Let’s be honest. Our last outing against Crouch End didn’t exactly shine a whole lot of glory upon us. Neither did it demonstrate exactly what a skilled and drilled outfit we can be in the field, nor did it show the batting talents that we have available to us on occasion. Well, not to release any dramatic tension for the forthcoming report, but all this was about to change.
2 years ago (I think – my memory is remarkably shaky now) Dulwich Sports Ground was the scene of, well, absolute scenes, as James Smith plundered 49 (Editor’s note: it seems that interest rates weren’t the only thing to rise with inflation) and Leon Crowley was challenged to hit a straight 6 to win the match and that is exactly what he did. A match we, in reality, had no right to win. It couldn’t happen again could it? A one-team nomadic club like ours, felling the might of a 3 or 4 team club at their home ground…only time would tell.
With CICC Skipper Matt (Dad) Goodman galivanting off somewhere in the exotic heartlands of the good old US of A, and CICC Vice-Skipper Steve Smith having to earn an honest wage, the day got off to an unusual start, with stand in skipper James Frecknall actually winning a toss for the first time in a very very long time. Inserting the opposition to bat, the sweat began to build on the brow of this author as their opening partnership got off to a really rather quick start. Some excellent and aggressive bowling from debutant Jay Hewison (7/2/46/2) resulted in his first wicket for CICC – congratulations – with a lovely take at point by Matt Williams. The runs continued to flow, despite some accurate and beguiling bowling from CICC’s all time leading run scorer Riaan Ferreira. McGurn (48), fresh off a century the day before, was making hay until Jay Hewison once again claimed a first – this time with a ‘safe as houses’ catch on the boundary – and this really proved to be a turning point in the game. CICC were able to put on the squeeze and limit the runs, with some controlled and often miserly bowling from Shantan Tanuku (8/0/29/1), Sam Dooley (8/0/1/37) and James Frecknall (8/2/19/3) (Editor’s note: Frecks isn’t one to blow his own trumpet but this was a really excellent spell). A special mention should also go to Leon Crowley (4/0/17/1) who, following a lengthy layoff from bowling, was once again (almost) steaming in and back amongst the wickets. Great to see you bowling again Leon!
Ploughmans CC finished on 189/8 but this is not the end of the first innings write up – oh no! CICC did not drop a catch! CICC DID NOT DROP A CATCH! In fact, not only was no catch dropped, but Matt Williams, Jay Hewison, Jon Stern (Editor’s note: he didn’t drop it but he did make it needlessly hard for himself) and Riaan Ferreira, with an absolute scorcher taken behind the stumps, really bucked the CICC trend for drops and proved just how well we can field on any given day. It was a joy to watch.
Following a good tea (it really is nice playing at Dulwich Sports Club) it was CICC’s turn to wield the willow. An opening partnership for the ages, Josh Shinner (44) and David Burgess-Bellay (6) looked to have got us off to a solid start with DB looking as confident at the crease as I can ever remember. His 6 does not do him justice, but when he was out, in strode Mr CICC Riaan Ferriera…who then left the crease again relatively soon…having been caught at mid-wicket to the epitome of a juggle. I don’t think, in all seriousness, that there was a part of the fielder’s body that the ball did not touch before it was finally held. What the opposition didn’t know though was that, for once, CICC really did bat all the way down. The innings was driven forwards with control and poise by Sammy O’Connell (36), ably supported by Matt Williams (8) and Jon Stern (10) before our finisher Sam Dooley entered the fray. There is no question that the atmosphere was tense and, if I am being honest, a little testy following DB’s refusal to give an LBW by staring straight at his phone which didn’t go down too well. The match was in the balance. Going into the final 10 overs, something like 56 runs were needed and the pressure was rising and rising. An over went by, 5 runs from it. Another over, 4 runs from it. We couldn’t blow it from here could we?…
No, we couldn’t. The next over brought 19! Sam Dooley went big (albeit living pretty luckily along the way) but the ball travelled far, wide and hard when he hit it, finishing the match with an almighty 6 over cow corner. Mr Dooley finished on an excellent 42 not out, meaning that Clapham prevailed to the tune of 3 wickets.
Now, ordinarily, that would be the end of the report but another milestone was hit during this match. The first ever non-tour Father/Son CICC representation. One Master Elliott Burgess-Bellay and one Mr David Burgess-Bellay, taking to the field together for the full 40 overs as the players of CICC rotated on the field to allow for Elliott to take their place. Not only did Elliott have a better arm than half of our regular team (the openers agreeing not to take him on for a second run owing to the power of the throw), he also fielded with the heart of a lion and the skill of a grand master. Welcome, officially, to the playing ranks Elliott – it’s great to have you.
Corium, SaliAx, Cervisia. SaliAx, SaliAx, SaliAx.
About the author: James Frecknall, CICC President, all time leading wicket taker, and full-time nice guy is a CICC legend and veteran (as his ‘Cornhill Insurance era whites will confirm). Frecks can always be relied up on to squeeze the middle overs with his “is it spin, is it seam? nobody seems to know” but he is also one of CICC’s highest run scorers with over 2000 leg side runs to his name.
