2nd XI win low scoring game against Old Wilsonians

The humid air over Rubens Street set the stage for a gripping encounter between Catford and Cyphers CC 2nd XI and Old Wilsonians CC 2nd XI. The day began with Catford and Cyphers winning the toss and opting to field, a decision that would prove prescient as the match unfolded.

Old Wilsonians’ innings was a tale of frustration and profligacy. Their top order crumbled under disciplined bowling, with Samuel Gold and Kieran Kumar leading the assault. Joshua Merchant's early departure, caught behind for a duck, set the tone. Steve Blunt and Harry Williams showed brief resistance, both scoring 11, but their efforts were cut short, falling lbw to Gold and Kumar respectively.

The visitors found no respite as wickets continued to tumble. The middle-order collapse saw Kenny Maxwell and Kevin Carruthers depart cheaply, while Ali Hasan Butt's 23 was a lone hand of defiance amid the ruins. Hasan Butt played some crisp shots, but his dismissal, bowled by Gold, effectively ended Old Wilsonians' hopes of a substantial total. The tail offered scant resistance, with only Dilesh Patel's 14 not out adding a semblance of respectability to the score.

Extras, shockingly abundant at 55, were the second-highest contributor, an indictment of Catford and Cyphers' occasional waywardness. Yet, their collective effort bundled out Old Wilsonians for a meager 119 in 29.2 overs. Gold and Kumar were the chief wreckers, each claiming four wickets and maintaining pressure with tight lines and lengths.

Chasing a modest target, Catford and Cyphers' reply began with a cautious approach. Openers David Golbey and Sachit Kc looked to build a platform, but Harry Williams’ double strike sent back Kc and Daniel Anthony, leaving the hosts at 14-2. Golbey, steady but unremarkable, held one end, crafting a patient 22 off 48 balls before falling to Steve Blunt.

At 62-4, the match hung in the balance, but a calm and composed Pranay Singh emerged as the linchpin of Catford and Cyphers’ innings. His unbeaten 25 guided the chase amidst a procession of wickets at the other end. Singh displayed poise, punctuating his innings with well-placed boundaries and deft running between the wickets.

Alex Savage's 17 added crucial runs, but his departure at 101-6 left Catford and Cyphers still needing 19 runs. Singh, ably supported by Dulan Wijayarathna, saw his side home, finishing at 120-6 in 33.1 overs. The duo’s sensible batting and exploitation of loose deliveries ensured that there were no further hiccups.

Despite the game briefly descending into farce due to the errant bowling on both sides—evident from the tally of 45 wides by Old Wilsonians and 18 by Catford and Cyphers—the match provided a riveting spectacle. The exuberance of youth, the misjudgments, and the occasional brilliance combined to produce a classic lower-division contest.

The victory awarded Catford and Cyphers a full 18 points, a well-deserved reward for their tenacity and resolve. Old Wilsonians, though, would rue their inability to capitalize on their starts, their two points from bowling being scant consolation.