Saturday 2nd XI versus Yarl

Putney, with many new faces, racked up a giant score of 283 against an up and down Yarl attack but, for a long time, we struggled to put the game to bed.

The game's first over was a microcosm of the Putney innings: Atkins caned the first ball for four but Dan Davies was surprisingly out bowled to an innocuous straight one. Ollie Platts (25) played support to Matt as he struck the ball with simple power in the V. He kept his head down and gave no chances as he powered to a fine 113. Simon Hooson (42)gave powerful support. Murad ran himself out first ball but Alex Crabb (34*) and Charles Sumulian (24) took the game away from an aged Yarl team whose lack of athleticism in the field gave us many runs. We went to 283. We batted well, Matt especially so, but stronger teams will be less forgiving. Three of the top eight lasted five balls between them. We cannot afford such profligacy against stronger teams.

In the field, Brooksey was frugal but Max Taylor made the break through. Max was a bit rusty but worked up some pace off his fully pitched balls. Overs where he bowled too short were expensive. Yarl were a bit behind the pace but consistently found the four ball in every over, sometimes two, and so pressure was building on Putney. Charles Smulian put in a consistent spell (7-47-2) but it was down to off spinning Crabb (9-43-4), surprising those who had seen him bowl seam in the nets and Dan Davies (8-41-1) to claw us back into the game. Ultimately, the scoreboard pressure told, not least because of a very straight and zippy spell from Murad Malik 4-2-2-2.

So, a seemingly easy win against a weak, ancient oppo. Let's not kid ourselves: we will need much more consistency with the bat and accuracy with the ball when we come up against stronger teams.

Doug Shaw

July 6, 2009