3s win again!

Round 3 of the 2024 season on a fine spring bank holiday Saturday saw two undefeated heavy weights of Div 10 come head to head in what proved to be a thriller. 

Hayes 3s, world renowned for their ability to chase won the toss and charactaristically put CCCC in on a damp track which would only get better throughout the day. This made it 3 lost tosses in a row, and 3 games of being asked to strap the pads on for Catford. 

With regular keeper and opener called up to the 2s, and stand in opener in waiting Sparrow delayed in his very normal 190 mile drive from holiday retreat to make the game. Skipper Stewart sent in stroke player N. Zadran with a bit of licence.

What a decision that turned out to be as Zadran (36) was able to witness the utter carnage that unfollowed. Watching 8 wickets fall in differing levels of batting incompetence. 

Gibbs (7) slapping a full toss to point. Stewart (0) somehow missing a straight ball. Stumpings, holing out to long on when 30/3, it isn't pretty reading. The only batter to claim he got a good one would be W. Husaini (7). 

The only partnership of real substance came when E. Sullivan (20) joined Noor. They put on 40 with some lovely stroke play and the left/right combination proving too much for some ordinary bowling. 

Cyphers stumbled to a nelson, 111 all out. 

In response, CCCC needed a fast start and they got that with the early wicket of the dangerous left hander A. Greenway (0) thanks to a jaffer from R. Godowski (5-1-9-2)

Only one batsman looked comfortable in the Hayes innings, and infact the likeness to the Cyphers scorecard became quite stark. It was the opener M. Warne (46*) who again got to witness the bedlam at the other end this time. 

Cyphers made consistent inroads. Wickets for A. Ifill (7-2-15-2)had Hayes struggling at 50/5. 

Captain L. Webster (19), who came in at 7, was the only other bat to make double figures and the partnership was starting to take the game away.

This was until, a completely suicidal runout where Webster set off from the non strikers end when the ball had been hit straight to Gibbs. Rightly sent back, he didn't make his ground.

After this there were some incredible scenes. 2 wickets in two balls from Zadran (9-0-2-35) left needing a Hatrick to win the game. It didn't transpire and Hayes crept to 5 runs to win. Sparrow (6-0-11-2) after bowling his 4th and 5th ball to the number 11 wide outside off snuck his last ball past his pad to clip leg stump and the 4 run win was secured. 

Cyphers hope to maintain their undefeated season next week away to Chiselhurst & West Kent. 

MOTM: N. Zadran 36 & (9-0-2-35)