WCC CC vs Roehampton CC

WCC WON BY 85 RUNS (35 over match)

WCC 226-9

Mantha 15, Mcdonald 45, Hogben 45, Cooper 6, Krishnan 2, Creed 11, Barua 24, Dibley 14*, Orwell 3, Hudson 0, EXTRAS 58

Black dnb

Roehampton 141 all out (32.1 ov)

Dibley 6-2-13-3, Orwell 4-1-14-0, Barua 5.1-2-11-3, Cooper 4-1-13-1, Hudson 2-0-29-0, Creed 7-2-18-3, Black 4-0-35-0 

8 bowled, 1 lbw and 1 c&b (Dibley) 

Debuts: Madhu Krishnan, Saikat Barua

Reappearances: Ravi Mantha, Adam Creed   

After treating the crowd to the sight of the heavy roller in action, Roehampton started as they meant to go on with a Harmisonesque 5 wides through the slips. Mantha and Mcdonald then set about catching up with extras, a feat Mcdonald's sparkling cover drives narrowly achieved before the opening stand of 90 was broken. Black and Orwell settled in for record-breaking umpiring stints in which their interpretation of a wide in limited overs cricket was frequently put to the test. 

Following a little-remarked all-run 4 in the middle of the innings, 3 batsman picked out fielders who could catch in the outfield, before late order strikes into the trees from Barua and Dibley got the total up to precisely 226 more than seemed likely earlier in the week.

Fired on by a vociferous fan club, a well-lubricated Dibley struck second ball as Roehampton struggled to come to terms with an unusually youthful Enders seam attack, in which Saikat Barua's pace and accuracy evoked memories of Malcolm Marshall in his prime. Hudson and Black showed great generosity of spirit from the pavilion end while Adam Creed embarked on a Graeme Swann masterclass from the bushes end. Dibley and Barua then returned to deliver the coup de grace in clinical fashion.

After Mrs Cooper had shown her husband a firm grasp of forthcoming match management responsibilities, talk in the bar turned to why it was that Extras had failed to buy a jug. Ravi Mantha then entertained West London to a demonstration of how to drive Hyderabad style.

A big thank you to all who volunteered at short notice so this highly enjoyable game could go ahead.

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