Camden I v Fen Ditton (away)

09/05/26

TWO IN TWO FOR DOMINANT THIRDS

Prathyush marshals successful chase 

Fen Ditton (5pts) 196-8 lost to Camden (20pts) 197-6 by 4 wickets

All the reports from the newly-formed Camden Midweek side’s fixture at Fen Ditton were of an uneven pitch, and Captain Sutton had no hesitation on winning the toss. Following last week’s formula, he was more than happy for his bowling attack to have first use. Ankit and Farid (0-35) were not rewarded with any wickets, but with Ankit bowling five maidens and only 23 on the board after twelve overs, there was a case for keeping the openers in. Ketul (2-32) had other ideas, however, removing both. Rizwan (0-22) should have added to the home side’s poor start, but Prathyush couldn’t hold on to a thin edge. 52-2 at drinks. But six from the last ball of the nineteenth over was a hint of what was to come.

Mukesh (0-35) and Karan were introduced, but neither could offer the control that had characterised the first half of the innings. The third-wicket partnership had reached 55 when Karan (2-49) bowled the number four. Number three followed shortly after – stumped Prathyush bowled Karan – and when Ankit effected a run out in the next over, it seemed as though the momentum had shifted once again. Not for long, however, as Fen Ditton’s skipper began to find the fence with alarming regularity. Despite Ankit (2-17) returning to take a couple of deserved wickets, Camden leaked a whopping 92 runs from the final ten overs. Mukesh’s last-ball run out of the hosts’ skipper for a brutal 64 brought a chaotic end to an innings which had begun in such a becalmed fashion.

The Camden reply began somewhere in the middle of these two extremes, with Sutton and Sourav – in for the injured Krishna – forming a solid opening partnership. It had grown to 73 when disaster struck in the nineteenth over – Sutton run out for 26. That brought Ketul to the middle, and it was a shame that Redders – who had visited earlier – was not there to see a distinctly Redfernian cameo of 25 from sixteen balls (4×4, 1×6). Following the dismissal of Sourav for a well-made 42, the wicket of Ketul left Camden on 104-3 and the game beautifully in the balance. With 93 required from 94 balls, Irtaza joined the as yet not off the mark Prathyush.

The pair had chipped another 20 off the target when Irtaza (12) was bowled by the last ball of the twenty-eighth over. 73 required from 72. Coe and Prathyush continued to keep the asking rate in check, taking the score to 155 when Coe was LBW for 12. With Farid striding to the crease, the equation was 42 needed from 36 balls. Smashing a six from his second ball, The Finisher was clearly in no mood for hanging about. With Prathyush joining in the fun, overs 35-38 were plundered for 12, 11, 9 and 7 respectively. All the tension had evaporated, and Camden suddenly needed just 3 from the final two overs. Not even the Thirds could lose from here. They could lose another wicket, but Farid (22 from 14 balls) had done his job. Ankit (1*) got Prathyush back on strike, and the latter did the rest with two down to long leg. Victory, with nine balls to spare and four wickets in hand. With each of the top seven getting into double figures, this was a true team effort and a perfectly paced run chase – personified by Prathyush (43*), who took responsibility for getting his side over the line.

Man of the Match: Prathyush Roy