be his downfall, as he skied a difficult chance and departed for 11.

Azam didn't mess around, a couple of sweetly struck pull shots raced him to 10, but he fell victim to an excellent/dubious (delete depending on whether you're Azam or not) caught and bowled. The fireworks really started now, with Mike entered the fray and adopting his patented, "back to leg, then mow furiously" techinque. This was the most entertaining innings of the day, with top edges flying everywhere. The best shot by a street was cleanly struck into the trees over mid wicket. Sadly, this couldn't last and didn't last and he fell for a brave debut knock of 10.

Enter the skipper, with the score around 60-4 he was keen to prove a) that last year's batting form wasn't a fluke and b) that he hadn't cocked up by mucking around with the part-timers when the opposition were there for the taking.

As ever, he started scratchily, playing and missing and picking up singles where possible. Jason stuck around for a short while longer, then was bowled by a well flighted off break. Andy A then came and went to the same bowler and squeaky bum time was in full flow, so to speak.

Rich joined the skipper and the fightback began properly. Lumboo taking on the spin bowler, then looking to survive against the dangerous pace of Rezza. The swing really came in one over from the young spinner, where Rich picked up a four, the Lumboo hit a four and a six, to turn the momentum back in the A Team's favour. A minor wobble was still to come, with Rich holing out to mid on with a few runs needed.

Geoff came in with express orders to block out and give the skipper the strike. This was, of course, ignored as the first two balls were greeted with massive swings and misses. Third time lucky though, as he finally connected and took four through mid wicket. Final ball of the over was defended with a glorious front foot defensive that Girish would have been proud of. Lumboo back on strike for the final over and finished things in style with a flat footed smear through the covers for four.

Job done, with Brian finishing on 44* and Geoff an equally herioc 4*


Man of the match

Lumboo, one wicket, 44 undefeated runs.

Monty moment

Geoff's non-drop in the deep

Jonty moment

Pal's amazing caught and bowled

Oppo watch

A lovely bunch of guys with a splendid set of facilities and a beautiful setting to do so. Must confess I'm a bit envious whenever I go to Churchleigh.


The cast

Pal "Guvnor" Chakravorty
Ewan "Jonty" Cotter
Jason "Jay Dub" Ware
Azam "Bam Bam" Malik
Mike "Wide" Lowers
Brian "Lumboo/Cliffo" Clifford
Andy "Happy" Allan
Rich "Hangover" Wainer
Geoff "G-Bag" Balasoglou
Rob "Metronome" Hunter
Steve "Face" Vickery