Blog - South Bank Cricket Club

NEW SOUTH BANK CC TEAM KIT

4/2/2019

Dear SBCC members,

The new season is fast approaching and as many of you may know, behind the scenes we have been organizing some new club kit. You will be pleased to know that the online kit store is now live! See link below - order away!

https://teamwear.nxt-sports.com/shop/south-bank-cc

A few things to note:

Delivery is typically 3-4 days so those ordering this week should have their kit for the first game of the season
There is an initialing service (up to 4 initials!) on all items for a small additional cost. Not only does this look smart but it will stop you getting your kit mixed up with your neighbors
Beware, there are 2 hat styles on the site - the more traditional 'Beechfield' cap (which most of us would be more accustomed to on the cricket field) and a more modern 'Flexifit' style (a la Big Bash), for those of you looking to keep up your street cred!
£1 on every purchase will go to the club
It would be great if all regular players could get a shirt and cap but, of course, none of this is compulsory

Any questions - feel free to get in touch with Will.

SBCC Team Cap

SBCC Team Shirt

SBBC Team Sweter

South Bank CC Team Trousers

Celebrating 125 years of cricket

3/7/2017

125 years of cricket at south bank

This year is the clubs 125th year anniversary so we will have a few things going on to celebrate it.

If there is enough people interested we have an opening fixture on Sunday 23rd between the Saturday and Sunday sides rather than having a game on the Saturday. It will be held at the ground.
Please can anyone interested in playing let myself know ASAP.

Mahesh has organised an Indian touring side to come over on the weekend of 5th & 6th Aug.
The weekend will include a BBQ at the club on Saturday 5th Aug.

East Dean Tour Game is now a home fixture on 28th May,

Old Boys game with 125th Anniversary celebration BBQ is on 9th July,

There will be a number of Surrey CC 20/20 tickets available to club members. Details to be circulated later.
Nets will continue on a Wednesday evenings

South Bank Cricket Club vs London Oddfellows

6/20/2016

19 July 2016
SBCC Versus LONDON ODDFELLOWS C.C.
HOME Dulwich Sports Ground, Turney Road
Start Time 1.30pm 40 overs cricket match

South Bank CC Win by 170 runs

With Noticeable batting performances from Pedro 80 , Ben Hayes 45 and Zach Mendelsohn 41.

And Bowling Matt Ireland 8 overs 3 maidens 14 runs 1 wicket
with both Nigel Evans and Murthi collecting 3 Wickets apiece.

And a solid debut by Hamish.

South Bank Cricket Club vs Southgate Compton CC

6/20/2016

South Bank versus Southgate Compton CC
Where: Cockfosters
18th June 2016
40 over game
Weather - overcast and pitch sodden
SCCC won the toss and chose to bowl

Not the best of starts to the pre match. Mil Steyn only got the email saying he was playing that morning that morning and so could only text me that he couldn’t when I was already at the ground (grrr). Matt and Tim were running late (ggrrr) and Australia had just lost the rugby (oh FFS). Southgate won the toss and chose to bowl so at least that took care of problem 2. Dan (C) and Jon opened for us and the Southgate attack was less zingy than Village. Pitch was less zingy and more pudding like too and in accordance with the instructions the openers dug in and served up a solid helping of stodge too. Dan was solid and occasionally fluent- when lancing through the covers especially and Jon was watchful (but oh where is the flowing pull shot of yesteryear?). Left armer Willis got one to shoot low through JD’s defence (b 8) and Simon (J) took his instructions to build a platform very literally - playing the sort of defensive innings that would serve well in a timed game rear guard but less so in a 40 over affair. So not so much building a platform as a mausoleum - SBCC 52-1 at drinks.

After the break Simon cut loose and missed (b off stump Brandon 5). I sent in Will A and he picked up the tempo - finding the rope with lovely crunches through the covers. Dan had slowed from his bright start and was looking to accelerate when he got an lbw that he’d never have given himself (a front foot struck by a ball that even after deflection still missed leg stump lbw Brandon 32). Shortly after Will went down the ground but got under it and Brandon held the skier at mid on (better than a run a ball 21). Simon (M) set off briskly but then played across a straight one (b Khan 5) and 83-5 looked pretty ordinary with just 13 to go. Supersub for the day Dan (V) a Southgate Compton man who came to help us and the skipper then set about trying to build something we could bowl at. We profited from some “it’s only a friendly game” fielding (letting well struck shots go through the man for 4), but also started to find the gaps and with the lush outfield ran some threes that were probably Ok for a man in training for a half marathon but damn near killed me. Dan was strong on the sweep (he later admitted his main/only scoring shot) and I hit the only six of the innings - an on drive that carried the very long long on boundary to appreciative comments from the fielders. Our partnership ended when Dan top edged a sweep to his skipper Ben at mid wicket (b Wallis 29 and hopefully having made a case for selection in his team next week- the partnership worth 60). Big Tim joined and said simply - “I’m gonna tee off” and was, I think, eying a passing BMW over the hedge he was trying to nail when he thrashed at and missed a full one (B Wallis 1). I fell next hitting straight to point and relying on the direct hit missing (it didn’t - 31). The innings was nearly done but there was time just enough for all to get a bat. James Smith was run out in the last over (0) and Matt got to face one ball. He attempted to tw*t it over cover but gave birthday boy Wallis his 3rd and himself an average for the season (5). SBCC all out 154, Michael Mcintyre not out 4.

SCCC bowling
Willis, 8 overs, 2 maidens, 16-1
Arif, 5 overs 16-0
Abbas, 8 overs, 2 maidens, 20-1
Brandon, 4 overs, 20-2
Khan, 6 overs, 1 maiden, 28-1
Wallis, 7 overs, 1 maiden, 26-3
Brazier, 2 overs, 23-0

We returned after a cracking tea (3 desserts- scones, with cream, jam and strawberries, banoffee cake and chocolate cake) with Matt and Tim to try to lead us to our first win of the season against grown ups. It looked pretty good too. Matt was his usual controlled self - luring the skipper to play an ugly mow to leg from a decent off side ball and not quite carrying Dan (V) at mid on (build that case for selection Dan, Shearly b Porter 5). Tim was his usual bundle of Geordie aggression and joined in with a short ball that was top edged off the pull to carry to Matt P at fine leg (good catch making up ground to take it knee height - Walker 7). So 13-2 and Will A turned to me from slip and said maybe this week we’d have a celebratory pint than a consoling one. Southgate showed why they had won their last seven games as Brandon at 3 and Brazier at 4 rallied well. Brandon was strong off his pads and Brazier fond of thrashing through long on or over cover. Will replaced Tim from the cenotaph end and Michael M from the pavilion but despite beating the bat well (Will especially- he kept it outside off and Dave Brandon looked far less assured trying to cut or off drive) the partnership grew and passed 50. At which point it stopped - Dave inside edging a cut onto his stumps (21). They had restored Southgate’s advantage though and at drinks they were 83-3.

After drinks I resolved to run through my shock bowlers from the pavilion while trying to contain from the cenotaph end*. Matt P got another breakthrough when Brazier picked out Tim on the boundary at mid wicket (“Why am I here Mike?” he’d asked moments before he took a brilliant catch over his shoulder running to his left - Brazier 36). Masood and the birthday boy Wallis (turning 18) then rallied again feasting on some nervy stuff from James S, and from Dan’s floaty right arm around (crunched wonderfully through the covers by Wallis). Tim replaced Matt and blasted out Wallis when it ricocheted off his thigh guard into the stumps (b 16) but could get no more. Will replaced Tim but he couldn’t run through the opposition either and was hooked very sweetly by Masood when he strayed short (and through which we lost the match ball for the final time in the hedge and blackberry border). Only about ten runs or so to defend and Michael Mc replaced Dan and got his first when a rank half tracker was planted to Will at deep square leg (he neither moved nor dropped it- Grayson 9). Dan V opined that new man Khan would go long over mid off and I hoped for the miscue and kept Tim up - but he carried big Tim by yards (and would have been safely taken had I followed the intel). So last rites time again and Masood sliced a dreadful heave to leg and it landed safely short of a despairing Matt P at gully, Southgate home by 4 wickets with the cheery Masood not out on 28 and Khan not out 7.+

SBCC bowling
Matt Porter, 8 overs, 33-2
Tim Williams, 8 overs, 2 wicket maidens, 18-2
Will Arnold, 7 overs, 1 maiden, 23-1
Michael McIntyre, 5.4 overs, 32-1
James Smith, 2 overs, 21-0 (most of that in the second over alas)
Dan Cohen, 3 overs, 23-0

We had fought really hard all day and bounced back from our drubbing last week. What was so impressive was that we dropped nothing and held some great catches - it was just that the tickles we needed never came however many times we beat the bat. Southgate were a good outfit who showed why they had won so often- mixing brutal aggression with sensible batting against our best bowlers knowing there were easier pickings on offer. Lovely bunch of lads too and we enjoyed a few very cheap beers (£3 for a pint can you believe and £12 for a jug) before I headed off to take our token supporter (Mrs Dollin aka Crawf) for a meal at recommended curry house Anuraags (garlic chicken as nice as advised). Thanks again to supersub Dan Vanniasingham for playing for us (and buying a jug) and if you are ever at a loose end in South London let us know. We may also get a Sunday game against them next year (if Sir Jon can be persuaded to head that far North).

* Lest people think that I just stand there and ask bowlers to bowl - there is usually a plan.

+ Actually 3 wickets as their number 11 was in a strop for some reason and may well not have batted (he’d changed and declared himself hors de combat). He’d also exhibited some of the strangest behaviour on a field I’ve seen since those classic Mushie Punjabi strops (though to be fair he never sat down with legs crossed like the great man was known to do muttering “joke game man” to himself…)

South Bank CC versus Village CC 11th June

6/15/2016

South Bank Cricket Club vs Village CC

Fishpond Fields - Tooting
11th June 2016
40 over game
Weather - muggy, threatening rain and eventually delivering.
SBCC won the toss and chose to bowl

It was a verdant patch of green hidden in the most quotidien of London suburbia but intel from Mark was that the pitch usually wasn’t nice and so I chose to bowl and take advantage of the muggy conditions and whatever juice was in the pitch. Matt P started for us in partnership with Michael McIntyre (not *the* MM fortunately) and both bowled well. They got the batsmen to play and miss, edge past the stumps and edge along the ground. But ‘Bosh’ and Abrar also batted sensibly and when the bad ball came- the odd full toss - they were quick to pounce and smash it away. Matt may have deserved more but ended his initial spell wicket less and in striving for the breakthrough Michael dented his figures (he was 27 off 7 but ended more so). Peretz “Mil Steyn”* replaced Matt and bowled a useful spell but without nipping one out and George’s pace wasn’t enough to force a breakthrough either. At 20 overs “Village” were ominously placed at 97-0, Bosh already at 50.

After the break I called on Will and Dan (“Pirate”+) and nervous exchanges were had between the two otherwise well set batsmen as Will fired up the pace. This injection unsettled the otherwise serene Abrar who on drove powerfully but straight to the man with the safest hands in the team - George (taking a catch a game on average - Abrar b Arnold 46). This brought Tim de Wit to the crease and rather than let him eat up over after over of plays and misses Dan unsportingly (and foolishly) bowled him a straight one (b 0). Bosh was still living up to his nickname but finding things tough again with Will steaming in - he was lucky to survive when he played and missed (again) and it edged the off stump. Fran told a disbelieving Will that the bail had lifted and dropped back perfectly. He added not much more given lbw to a confident Arnold appeal (for a very well put together 68) and we were making inroads. Cressey and de Mellow looked very composed (and readers of Village CC’s website would know that whippet thin left handed de Mellow was in something of a purple patch). They flicked Will’s often leg side bowling well and were just looking like they were going to push the foot down when unexpected things happened. Cressey flicked one down leg side ct Fran moving sharply to his left (b Will 14). De Mellow perished in even unlikelier circumstances - he absolutely smashed Peretz first ball to leg for six and when M Steyn followed up with an absolute piece of filth down leg Toby smashed it straight at the only man within 60 yards - Matt Porter at backward square who held a juggling catch diving to his right (at the 7th attempt). Perhaps the best catch to the worst ball combination ever and De Mellow is no doubt still shaking his head (19). There followed a long rain break that was ended when it lightened enough to get back onto the park so it could get heavy again and ensure we were thoroughly drenched. Despite our “attack” being reduced to off spin (M Steyn pace) we did better in the conditions. Peretz picked up a genuine wicket (bowling Ollie 7) and Matt got a deserved wicket - Nas Siddique clone Naz heaving across the line (b 1). George got some stick in the last (let down by the captain in the deep at one point) and Village just crept past 200 - 204 for 7 with Troja not out 19 and EK not out 11.

SBCC bowling
Matt Porter, 8 overs, 1 maiden, 22-1
Michael Mcintyre, 8 overs 45-0
Peretz Milstein, 8 overs, 8 overs, 44-2
George Rennison, 5 overs, 44-0
Will Arnold, 8 overs, 28-3 (a bloody good spell)
Dan Cohen “Pirate”- 3 overs, 19-1

We returned to sunshine, a drying wicket and a dry outfield and a very good pace attack with run ups unhampered by the downpour we‘d played through (worse luck). Cressey was OK, but skipper “Thomo” Thompson bowled very well. I played on early (the ball trickling into the stumps just enough to dislodge the bail cf above -1) and fellow opener Jon D was eventually undone by a dipping yorker (Thomo 9). Mark and Will rallied for a time but first change was about as useful as the openers. Naz bowled off 3 paces but as pacily as Thomo and EK varied off breaks with the slingy faster ball. Slingy faster ball that straightened from leg undid Mark (kept low too b 17) and an under edged pull saw off Will (b Naz 8 “great length“ apparently). Fran was digging in but then straight drove off Naz to Naz (ct and b 4). Debutant Simon James showed application to Woodhouse (“Louse“) a Yorkshire leg spinner but then darted down the wicket to be stumped and bring him to 99 victims for the Village. Dan inside edged a quick one from Naz (b 7) and at 56-7 things were looking rocky. Last man who might Michael Mc hit his first six off charming Aussie Troja and showed good intent against the man most likely to get to a hundred (I thought as I contemplated our three specialist number 11s present today and only Ranj missing to make it the full house). To be fair to the Louse his 100th wicket was not one of this fabulous trio but Michael Mc- edging to the keeper in what seemed like super slow mo (16). George gave him his 101st - dancing down the wicket in uncharacteristic and unwise mode - b 2. Last rites time and Peretz faced up to Naz having been left with this duty when Troja failed to bowl a straight one to Matt P. Naz did not repeat this and P failed to quite get the bat down in time (about 3 seconds too slow- b 0). Southbank all out for (ahem) 73 and Matt left high and dry (again) on 1. One day - like McGrath - his day will no doubt come.

Village CC bowling
Cressey, 5 overs, 1 maiden, 15-0
Thompson, 6 overs, 3 maidens, 9-2
EK, 4 overs, 12-1
Naz, 5.4 overs, 2 maidens, 12-4
Woodhouse, 5 overs, 14-3
Troja, 3 overs, 2 maidens, 4-0

If last week was the hardest defeat to take this week was the heaviest, and though we probably didn’t get the breaks we’d have needed more than breaks to beat that team. The figures for Matt and Will showed the way and we may yet give them pause when they are back at ours in July but we’ll also need to bat far better to give them a game.

Still they were happy and I took a picture for them as they celebrated their longest winning streak and holding the centurion in the air length wise. But the spirit of the day is perhaps best captured by a quote from that great Australian batsman Warwick Todd:

“People may complain about how hard we play on the field, but you should know that after a long day of conflict on it me and Nasser both left the field and had a beer. Not together obviously.”

South Bank CC versus Spencer CC Turney Rd 21st April 2016

6/1/2016

South Bank CC versus Spencer CC
Dulwich Sports Ground, Turney Rd
21st April 2016
40 over game
Weather - brass monkey weather
Spencer won the toss and chose to bat.

“On days like these, I wonder why we start in April…

Spencer won the toss and chose to bat with little hesitation - an ominous sign. Ben opened from the Pavilion end and Matt Porter from the MP memorial. Spencer’s opening duo were aggressive and keen to get on and our first wicket came from a mistimed on drive- Nariq hitting Ben with an on drive that carried as far as George who took his first catch for South Bank CC in his first game (12). Ben got the other opener Ponsonby when he flashed hard and edged to Trav who held a catch (mark really) to his shoulder at gully (15). Sid replaced Matt and bowled very well - air and turn and it was a dipping full toss that did for Willmer (b playing over the top - 13). He quickly followed up with another full ball that hit Fawden in front and on the front foot - no mercy lbw 0. 60 odd for 4 and in trouble and should have been more so when number 3 James edged off Dan to me low and I thought yes we are in. Except Dan’s right arm round had obscured the umpire’s view (he said). And James was playing in front of Daddy and he “wasn’t sure” he’d edged it. What he was sure about was having to go and sit down when he fancied getting a ton. And that was that. Spencer have a bit of a record on this and what we needed was Sean Keaton’s white hot fire of indignation and what we got was my “come on let’s get on with it”.

On with it we went and James gave another chance - a skier that Trav got under running back from gully and then spilled it having made the hard yards. Trav winkled out Burd with an edge to Jim at slip (12) and Shak went for a dance down to Sid and was stumped/run out by me for 7. But James, having rode and in effect made his own luck, batted very sensibly and particularly powerfully through the covers and batted in a way that would have been deserving of more praise had circumstances been different (I.e. had he not been a cheat). Pickles added oomph at the end of the innings in partnership with James and Spencer tucked into the bowling of George, Jim and the returning openers and pushed to 221. A frustrating score as for most of the innings 150 seemed a more likely tally. James got a begrudging slow clap from some of us - led by me.

South Bank CC bowling
Ben Hayes, 8 overs, 1 maiden, 40-2
Matt Porter, 8 overs, 1 maiden, 34-0
Stephen Barker, 8 overs, 40-1
Ojha, 8 overs, 1 maiden, 38-3
Dan Cohen, 2 overs, 19-0
George Rennison, 4 overs, 32-0
Jim Gant, 2 overs, 15-0

Over tea there was much discussion about the score and grumbling about the way it was acquired and that this notwithstanding there was a general feeling that we had a good batting line up and could make a good fist of it. Spencer had other ideas though and bowled a tight controlling line that kept us thoroughly pinned down and behind the rate. JT’s long vigil ended with a Hussein fast full one (b 8) and Jim prospered for a time with debutant opener Mark (showing his class with powerful drives through the covers). There was a mix up though and Jim found himself on a tight run that left him short (8) though suggesting it would’ve needed a video review to be sure, and Pedro followed almost immediately - awkwardly spearing a full toss to carry easily to cover from a leading edge (b Hussein 0). I joined Mark at first change and well set he looked to get after the slower bowler but it nipped through the gate to his flashing off drive (b Aqib 27). I was never comfortable and played one to leg that was too straight (no mercy - lbw Aqib 2) and things started to accelerate downhill pretty sharpish with our most prolific blades back in the pavilion. Dan dug in briefly for a long duck (ct I can’t now recall how b Aqib) and George batted only for a short duck (b Aqib). Ben played a couple of nice shots but couldn’t stop the rot, let alone pick up the rate to the fanciful 12-13 an over we by then needed. He was ct off Farukhi (12) and Trav was likewise dismissed (a slightly miscued off drive - b Farukhi again 7). It just remained for Sid to have a wild dart at Farukhi to be stumped for 1 to leave Matt with all the promise and none of the glory not out 1. Southbank had capitulated to 75 all out in just over 30 overs.

Spencer CC bowling
Glover, 5 overs, 1 maiden, 11-0
Pickles, 8 overs, 18-0
Hussein, 4 overs, 1 maiden, 14-2
Farukhi, 7.2 overs, 3 maidens, 19-3
Aqib, 6 overs, 1 maiden, 8-4 (these seem scarcely credible he didn’t seem that good but we certainly made him look so).

A thorough spanking and but for Brims and Fran that was one of the strongest batting line ups we can put out. All turned on the centurion but that is just sour grapes really. They batted better, bowled better and fielded better and deserved to win (though perhaps not by such a whopping margin). Great start to the season - cold and thrashed- at least it didn’t rain.

South Bank CC versus London Itinerants Barnes Common 28th May 2016

6/1/2016

Barnes Common Cricket Pitch

Barnes Common

South Bank versus London Itinerants
Barnes Common,
28th May 2016,
35 over game,
Weather - sunny,
Itinerants won the toss and chose to bowl.

Back to 11 men this week though as light on batting this week as we were light on bowling last. Our problems though were as nought to those of the Dodfather’s - down to 9 that morning and as it happened the 9th never showed either. So he borrowed Santha’s oldest boy Abhilesh and a fielder from us on rotation and started with ‘Chaos’ and ‘TFL’ two words that often go together. Both used the pitch well - not that the pitch played well. The bounce was erratic and yet consistently awful - the pitch soft and yielding more than the usual number of pea rollers and shooters. It took me 3 overs to get off the mark and while Dan looked more fluent he was also the first to fall - bowled by a low slinging ball (off “Chaos” Wilson 7). Jon Dyson at 3 made the right noises about covering up but got across too far when he tried to keep out Davis and was adjudged plum (b “TfL” - 1). Santha Kumar was playing his first innings in England and didn’t have the time to get accustomed to the difference between Chennai and SW London. He played over a low full toss and edged onto his stumps (Chaos- 0). Things didn’t get much better when George came out- he saw off Chaos but then played expansively off Geordie Al and it nipped back through the gate (more a barn door for width- b 1). So things were looking pretty hairy when Mahesh joined me - 56-4 off 16. Mahesh was not fazed though and picked up his first ball (a chest high beamer from Geordie Al) and planted it over the very long square leg boundary for six. We tried to reconstruct the innings and hitting the ball well (and calling atrociously) and it was a surprise when Staples (on when Chaos finished his spell) got a thick edge from Mahesh’s off drive and it sailed high to backward point (well held - Mahesh 13). Dave Dawkins played a trademark back foot off drive, where the pitch needed front foot play and was bowled second ball (Staples again- 0). 79-6 off 21 and Southbank in a mess of trouble with just Michael Mcintyre between the Itinerants and our 3 number 11s in Matt, Ranj and Peretz.

Fortunately Michael showed a solid defence getting right across and getting the bat down to avoid the lbw. He supported me as I started to reap the reward of patiently building to 50 and now being able to get stuck into Itinerant’s 4 and 5th bowlers. Walker “Flakey” bowled medium pace but too many full tosses and they went back the way they had come though covers and the slow bowling trio of Abi, “Dodfather” and “Barbarossa” were regularly dispatched to and over the boundary (the skipper Dodman most often - conceding 22 off one over). Michael was scoring more freely too- especially working the ball fine and square but when they brought back Geordie Al he got one through the gate (b 20). Not quite a hundred partnership but a magnificent pairing and just after this I biffed one down the ground to give my first chance (on 97) thankfully Abi dropped it and a flick to leg later and I’d made another hundred against my favourite attack (3 not out tons in a row against these guys). Matt and I scampered and stole our way to a few more off the last 3 but couldn’t quite surge to 200 (Simon the Pirate aka Barbarossa bowled a tight last over conceding only 1 boundary) and SBCC closed on 188-7 me on 113* and Matt on 1*.So about a par score and something to bowl at.

Itinerants bowling
“chaos” Davis 7 overs, 3 maidens 9-2
“TFL” Wilson, 6 overs, 1 maiden, 31-1
“Geordie Al” Hutchinson, 7 overs, 1 maiden, 30-2
Abi Kumar 1 over, 0-8
Staples, 5 overs 23-2
“flakey” Walker, 5 overs, 32-0
“Dodfather” Dodman, 2 overs, 31-0
Barbarossa (with his own theme tune- “Simon the pirate, de do do” to the tune of 7 nation army. My god the man has two nicknames) 2 overs, 0-14

A tea seemingly sponsored by Tesco later (judged by the amount of products on offer from same) we walked out to defend our total against a strong Itinerant batting line up. Flakey and the Dodfather found he going tough from Porter (Barnes end) and Ranjan (from the railway end) as both made good use of the latest version of the match ball - a rough and much battered 3rd edition of same (the others swallowed by the boundaries the way out of bounds scrub claims golf balls). Ranj got Dodfather- a straight one missed and rightly lbw (3). CJ came in at 3 and looked scratchy (as he does) but then settled and seemed ominously hard to shift. Peretz came on and was rewarded for good bowling by getting a wicket with a bad one - Flakey pulling straight to George at square leg (the big man taking a great catch moving to his right - 14). Michael replaced Matt and was a very useful addition to the attack- getting a play and miss or two and nearly nabbing CJ who cut hard and Peretz and Gully got a hand on it diving to his left but could only parry it down. More successful was when he got Geordie Al to top edge over the keeper- and I nabbed it cycling back behind Mahesh (Al -4). When Peretz bowled Davis (“Chaos“) who chopped on playing back to a full ball (4), Itinerants were 77-4 at 18 and we were well in the game.

But CJ was still there and ably abetted by Staples they set about pushing on with the chase. Peretz and Michael contained them to the rate but at second change things started to slip. Santha bowled ok off breaks but was not supported in the field- a punch to cover beat the fielder and went for four (ought to have been 1) and the next ball was smashed past point for another 4. Dave “Golden boots” Dawkins bowled two good overs and his third started to slip. A couple of full tosses went sailing away to square leg. But he finished strong and I gave him a fourth which was alas a disaster. Despite picking up Staples at cover he went for 25 and I had to return to Ranj and Matt to try to break things up as the Itinerants had rocketed to 166-6 with 6 to go. Abi played well and smacked a couple of fours through the covers and was unlucky when CJ called him on a suicide single to cover (even my arm beat him and Mahesh broke the stumps -10). Ranj and Matt built some pressure but Itinerants found regular release- Simon the Pirate (de do doo) planted Matt over his head for four and CJ just cleared the fingertips of the ill fated Dawkins at mid off. Dan needed to defend 6 off the second to last and conceded a boundary early in the over. Then CJ lamped the ball to cow where Santha had been placed for the eventuality but he’d drifted* 3 yards off the cone marking the boundary and in backpedaling slightly spilled it and past the rope it went for the winning runs and his century. A fitting reward for his effort- he was often troubled but never flustered and deserved his ton.

South Bank CC bowling
Matt Porter, 7 overs, 24-0
Ranjan Bhattacharyya, 7 overs, 1 maiden, 23-1
Simon Mcintrye, 6 overs, 23-1
Peretz Milstein, 7 overs, 35-2
David Dawkins, 4 overs, 45-1
Kumar (S), 2 overs, 23-0
Dan Cohen, 1 over, 9-0

Another disappointing loss but Itinerants have always been a strong batting line up and have pushed us close when we had posted larger totals. That said, we fielded well for the most part (Mahesh’s keeping especially) and if I had stopped Dave after his two good overs and bowled George (he bowled very well for Dodgers on Sunday) maybe we could have clung on for the win. Still all of it paled into irrelevance as we sank pints of mad goose at the Sun Inn in Barnes as the sun went down and reminisced and thought that there are worse things in life than losing a cricket game.

* Aficionados of village cricket memoirs will know this is called stone drifting and there is no known cure.

South Bank versus Battersea Badgers 7th May 2016

5/25/2016

South Bank CC vs Battersea Badgers
Dulwich Sports Ground, Turney Rd
7th May 2016
Weather superb (24 and with a freshening breeze later).
The badgers won the toss and chose to bowl.

Jim lost the toss and we were put in yes, but it seemed like it might not be a bad decision as our closest games have been with Badgers chasing under scoreboard pressure. Didn’t look so flash when I was dropped at gully on 0 and even less so when Mark was beaten by a full swinging delivery by Foord (b 0). So we should have been 0-2 but a series of flashing drives by Dollin off Dollimore brought 18 in an over and Jim started hitting cover drives and Southbank settled down to a steadyish 4 an over. Badgers first change brought Hamblin who bowled well and Mcloskey who didn’t. As can be the way of things Mcloskey’s unconventional left arm arounds got the reward - first Jim yorking himself off a dipping ball (13), and then Brims thrashed the ball hard but straight to wide long on - Foord not moving or making a mistake (8). I was trying to shift gears but picked the wrong bowler to do it off and in chasing a wide one could only top edge my cross batted drive to deep point - Cloke taking a safe catch (b Hamblin 34). By drinks SBCC had wobbled our way to 81-4, and when Ben somehow played on to the fairly innocuous off breaks of skipper Shone (12), we looked like being well short of par at 89-5.

But Fran came in at 7 and settled things, partnering with 'golden boots' Dave Dawkins, and the partnership of the match rescued our innings. Fran played in his usual hunched style and worked the ball well into gaps, and as ever he ran like a demon. Dave was short of confidence early but as the partnership wore on he started to flow more - punching into gaps, especially on the off, and remaining solid on defence. He even found the rope regularly (a pleasant change from last year). Fran was the dominant partner though- stepping seamlessly through the gears and playing his trademark shots flicked behind square leg as well as very powerful shots down the ground. He ran like a madman turning ones into twos and Dave into a beetroot coloured object as the afternoon sun bore down. Even the return of the opening bowlers could not curb the rate. The partnership was only broken when Dave unluckily went to work Hamblin to leg and the ball ricocheted off his thigh guard onto the stumps (for a SBCC PB of 34). The partnership was 101 (based on a bit of scorebook analysis), and had changed the game back in our favour. Fran was not content till we had got to 220 (seeking ten an over off the last 3) and aided by Tim he kept at the Badgers. The last over was typical of his innings. Entitled to be tired he hit 3 2s off the first 3 balls when none of them had gone much past the inner ring of fielders. Alas this may have contributed to his wicket when he played and missed and then missed a full toss from Foord (b 88). 2 wides off the last ball and a dot to follow led Southbank to a score of 217-7 and enough to bowl on with a good attack- Suresh 0* and Tim 1*.

Battersea Badgers bowling
Foord, 8 overs, 1 maiden 32-2
Dollimore, 8 overs, 1 maiden, 46-0
Hamblin, 8 overs, 1 maiden, 35-2
McCluskey, 4 overs, 18-2
Shone, 5 overs, 34-1
Thomas, 7 overs, 44-0

After tea our defence started well with Tim bowling a tight line and Will mixing his usual variations of pace (especially his very effective off cutter). He got the first break through - the cutter cramping Lee who chopped his cut in a looping fashion to Ben at gully who took a fine catch one handed diving to his right and just inches from the turf (4). Will had the next too when he bowled an absolute peach to Cloke- a ball that shaped away as it climbed off the pitch and was well snaffled by Fran (5). Will then pinged Cornish in the mid riff area (but not the nice area) and things seemed to be going South Bank’s way. Cornish should have run out his partner Jinks (saved only by a slightly too high throw from Ben) and the pressure seemed to be telling. But the blow to Cornish seemed to energise him and at the same time Will strained his own groin injury and dropped to bowling just off breaks. Cornish started to climb into the bowlers and no one seemed able to stop him. Matt Porter came on at the Mushie Punjabi memorial and was thrashed out of the attack- brutish straight driving him down the ground and over his head (he was lucky some low ones did not go through his head).

Imperious he may have been with his shots, less sure was he with his running - succeeding where he had failed earlier by hitting the ball straight to Tim at short mid wicket and calling through Jinks who was left well short by Tim‘s direct hit (28). Not that it seemed to matter as Cornish went on stealing the game planting six after six off Will. Suresh kept a modicum of control bowling well with air and turn and slowing if not stopping the assault. Ben replaced Will and saw his first ball hooked long over the spectators for six but then his next blow found our own axe man- Brim’s leap at mid wicket managed to pluck the ball one handed from the air and then his leap landed safely just inches inside the rope (Cornish 74 off 37 balls).

After this assault all sides recovered their breath and rehydrated Badgers 129-4 at drinks.

After drinks Suresh carried on tying things up from the MP memorial and was unlucky not to get a wicket when new man McCluskey popped a leading edge obligingly up in front of him but the ball was lost by the keeper and it landed annoyingly 2 yards from the stumps. Matt Porter came back on at the Pavilion end and Thorpe tried to work to leg but inside edged onto his stumps (4) and then next ball Skipper Shone shuffled unwisely across his stumps and was lbw first ball and SBCC were roaring back into contention. Matt then got a lovely strangle down the leg (annoyingly neither given nor walking involved). Next ball he got the batsman to flash at a wide one and Fran held on to ensure there was no further debate - Mccluskey 11. Badgers now 137-7.

Cornish’s assault had given the Badgers the luxury of time and they also bat deep and they used both to dig in and rebuild. Dollimore focussed on defence and was very solid in this. Hamblin was the more aggressive of the two and added regular fours and sixes to his impeccable defence. Neither gave much in the way of chances and started copying Fran’s example and regularly stole singles. Tim came back at the MP memorial after Suresh’s spell and Hamblin brought up his 50 with a pair of fours through the covers. It seemed the game was heading away again but then Tim’s threatening line delivered- Hamblin went to off drive and was beautifully bowled (52). Badgers 202-8 and still a ways from the line. Dollimore was undeterred and had seen his side home in last year’s taut affair at Greenwich park (last ball thriller) and he kept chipping away at the runs. Foord provided admirable support with a stout defence (worthy of a better batting position than ten) and the Badgers crept to the target. Ben replaced Matt and with 4 to get Dollimore edged to slips but it flew low and to my right and I just got my finger tip to it and it fell through for a cursed two. Two to get and Brims replaced the bolwed out Tim and first ball got a nick from Foord - 216-9. High drama as men crowd the bat and Brims bowls two down leg. Again he bowls a third down leg and nervous number 11 Thomas works it past the despairing Mark at leg slip and the Badgers were home by a wicket. Again. You couldn’t make this stuff up.

Another cracking game against excellent opposition who were still on the terrace drinking when we left (in my case to fall asleep on the sofa as is about as traditional as losing to Badgers in a close fought encounter). We’ll hopefully play them again later in the year where we give them the thumping they so richly deserve notwithstanding all their niceness.

South Bank CC bowling
Williams,8 overs, 36-1
Elliot, 7 overs, 59-2
Porter, 8 overs, 1 wicket maiden, 53-3
Suresh, 8 overs, 1 maiden, 39-0
Hayes, 5 overs, 25-1
Brims, 0.4, 2-1

South Bank versus Churchleigh 21st May 2016

5/25/2016

South Bank vs Churchleigh CC
Chelsham Great Park
21st May 2016
Weather grey with occasional sunshine and showers.
South Bank won the toss and chose to bowl.

It was an under strength South Bank side that turned up more or less on time at the pretty ground at Chelsham Great Park near Warlingham. Only ten and missing some of the usual names - only Matt Porter had ever opened the bowling for South Bank before (and considering our turnover that was quite a feat). Nevertheless I resolved to bowl first make use of the one match ball and hope we could limit them and chase well. Matt P opened from the House end and bowled a good attacking line which was good as it needed to be as the few times he didn’t he was punished by the typically aggressive Churchleigh openers - Woolgar (G) and particularly Nilesh who clobbered successive sixes at one point. From the hedge end Dave Dawkins made his debut opening the bowling (having missed his over last week). The golden boots were back and he bowled well - outside off and getting decent lateral movement. I said I’d bowl him till they got after him but I should have said “if” as over after over went by and Churchleigh barely laid a glove on us. As usual the good balls went unrewarded and the first wicket fell to filth- a loping Dawkins full toss was bludgeoned only as far as Mark Bradshaw at midwicket (Nilesh 15). Peretz replaced Matt and could have had the number 3 Cooper when he flashed hard to a vacant first slip. Instead he got the elder Woolgar who top edged a ball that held in the air long enough for me to pouch it out of the sun (12). Despite Dave finishing the seventh of his golden overs, Churchleigh rallied around Cooper and Bicker and at drinks were well placed at 76-2 off 20.

After drinks Matt P came back and winkled out Bicker (lbw 4) and George was rewarded for a good searching length outside off as Cooper square drove the ball to Dan at point (33). Cross and Hayden counter-attacked Charl getting some typically muscular drives away off George and off debutant James Smith who replaced George at the hedge end. In between retrieving the ball from the hedge James kept wheeling away and a low shooter slipped past a mighty blow - Hayden b 24. Del came on after Matt’s short spell and showed us what we’d been missing. He was naggingly accurate and not as slow as he’d threatened, though the around the wicket line got the same occasional savage treatment as Dan gets too. Del got Cross to swipe to square leg where Simon put down a tough one - it bursting through to catch him “in the pods” as Charl put it. When another big hitter in Rob started to muscle the ball out of the ground a quickly placed man at deep mid wicket held a good catch from the flat struck hoick (ct George 10). Ben kept chipping away with fours and increasingly started to score at will. James chipped in with another good wicket- Prasang stepping to off to find the leg side boundary and instead losing the top of leg stump (5). The score was already challenging but we kept things pretty tight and the threatened 200+ never materialised. Dan replaced James and bowled a tricky to hit leg side line and did his best to stem the surge and Matt finished proceedings with a great final over- Woolgar A losing his off stump playing an uncharacteristically ugly mow (b 8), Best lbw next ball and finished the innings without the hat trick - but conceding just a leg bye to get Churchleigh to 177-9 off 35. Patel on 0* and Ben left shy of a deserved milestone on 45.

South Bank CC bowling
Porter, 7 overs, 3 maidens (1 wicket maiden) 21-3
Dawkins, 7 overs, 20-1
Milstein, 5 overs, 31-1
Rennison, 5 overs, 29-1
Alexander, 6 overs, 38-1
Smith, J 3 overs, 24-2
Cohen, 2 overs, 15-0

The Southbank reply started with Mark (fresh from his hundred the week before) and Dan in an attempt to frustrate Churchleigh’s bowlers - Hayden and Prasang. A light rain had started and it stole 3 or 4 yards from the outfield as Mark and Dan found when well struck shots just held up shy of the rope*. Both openers held off accurate bowling and counter punched as best they could - Dan’s hook for 4 off Prasang was the shot of the day (and he was still talking about it in the pub after). Dan was also the first to go to first change Cross- as useful with the ball as he had proven with the bat- Dan edging gently from his off drive to first slip (ct Woolgar G 15). Simon showed intent but looked short of practice and was soon out playing across a straight one (a sin many others have been guilty of) b Nilesh 3. At drinks Southbank were dug in deep at 50-2 but off 20 overs leaving us some accelerating to do in the second stage.

James Smith at 4 showed similar intent but he struggled to come to terms with the wicket. He holed out down the ground to give Nilesh another (2). Throughout this Mark was playing with complete solidity and kept pushing the runs but was too classy to put away the occasional leg side stuff that came his way. For that you need someone less classy and cometh the moment… I joined Mark with the score at 64-3 and with 12 to go - just shy of ten an over to chase. I started to pull to leg and was aided by some sloppy fielding and a reprieve for a slash to point that was above waist high (a late and contentious no ball call but correct). The scoring went up and there were nervous moments amongst the opposition. For a moment I thought I even thought I heard silence from the ever chatty Saffer skipper. Mark was picking up the pace too and when they brought on the elder Woolgar for his off breaks we both knew he had to go. We did get some blows in (my one six was our only one of the innings) but the wily campaigner lured Mark down the slippery wicket to his doom (stumped 33) and I then compounded the error by running George out off the first ball of a Cooper over and leaving him run out by half a pitch and me stranded watching new man Dawkins try to keep the pace from the off. Which he achieved momentarily with a Richie Richardson esque back foot cover drive for 4. But it was too little too late. My luck run out when having survived edging to Charl once (it bounced off him and he missed the ricochet) I again edged low and he held it at ankle height (b Cooper 43). Dave fell next bowled as he tried to smear another through covers (14) and Del next over - dancing down to Woolgar and losing his stumps too (b 0). So well short it was left to Matt and Peretz to bat out the last few balls as we finished 132-8, Matt 0, Peretz 2.

Churchleigh CC bowling
Sherpa 5 overs, 1 maiden, 12-0
Hayden, 7 overs, 2 maidens, 12-0
Nilesh, 7 overs, 1 maiden, 21-2
Cross, 7 overs, 27-1
Woolgar G, 4 overs, 30-2
Cooper, 4 overs, 18-2
Bicker, 1 over 1-0

Well beaten in the end but we fought hard all day and salved our feelings at the Bull (it had the football as opposed to usual haunt the Harrow which just had beer). We watched some of that other underdog for the day lose too - fitting but frustrating.

* Yes they had a rope and a shiny new scoreboard with Churchleigh on it and those ace baggy green caps. Such a shame the pitch is so

South Bank versus Alexandra Park CC 14th May 2016

5/25/2016

South Bank Cricket Club versus Alexandra Park CC
Dulwich Sports Ground, Turney Rd
14th May 2016
Weather grey but fair enough for it
South Bank CC won the toss and chose to bat

Having secured a weak medium opposition I decided to bat first when they said they were the 5th XI (of 5). Mark and Jon T opened and the opening bowler was a) wearing an Essex county top b) bowling off two paces and c) the keeper was standing as deep as I would to Hayes. So we concluded he might be a bit of alright. Which he wasn’t. First over he bowled mainly full tosses and Mark couldn’t believe his luck (after the pair he got last weekend). Other opening bowler was a young man with an ankle injury and a good line and length but no real venom. After that the best was a ten year old who bowled well but as wag Cohen put it when he heard the lad‘s name - Freestone - “that’s not his name it’s his weight!” he had just enough nip to come on nicely. At drinks JT and Mark were motoring along and the attack would need to have been more toothsome to overturn such resolute defence and application. Southbank 114-0.

After drinks the carnage continued. With nary a false shot let alone a chance JT and Mark tore into the flagging Alexandra park attack/defence. Both batsmen were most productive through the off side though at one point when the ball was being retrieved from beyond the fence on the leg side I trotted out to the middle to advise them both that I’d call them in at 100. Normally this is akin to the commentator’s curse (and was greeted as succh by both) but there was no chance that two stagers like Mark and JT would miss out now. JT duly made his hundred and claimed an extra run to ensure there was no accountancy error (101*) and Mark followed soon after on 100* dead on. These retirements gave Jim and Simon just enough time for a quick thrash. Simon played a little nervously and popped a ball to cover (B Rayan 11, 230-1). Jim played aggressively as ever and clattered the ball to all parts (occasionally missing out purely through the effort he was putting into each blow). Off the last ball of the innings he did what he sometimes finds a way to do - picking out a more senior fielder at backward square leg who somehow managed to clutch the ball at knee height - Jim b Karan 33 (off 17). This left Dave “where are my golden boots Dawkins” not out 3 and SBCC an imposing 269-2.

Alexandra Park CC bowling
Sharam, 5 overs 40-0
Rayan, 7 overs, 1 maiden, 27-1 (13 and their best all round and bowled through an ankle injury he told me).
Umear 4 overs, 25-0
Freestone 7 overs, 43-0 (ten years old and will be a handful in a few years)
Karan 6 overs, 43-0
Terry 8 overs, 40-0
Tom 3 overs, 32-0

Tea was enlivened by my getting my angles wrong on the pitch (a long and apparently hilarious story and for the record I was wrong - so very very wrong*). Tim opened from the MP memorial end (which is not quuiiittee as close to the pavilion as the pavilion end) where Ranj started. Both bowled tight aggressive spells and the game seemed immediately a no contest. King was struck on the foot dead in front (lbw Ranjan 1) and Tim picked up Mulbey caught and bowled 5. Murthy came on for Tim and first ball skipper Azeem shimmied down the wicket to push him through the covers and edged to Jim at slip (8). Those three were pretty much the ball game as those who followed focussed on defence over attack - not that this was always effective- Murthy blasted through Karan (b 6). At drinks Alexandra Park were 43-4 and I was wishing we’d offered a timed game.

Which was the challenge we set ourselves to bowl them out. Murthy followed up with a solo appeal on Mo (struck outside off on the thigh guard) - “lbw” 0. Murthy bowled too well to get the edge and Tim blasted in but couldn’t shift the defensively impressive number 4 Mike Hicks. Ranjan winkled out White with an absolutely beautiful delivery that nipped away off the pitch and kissed the edge to keeper me (8). Having bowled out the main strike bowlers I tried an over of Jon Dyson - and let’s just say it’s still too soon (stick to batting big man). Dan was enjoying things a little more and got the edge to Ranjan at gully off T Smith (throwing some aggressive shots for his 16). Dan then managed to get one on target to Sharam (it was all it needed but it took a while) b -0. Left handed Rayan showed he could bat as well as he could bowl and planted some nice boundaries through mid wicket off Dan and centurion JT getting an honorary over. “Catch is coming boys” called Simon and next ball it burst out of the sun and out of his hands. Next ball after that he nailed it to Tim who made no mistake this time “that’s how you catch them!” cried our triumphant Geordie - Rayan 16 at better than a run a ball and giving JT his first wicket in a long while. Meantime I was going to give our other centurion an honorary over too though Dave was happy to take the offer when Mark declined. All this was rendered moot when Jim (perfecting his off spin) finally lured the vigilant Hicks into a mis- stroke- hitting the double bunger back to the bowler who gratefully took the catch to end the game - Hicks out for 25 - Alexandra Park all out for 119.

South Bank CC bowling
Tim Williams, 8 overs, 1 maiden, 13-1
Ranjan, 8 overs, 3 maidens 12-1
Murthy, 8 overs, 1 maiden, 19-3
Dan Cohen, 8 overs, 1 maiden, 13-2
Jon Dyson, 1 over, 15-0
Jim Gant, 4.3 overs, 1 maiden, 21-1
Jon Thornton, 1 over, 8-1

A lovely bunch of lads (veteran Alexandra Parker's reminisced about seeing Doug Mumford which touching) but game was a mismatch that could have been addressed with a different approach had I known the opposition's strength (in Azeem‘s defence he didn't know it himself with half his team new to him). But we also played very well (a hundred is a hundred and a testament to the application as much as anything else) and the bowling would have turned over a far stronger outfit (would be good for Churchleigh next week) Plus good to beat someone at last especially nice folk who took simple pleasure in a good day out.

* Full version subject to gag order settlement (for a pint Jim said he'd not mention it again). Though as with all injunctions all heard it anyway and will no doubt bring it up at random moments for the next ten years.

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