RCC Cavaliers draw with Antelopians

A Sunday so we should either have no opposition or weather causing the game to be called off. We had opposition but the thunder and rain did come, however it was a passing storm and we managed to get under way not too long after the scheduled start. Conditions of heat and humidity more akin to Phuket than Putney.

A pretty steady start from RCC - about 15 overs in and Antelopians were 70 for 4. One of those wickets a stunning run out from our panther-like cover fielder Will Costelloe.

The demands of the conditions required regular rotation of the bowlers (well, except for Pukar who bowled 11 unchanged in his first spell, but he was bowling off one step!). At this juncture Antelopians fifth wicket pair consolidated and upped the run rate. There were a couple of dropped catches and some good appeals turned down as the stand passed 150.

During that stand one of our top colts, Toby Lelean, jetting in from Turkey that morning, had a 5 over spell that drew compliments from RCC and the batsmen alike. Accurate and posing some difficulty to batsmen that were well set (one of those lbw shouts was plumb – the keeper knows!). Well done Toby and in fact well done to all the team for their efforts in 31 degrees and 80% humidity.

As the purely discretionary, but generally accepted, time for declaration approached - and passed - RCC were wondering what was going on. It transpired one of the batsmen was approaching his century and understandably the skipper wanted to him to reach that landmark.

However, Pukar was back on and had the batsman caught on 99!

Tom Whitrow’s mum provided a superb tea – including a great selection of home-made cakes. Tom please thank your mum again.

In reply Antelopians openers tied us down somewhat and so the required run rate increased. I suspect the introduction of the off spinner as first change was to encourage us to go for it, which we did try to do, but succeeded in giving him the wickets of numbers 1 to 5 in our line-up in his first 6 overs!

Consequently any chance of a win for us was pretty slim but nevertheless Pukar and Tom Whitrow put on a great partnership to ensure the draw – Pukar made an excellent 50, his second for the club but first at Putney Heath.

In all, a lovely afternoon of cricket played in great spirit by both teams.

Man of the match: Pukar Patel
(report by Mark Boag)