29/06/24
RIB-TICKLING LOSS NO LAUGHING MATTER FOR CAPTAIN REDFERN
Skipper’s dropped catch proves costly as winless run continues
Cambridge Old Monks (20pts) 203 beat Camden (9pts) 187
Not all eyes were on Barbados for the T20 World Cup final. Some (44) were on a garden outside Haverhill. A sizeable garden, it must be said. Big enough for a cricket oval. More of a field, really, Whatever, it was where the Thirds were to take on Cambridge Old Monks. Arriving having made up his mind to bat first in some welcome sunshine, Captain Redfern was counselled to rethink by those who had inspected the pitch. A relief, then, when the skipper won the toss and elected to field.
With Rizwan (1-26) taking a wicket – caught behind by Prathyush – in the second over and Farid extracting some alarming bounce from the grassy pitch, hopes were high of wrapping things up quickly. But the second-wicket pair had other ideas, putting on 65 before Karan struck twice in his first over – thanks to a catch for Subbu and a caught-and-bowled. Vish’s smart run out, luring the Old Monks’ opener to take on his arm, made it 89-4 from sixteen overs. It could – no, should – have got so much better for the Thirds. First, Batley dropped a steepling catch in the covers. Then, Redders not only managed to drop a straightforward chance at mid off, he managed to land on the ball and damage a rib. Our guy bravely battled on, bollarding while the reprieved batsman added insult to injury. If ball-striking as clean as the number five exhibited can be classed as an insult, that is. Subbu (2-56) bagged two wickets in an over, but by the time the big-hitting Old Monk departed – LBW Krishna for 86 – the score had rocketed to 199-8. On that pitch. In just the thirtieth over. A thirtieth over which would yield another wicket – stumped by Prathyush – for Krishna (3-28), the leggie having earlier supplied a catch for Farid. In the next over, Karan (3-44) wrapped things up by bowling the number eleven. It should be noted that the innings was enlivened by a visit from the lesser-spotted Fox-Teece. The Fenland Crooner and Thirds legend didn’t stay long, however, but presumably saw enough to quash any thoughts he might have had that he was missing much.
204 to win. On that pitch. With or without the skipper. Old Monks may be a breakaway team from Cam Kerala, named after an Indian rum, but this was a rehash of the Cam Kerala match. Sutton – out first ball in that match – hoped it wasn’t. As did his opening partner. Nutt had been run out then, but could have no complaints here – comprehensively bowled for 7. Prathyush (10) hit a six, but followed Nutt in having his furniture rearranged by the home side’s dangerous left-armer. Batley followed for 9, but – with Sutton and Extras finding some form – the Thirds were at least keeping up with the rate at 63-3 after thirteen overs. Sutton found an ally in Vish, and the pair brought up the hundred in the twentieth over. Sutton looked odds on for consecutive fifties until – on 48 – the bearded opener was spectacularly caught at square leg. Having already benefited from a much more presentable chance being dropped, he could only shake his head and exit the stage. Krishna (8) hit two glorious fours before he and Vish (15) fell to leave the Thirds needing 75 from fifteen overs and five balls. The run rate wasn’t an issue, particularly while Farid and Subbu were finding the boundary and adding nineteen in as many balls. But the Thirds couldn’t afford to lose another wicket, so it was a shame when Farid (9) was bowled. Karan (3) followed, and the game looked up at 164-8(or 9) in the thirtieth over. Nobody had told that to Subbu, though. Or Rizwan. Could they do what South Africa couldn’t in Barbados? Would Redders wince his way out to the middle? Depends who gets out. And how many more to win. In the event, the skipper deemed that Subbu (31) getting out with seventeen required from thirty-one balls on a pitch on which Batley had earlier been hit on the grille by a near half-volley wasn’t the equation he was after – and Rizwan was left stranded on 8.
Another defeat, then. As avoidable as the four that had preceded it, but preferable to the unavoidable drubbings of recent years. And there was the moment – towards the end of the run chase – when eyes turned to Barbados, when the game paused and Old Monks and Camden players crowded round a phone to watch India seal victory. Playing beats watching, but when you can do both …
Man of the Match: Subbu