Fresh from a chastening weekend in the Herefordshire hills, the intrepid players of CICC returned to London last weekend – hoping that a change of format would produce a change in fortunes.
In what has now become another annual tradition, we descended on Barn Elms sports ground on a cold and dark Bank Holiday Monday to take on the Roehampton Bats T20 tournament. Alongside us and the hosts, we were again joined by Graces CC as well as fresh competitors Plastics CC. Despite the clouds, the sense of optimism was palpable that this might be the year we took home the trophy. So confident we were that it seemed pointless not to share a couple of beers beforehand in the changing room – some people never learn…
As the excitement built, Jimmy strolled out to the middle for the toss and for the second week in a row called correctly. Now, Jimmy is clearly of the Australian mentality when it comes to the toss. “9/10 times you bat first, and on the other occasion you think about fielding but bat anyway.” Also, remember Nasser? Jimmy wouldn’t take the risk and, despite the overhead clouds and biting wind: “We’ll have a bat.” To be fair, it would have been a good toss to lose as the pitch was a road.
Out strolled Josh and Joel, so keen to get off to a good start that they had shared tactics the night before (“let’s just keep the strike ticking over”). Of course, best laid plans etc etc and after 5 overs and 25 on the board Joel holed out to mid on. Bowler, Clack and Beacon quickly followed, leaving Josh to marshall the lower order. He found good support from the evergreen James Frecknall, fresh from his electoral triumph in the local elections, who made a quickfire 18 before running himself out (again). Josh was eventually out for a well-crafted 58 – the highlight being a huge six over mid wicket, with CICC closing on 126-6.
Given the low-scoring previous years, we thought that this might be enough, but it was not to be. We bowled well enough, but the end result was a bit of a drubbing – losing by 8 wickets. Special mentions go to Matt Goodman returning figures of 1-29 from his four overs and DB, who once again proved why he is a T20 specialist, taking 1-16 and causing real problems.
At the halfway point, we gathered together like penguins to keep out the cold, eat our sandwiches and sink a few more cold ones. Memories of defeat were soon banished as the sun started to shine through and the beers started to take effect – we were ready to play for that third place finish against Plastics CC.
Through heavy lobbying, Jimmy decided to shift the batting order around and Hedge was promoted to open the batting with Josh, leaving Joel to swallow his pride and come in at three (clearly more of a team player than Joe Root). One ball in and it seemed a genius move as Hedge smashed the ball straight back past the bowler for a glorious 4. Josh tried to copy our Australian locomotive enthusiast but was soon back in the hutch and Hedge remembered that he isn’t actually a batsman and was caught for six. This precipitated a small collapse, as CICC soon found themselves 50-7. It was left to club stalwarts Freckers and our Dearly Beloved President Kim Jong Clack to steady the ship and pummel the Plastics attack to all parts. Clack was especially destructive early in his innings of 37* which included a glorious AB sweep over deep square leg. He then passed the baton to Councillor Frecknall, who played everything to leg on his way to an excellent 62*.
At 152-6, we were a lot more confident of a positive result. Beacon opened the bowling with his wily off spin and returned impressive figures of 2-26. Unfortunately, that is where the good times ended, with Plastics taking advantage of the great batting strip and making hay against the rest of our attack, with only Matt “Bowler” Langham going for less than ten an over. A six wicket defeat completed a disappointing Monday for CICC.
Licking their wounds, the players headed back to their various parts of London, ready to return to Barnes the next week for the first 40-over match of the season.
By Joel Plaja, aged 30.
