2nd XI vs Hook and Southborough
Saturday 13th June 2009
Raynes Park Sports Ground, Pitch 2

After last week's bowling masterclass, it was the turn of the Corinthians' batsmen to show their worth, as they put on a dazzling display to defeat H&S by 219 runs.

On a muggy and cloudy day the captain was grateful to lose the toss, as he had no idea what to do. He was duly inserted and headed off to pad up with opening partner Girish Patel. Little did we know just how long those pads were to remain on for...

The opening pair scripted a gargantuan partnership of 202 runs and it was only broken when the captain's overenthusiastic calling lead to both men being stuck at the same end and Girish being sacrificed with the slog overs in mind.

The opening overs showed no signs of what was to come, as the opening bowlers maintained a reasonable line and length, with Mike Edwards in particular finding movement from the pitch and using a smart change of length. However, as the new ball was seen off, the runs became easier to come by and the fielders began to wilt in the heat and frustration. A couple of sharp chances came and went, with Clifford offering a tough underedge to the keeper stood up to the stumps and nearly falling victim to an astonishing run out by Challis off of his own bowling.

Drinks were taken with 90 on the board and shortly afterwards it was Girish who reached his half century first (his third of the season). Shortly after this Brian registered his and duly celebrated with three consecutive boundaries at the start of the next over.

This was the cue for some expansive hitting and he raced towards three figures with no obvious signs of nerves. Eventually a wide legside long hop was dispatched towards the square leg boundary and a richly deserved first century was secured.

Both Girish and Brian departed in short succession afterwards, giving the platform for the rest of the upper order to open up and play some shots. Any boy did they play some shots...

Sanket, AJ and Nadeeka bludgeoned 120 off of the last 10 overs, with Nadeeka being stranded on 47*, just short of his first club fifty.

A great effort by the batting order, which is showing signs of finally coming together after some early season woes.

Lunch was taken in high spirits and a make shift bowling line up was put together, in order to make sure that everyone got a game. Wayne and Geoff opened the bowling and it paid dividends, with Geoff not only knocking leg stump out of the ground, but also knocking it in half...

Wayne was next on the act, with a ball misbehaving off the pitch and skying to Mike Tennant at point off of the bat handle. Geoff then struck again, removing the dangerman Vyas with a jaffa that swung in and then moved away off to take off stump.

The hard work was now done and the spin-twins Mikey and Hemant brought us home, allied with some variable outfielding...

Girish dropped a catch off of Mikey and later saw one fall just short of him from Hemant (but recovered superbly to pick up one handed and throw down the stumps). AJ pulled out a remarkable Superman impression to nearly take a screamer off of Mike. Wayne was stuck in the unfortunate situation of seeing one just fall short of him, then moments later see one go just over his head... Brian pulled out a wonderful left handed diving catch from Hemant, then shortly after reacted well to enact a straightforward run out.

The game was finally finished just before 7, in time to watch the 1st team win their match and also remain top of their league.

Man of the match

I'll have that. 115. 1 catch. 1 run out

Jonty moment

I'll have that too. Diving catch with my wrong hand.

Monty moment

Girish dropped a catch!!

Whyteleafe vs Corinthians 2nd XI
Saturday 6th June 2009
Whyteleafe Recreation Ground


The Corinthians' bowlers were ruthless in their dismantling of Whyteleafe's unbeaten record, as they leapfrogged "The 'Leafe" to go top of Division Four. A slightly less disciplined batting line up made short work of chasing down 106, with Sanket Mali leading the way home.

With gloomy weather and heavy midweek rain, it was a delight to turn up at Whyteleafe's picturesque ground to find a dry and hard wicket with overhead conditions set (relatively) fair. The skipper won a key toss and sent the hosts in to bat.

Early assistance was found by Andy Allan and Nadeeka Victor, with the pair nearly combining to send Fernandes back to the hutch, however Nadeeka was unable to pouch a tough diving chance at slip. Just as the metaphorical storm appeared to have been weathered Andy made the breakthrough, taking advantage of some midpitch confusion to run out the dangerman Waters with a sharp pick up and throw from the covers.

The change bowlers made maximum use of the breakthrough, as Geoff Balasoglou and Amit Khare went to work on the middle order. Both men bowled with pace and hostility and were backed up with an outstanding display in the field. They shared four wickets between them, with each pouching a caught and bowled.

Amidst the mid-innings carnage, Clements stuck around playing a brave long hand. He had reached 34 when the returning Nadeeka picked him up, caught sharply at short cover by the ever improving Balasoglou.

Nadeeka rampages through the lower order in his second spell, having gone wicketless with the new ball, he returned richly deserved figures of 5-36 by running through the lower order with a blend of accuracy and pace.

And so to an excellent tea (we've had a good run of them this season) and then back out to bat.

Gopal and Hemant opened the batting and looked comfortable against an attach that had fired Battersea Ironsides out for 28 this season. Gopal became a little too comfortable and skied a return catch to Dean. It proved to be a fruitless breakthrough for Whyteleafe, as Sanket strode to the crease with the air of a man who had an evening date to get to. He cut loose, quite literally, punishing anything wide or full and in the blink of an eye was back sat down with us having made 40 lightening fast runs. Hemant was out cheaply, nailing a pull but straight to square leg.

This left Azam and Cliffo to bring us home, however with the finishing line in sight, but men threw away their wickets, and Amit quickly followed suit. Azam was bowled trying to win it with a six, Cliffo caught midwicket trying to win it with a six and Amit was caught and bowled trying to... you get the picture.

Anyway, Geoff and Girish brought us home for a comfortable 4 wicket win. We gifted away a couple of bonus points, but if that was our main regret for the day, then it's a sign of a job well done.

Monty moment

Azam, ducking out of the way of another catch. Too cool to field.

Jonty moment

Andy's pick up and throw from cover. A match turning point.

Man of the match

Nads! 5-for. Outstanding.

Oppo watch

A strong side, a good bunch of guys and a lovely ground. Look forward to going back next season. Great teas too.