With last year’s contest being abandoned and the dramatic tie in 2017, the SW15 cup was an eagerly anticipated affair this year. Dharmesh continued his tossing form from last season and RCC opted to field in cold, windy conditions. The SW15 cup began with tight opening spells from Mo Saleem and Umer Munir resulting in both bowlers taking a wicket each in their 8 over spells. This strong start was followed up by a fantastic spell of seam bowling from Ron Basnet who claimed the scalps of Putney’s most dangerous looking batsmen. The pick of the wickets being a pin point slower ball bowling taking out the no.3’s middle stump. Some tight bowling from Jono Robinson and a late flurry of wickets took Putney’s score to 210-7 at tea.
Putney started their bowling display positively, removing Vish Patel in the 3rd over. Saqib Mehmood joined David McKay at the crease with the ball moving around viscously. The two batsmen negotiated the first 10 overs watchfully, putting the rare loose ball to the boundary. Gradually the pair grew in confidence rotating the strike and finding the boundary regularly. Both batsmen passed hit half centuries with Saqib hitting a classy 84 and David ending up on a cultured 63. The game was ended in style with Mo Saleem smashing an unbeaten 39 and finishing the game with a big six over the mid wicket boundary. All in all a very calculated performance from RCC with lots of positives to take into the league season.
And er... Putney... Any chance of handing over the cup lads?!
(scorecard can be found here)