St.Lukes Vs Putney – Saturday 19^th May 2007

St. Lukes 1^st XI

Ed Hardwicke

Tim Haslehurst

Sri Narayanan

Craig Streets

Hemant Joneja

Andy McArthur

Michael Krishna

Tim Craig

Karl Quinn

Richard Bent (wk)

Tim Blatt

After a close victory against Selsdon last week St. Lukes faced a real tough test away to Putney.

Beneath the back drop of the local fair and the towering Ferris Wheel St.Lukes arrived at Putney in confident mood and with the sun shinning down it looked good for a day’s cricket.

Putney won the toss and after deliberation they decided to send St. Lukes into bat. Captain Ed Hardwicke and Tim Haslehurst strode out to the wicket confidently. However it was not long before Haslehurst was walking back to the side lines after edging a good ball in the second over with the Putney wicket keeper taking a good catch. Annoyance from Haslehurst as his average of 96 had suddenly plummeted to 49. He was quick to note that 40 is the benchmark for most test cricketers (until Kirshna advised that you normally needed 8 innings first – nice to kick a man when he’s down hey Michael?). Next in was Narayanan who hit a confident boundary and a single but was then bowled by the Putney opening bowler. Streets came in and almost immediately walked back without troubling the scorers after being judged out LBW to a ball nipping back. St. Lukes were rocking at about 20-3 and needed some stability. That was brought by Joneja who was looking steady until a really dodgy call had the captain scrambling to the bowlers end for a single and was run out by a good yard or so. Joneja really had to stay at the crease now (if nothing else to let the captain calm down). In strolled McArthur and the pair batted in a cavalier style and brought the team past the 100 mark. McArthur though hit a high one down the ground and was caught just inside the boundary for 45 and after that wickets soon began to fall once Joneja was bowled for 46. At one stage St. Lukes were on 132-5 with 9 overs left but were bowled out for 150 in the 41^st over. Special note for Krishna, who used to play a few games for Putney a few years ago, for trying to chat with almost all the oppo asking if they remember who he was and claiming to be their friend. Unfortunately no one on the Putney team knew who he was. Don’t worry Michael – we’ll be your friend.

After tea St. Lukes knew they had to perform well with the bowl and pressure the Putney openers to stand a chance. St. Lukes got through the first 15 overs at a good pace and Putney were only just on the run rate with some good bowling from openers Quinn and Joneja. Joneja then picked up a wicket with the captain leading by example taking catching an absolute rocket catch in the covers (it took most people a few seconds to realise he had caught it as most were trying to see where in the boundary the ball had gone!). Putney then started taking the bowling attack apart mixed with some poor fielding and fine shots. Krishna came into the attack and soon St. Lukes had another wicket in the bag when the Putney opener drove the ball to Mid Off where Streets took a straight forward (put textbook) catch. Haslehurst was unlucky not to bag a wicket either with the captain unable to repeat his catching expertise in the covers. Putney got closer and closer to their target and their number 3 batsman finished off in style hitting a huge six to get them home and finished on 69*. Bowling figures read: Joneja 10-3-36-1, Quinn 7-2-31-0, Blatt 6-0-33-0, Krishna 4-0-27-1, Haslehurst 4-0-16-0 and Streets 0.1-0-6-0

So played 3 won 2 which is not too bad a start to the season but we must learn from games like this, collectively and individually, as we were outplayed in every department. Next week is a home game against John Fisher.

Man Of The Match: Andy McArthur.

Fines (for the end of season do):

Haslehurst: 50p – duck

Streets: £1.00 – duck and bowling 1 ball that went for their winning 6

Bent: 50p – duck