Forty Club

Degsy got a cleaned bowled in the ninth over with the score at 28 – the next wicket did not fall until 173, Messrs. Saleem and Clarke looking very secure and punished anything wayward with a fast outfield and shortish boundary on one side. A passing rain shower caused a brief break and a slightly damp ball, and the bat continued to dominate. The normal reliable McGahan, Whyte and Walker (don’t look at the scoresheet…) were hit around without mercy;  only the introduction of Chakravartty, another debutant, and reintroduction of Degsy, brought a touch of control. The Martlets fielded manfully, Jeremy taking an important catch and the skipper leading the way with more than a handful of excellent stops on the fast outfield. Saleem scored an impressive century off 103 balls, graciously retiring at once, and Clarke hit an assured 71 off 63 balls.

In the 80 over format, XL Club probably thought they had enough at 242-4 dec. after 38 overs, leaving the maximum time to winkle Martlets out on a relatively easy pitch.  They had probably not anticipated an opening stand of 65 between Chakravartty (43 runs) and Boulter (20) in less than 9 overs, which was followed by some determined batting from Dave Mann (eager to do his bit after an unusually difficult afternoon behind the stumps, it is probably fair to say!) and the ever-elegant James Dahl.  James kicked himself for holing out in a “typical jazz-hat fashion” (his words) after a cultured 41, which brought Mann junior and senior together at 141-3. Young Leckie (our one concession to the under-40s – Forty Club had a few too!) looked assured before hitting one straight back to the bowler, at which point the experience of Walker was called upon – but when he was fifth out for a useful 13 at 186, some doubts were fluttering in the Martlet camp. However, Dave Mann continued his great work shepherding the innings and was out for 67 off 55 balls, at 213-7.

Degsy looked classy, striking 3 valuable boundaries, and Jeremy chipped in a very useful 11- but then they were both out to the ever-deceptive and always dangerous Chris Stride.  XL tails were up and they introduced a renewed intensity to the banter they had begun the innings with !  Martlets had always been ahead of the rate, surely they couldn’t lose from here (230-8 became 235-9 with the end of Jeremy)..

Fortunately, the ever canny Messenger had kept himself to last and with the always competent Whyte at the other end,  we romped home with a boundary and completed a very satisfactory and hard-worked win, which we all savoured – the battle with XL Club is always friendly but competitive in the best traditions of wandering cricket. (Talking of which, a special mention to Jaap Vogelaar, 70+ from the Netherlands , who bowled 7 overs at us with neither a wide nor no-ball – unlike most of his fellows!)

 The bulk of both elevens repaired to the fine Red Lion at Turners Hill, to reflect on a fabulous day’s sport and almost the narrowest of margins between us. A true team effort from the Martlets had taken us home. Many thanks to Martlet umpire Jim Gee and scorer Alison Skinner, and Dave Messenger for excellent organization and captaincy.

Willy Boulter