Camden II v Over & Willingham II (home)

30/08/25

Camden II (20pts) 136-6 beat Over & Willingham (6pts) 135-5 by 3 wickets

BEGIN:  OVER AND OUT

It was the big one. The final show down. The mid-table rumble that literally nobody had been talking about all week, Fourth versus fifth and with a victory, the mid-table bragging rights in the Junior Cambs Div 5 (North). It’s odd how a match of so little actual consequence could generate so much heat and light but it did.

But first, the pitch report. The outfield featured a number of fissures and crevasses that would have a Geography teacher salivating. There was a term’s worth of lessons in that parched surface. Indeed, such was nature of the field, it wouldn’t have been entirely surprising to have encountered one of John Steinbeck’s dustbowl heroes, sad-eyed and chewing on a wad of tobacco, a tattered bindle hanging limply from his tired shoulders.

“Bin the fam’ly three gen’rations this land. But the bank’s called in the loan…time to hit the road. C’mon Lennie.”

“Will there be rabbits, George, will there be rabbits?”

“In this Camden team? Oh yes sirree bob.”

So yes, the outfield wasn’t exactly verdant. Unlike the wicket. Happily the twenty two yards didn’t boast the same widening cracks as the rest of the field. There’s a good, practical reason why young teens aren’t allowed to play in the leagues: they might disappear down the holes. Camden’s well-fed and generously upholstered eleven were never in any danger of that happening, however.

With rain predicted for just after five, it was agreed that this would be a 30-over a side encounter. Bowl your overs quickly, no mucking about and change over in two hours. Camden took the field, welcoming back old boy Ali Austin and new recruit Ash Gunjar, another from Ramesh’s conveyor belt of talent. Welcome Ash. Ali and Ginto took the new ball, combining well when the latter’s full toss was smoked to Ali’s right. He dived, the ball stuck and it was 6-1. A dazzling catch. In same over, a moment of controversy: Ginto’s length ball flew past the outside edge, a reassuringly loud ‘snick’ was heard and Hodders snaffled the catch. Much celebration, cut short when the umpire’s finger stayed down. Oh well. Camden would get him out. They did. 60 runs later.

Wickets were at a premium but so were boundaries. No-one was carted around and had the fielding been a little more athletic, some half-chances would have been turned into wickets. Mitchell Junior – Doug – saw the ball air bourn too many times and was unlucky not to pick up more than his one wicket, the stumping of the blessedly stodgy opener who gave himself out when the square leg umpire kept his hand in his pocket. The reintroduction of Ali brought two in two, while the Baker’s beguiling left-armers gave him 1-29 from his six. Mitchell senior became Camden’s Death Bowler, closing out the innings on 135-5 from 30. “About 15 more than I’d’ve liked,” opined the skipper between innings. But on this pitch, who knew?

Hodders and Ramesh took the field, Ramesh with the intention of blunting the attack and testing out the spaces behind square of the wicket. That was the plan, at least. When both openers found themselves at the same end, Ramesh discovered he was an agonising 22 yards short of safety and began the slow trudge back to the pav. 3-1. Oh dear. Better was to come when Malik and Hodders put together a 35 run partnership to steady the ship but when Susnata and Hodders fell close together, it was 65-4. Enter Ali, playing his first game of the season. A uncertain prod, a nice looping arc to slip and…dropped. After that, a breezy 21 off 17 balls got the scoreboard moving along. Smart running between him and Ash put some pressure on the field and at 93-4, you’d think the game was over. A breeze. Just find the gaps and win it in singles. Of course not. 100-6 and tricky 36 to find. It was time to buckle down and win the game. Mitchell senior provided a reassuring presence at one end while Ginto was the opposite at the other. He really doesn’t like cricket balls and has a personal mission to hit them as hard and as far as possible. A spiffing, biffing six made a dent in the total, which along with a four gave him 20 from 21; the skipper ended up on 12 not out. 2.3 overs to spare and the frightening fire-power of the Baker, Doug and your correspondent prowling the boundary edge like uncaged tigers, ready for action. It’s as well for Over and Willingham that they were spared such potential destructiveness

It wasn’t played in the best spirit – edges not given, stumpings ignored and shamefully, a proffered Camden hand remained unshook at the end. Well, that’s the powder keg world of Junior Cambs Div 5 (North) for you.

Third in the table, no matches conceded, four wins, four defeats and two concessions: 150 points. A decent haul by a smiling team who play because they love it.

Man of the match: Ali Austin

 END.