The Putney Cricket Club Barbados Tour Continues

Barbados Tour XI vs Market Hill CC

Putney came a distant second against an invitational XI at the Young Men's Progressive Club.

Doug won the toss and we batted first on a flat but cracked strip out of which anyone batting in spikes was soon ripping chunks. Woody (0) was soon caught behind of one of two straight, fast quicks. Tour debutant Bertie (6) played straight enough before driving uppishly to backward point where Ash, playing for the oppo, clung on to a smart catch (the kind you only get off fast bowlers on hard tracks).

This brought together Devon (18 off 40) and Peachy (31 off 31) who had to graft hard for their runs before conditions eased and fours flowed. Adam hit one on to the roof of the houses at long off and Devon played very straight. We were building a score but Adam drove to short mid on and Devon was LBW to a straight one, both left the pitch feeling they'd done the work but not got the runs. Doug (17) and Will (34 off 24) pushed us along to 120-4. Will was off the mark for six over long on and always kept the boundary fielders interested in his bright innings. A score of 200 was on but we faded badly, Gareth first ball, and only JP (21*) at ten got us to 167-9.

A score to defend, perhaps.

Or not, as their openers were out of the blocks quick and we could never stem the runs and build the pressure needed to defend. Our new ball was in shreds after two overs, our hopes too! Frankly, it was carnage! Only Gareth (2-14) did the needful as we leaked runs all around the ground to some pretty tasty batting. Several balls were lost into the hospital on the other side of the road at long on.

We were soon put out of our misery and we soon were all stuck into a crate of Banks and some fried fish and rice. There are plenty worse ways to spend a day.

Doug Shaw

September 30, 2011