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Sunday 18 September, v Roehampton CC, Putney Heath DRAWN 

Roehampton 246-3 dec (37 overs, Geoff Brunner 2-89, Fred Shiels 1-50), Bricklayers 196-5 (41 overs, Fred Shiels 132, Dominic Ewer 29)

We’ve stopped the rot. At last, after a string of losses on Sundays stretching back to early June, we emerged from yesterday’s cracking game with an extremely honourable draw, having for a long time looked as if we could pull off a famous victory. And we did it with only ten men.

Alvin Spencer began well by noting that this would be a timed match, winning the toss and fielding. At that stage we still awaited Fred Shiels, stuck in traffic, and Rahul Khanna, who we assumed was just late as usual. Roehampton lent us a sub fielder, as they kindly continued to do throughout the innings, and Geoff Brunner shared the new ball with Fraser Wright. Fred Shiels arrived and promptly got a parking ticket in an area abounding with free parking, but it was becoming increasingly plain that Rahul wasn’t going to show – no answer on his phone, no response to texts. All very distressing – not just worry about him but also regret for those who had offered themselves as last-minute replacements. And, of course, a headache for the skipper, as we were thus a major bowler and batsman short.

None of which concerned Roehampton’s batsmen as they steadily cranked up the scoring rate on what was very much a batting pitch. After 12 overs, with Fraser having given way to Lewis Caley, they had reached an untroubled 78. Then Geoff Brunner suddenly produced a jaffa – a beauty of an outswinger that pitched leg and hit the top of off stump. Then next ball came another pearler, this one a fast skiddy inswinger that took out Number 3′s middle stump.

Unfortunately that was pretty much as good as it got for the bowlers. The hat trick ball was defended and the next wicket was not to fall for another 22 overs, by which time the score was 226. Lewis, with 6-0-43-0, was unlucky to see two catches go down at mid-on and mid-off. Fraser’s second spell took his figures to 6-0-43-0, Alvin posted 4-2-9-0, Geoff’s two spells ended 13-1-89-2 and the only wicket went to Fred, as the sub fielder held on at long on to dismiss Number 4 for 59. The only other chance was a caught-and-bowled that Fred could not hold. He finished with 8-0-50-1 as skipper Hemish declared on 246, Roehampton’s opener remaining undefeated on 115.

After a splendid tea we started our innings at 4pm, meaning an hour and a quarter’s batting before the last 20 overs. We started slowly with Dominic Ewer and Rich O’Donnell against a lively pace attack, and after five overs were 7-1 as Rich, having hit one boundary over midwicket, was bowled by Roehampton’s left-arm seamer Edwards. But at number 3 Fred Shiels, having scored just 1 in his only appearance for us this year, was determined not to be tied down. His first two scoring strokes were a four and a six as he and Dominic, who had seen us to victory on this ground two years ago, setlled back into the same roles – Dom block, nudge and nurdle, Fred block, hit and bash. What had been a very chirpy fielding side went very quiet as the ball disappeared to all parts: after 10 overs at 30-1 we needed and were already hitting seven and a half an over, meaning the score had soared to 69-1 after 16 overs and to 92-1 as the final 20 overs began, by which time Fred had hit 50 in 31 balls. Bringing up his ton took little longer, the second 50 occupying 34 balls to make 65 in all, and the asking rate was maintained to see us at 169 with 10 overs left to get 78.

Roehampton, having tried six bowlers, now went back to left-arm opener Edwards and Fred finally perished, skying to cover. His 132 had included four sixes and 21 fours, 108 in boundaries alone, and had taken 83 balls, dominating a partnershup of 169 in 28 overs. Alvin now gambled by promoting Lewis Caley and Geoff Brunner in the hope of quick runs, but with the light now gloomy and rain falling neither could do much. Lewis was bowled Edwards for 1, Geoff  bowled Edwards 2, while in between Dom’s long innings was ended bowled by a teenage spinner. His 29, with just the one four, had lasted 102 balls – just what the captain ordered in giving support to Fred, but now four wickets had fallen in as many overs and the nerves were jangling on the boundary.

Not so, however, in the middle, as Fraser Wright was joined by Dave Winpenny to see out the last 25 balls. Dave survived what would have been a miraculous slip catch, but otherwise the two were untroubled. Fraser hit 7 not out including one sweet cover drive for four, Dave ended 1 not out as we secured the draw by closing on 196-5. It was then back to Roehampton’s clubhouse for beer and barbecue with our very hospitable hosts, and an agreement that timed games can have their place in producing topsy-turvy games like this, where all three results had been possible for so long.

And we still don’t know where Rahul is.

 

Sunday Sept 4 v Rotten Livers Raynes Park Sports Ground LOST by 7 wickets

Bricklayer’s Arms 167-5 (25 overs, Rahul Khanna 52, Lewis Caley 51 not out, Dominic Ewer 20) Rotten Livers 168-3 (23.3overs, Rahul Khanna 1-13, Fahad 1-40)

It was a triumph of sea-green optimism that this game was played at all. As the teams huddled against the driving rain at the scheduled 1.30pm start there seemed little prospect of play. However the Raynes Park Sports Club now has a real ale, and a combination of that and Chris Locke’s tea, taken early, kept players occupied until the drizzle relented, allowing a 3.15 start and a 25-over game.

With the promise of good bowling conditions under cloud early on and sunny batting on a dried-out track and outfield, the loss was clearly vital. So Dominic lost that and we found ourselves put in.

The Livers, wary of the sodden run-ups, decided to open with spin Danny Lombardo took advantage, creaming two fours until clipping his fifth ball straight to square leg – 11-1 in the first over. That quickly became 46 after six as Dominic and Rahul Khanna punished the many bad balls. But first change brought immediate results as Dom wafted at a wide one to be caught behind at 46. His 20 had included two fours and taken just 16 balls. The stage was set for Rahul and Lewis Caley – runs to be had if they could survive Livers’ far better change bowlers. Despite some risky running – at one point both were stranded yet the fielder at one wicket chose to throw to the other rather than take off the bails – they built steadily, to 69 after 10 and 107 after 15, before at the end of the 19th over Rahul miscued back to the bowler. He had hit 52 off 53 balls, with five fours and no reverse sweeps. Fraser Wright then hit straight to square leg first ball, but Geoff Brunner thumped 14 before being run out on 164 going for the second run that would give Lewis his fifty. Lewis however finally secured his half-century off the next ball, the penultimate of the innings. All told his unbeaten 51 took 57 balls, with one six and three fours.

Though the scoring rate had been pegged back after our flying start, we had still set a tough ask of 6.7 an over. But the Livers’ openers, particularly the left-handed Rickson, set about our bowling with gusto. A six in Danny Lombardo’s first over set the tone and the pair survived the occasional half-chance to steadily build the score. However Geoff Brunner’s spell of 5-0-26-0 and Mike Ottley’s of 5-0-28-0 (both would have catches taken on another day) had at least applied some brakes – with 10 overs to go the Livers were on 87, needing a further 81 at above eight an over. Rahul Khanna then bowled the lesser of the two openers at 89 as he began a superb spell of 5-1-13-1. Unfotunately fifth bowler Fahad could not match his consistency. More sixes followed as the ball was lost four times, and the game’s defining moment came as Fahad could not hold on to a skier by the left-hander off his own building. Fahad did get one wicket thanks to a catch at long-on by Dom, but was taken off with figures of 3-1-40-1. Danny’s only success was completing a run-out as he posted 4.3-0-46-0, Ian Watson bowled one over for 9 and Rickson completed a well-deserved ton with the winning hit and nine balls to spare.

Still, at least we got a game in.

 

 

Sunday August 28 v Merstham, Haydons Road LOST by 24 runs

Merstham 152-9 (35 overs, Danny Lombardo 5-15, Rahul Khanna 2-29, Mike Ottley 1-28, Daren Salmon 1-29) Bricklayer’s 128-7 (Rahul Khanna 56, Ian Watson 17 not out)

Merstham are new opponents to us, a thoroughly nice bunch for whom Richard Evans used to play. We treated them to our best bowling display for a long while, including a superb Danny Lombardo hat trick, and some great jerk chicken post-match thanks to Franklyn, but alas took hospitality too far by failing with the bat.

After a short rain delay, Dominic Ewer chose to field on a still damp but drying wicket. Danny and Mike Ottley immediately had the opener in trouble, Mike taking first blood thanks to a catch at fine leg by his bowling partner in the second over, but from 1-1 catches failed to go to hand or stick until Danny bowled number 3 at 29. However the remaining opener continued to ride his luck while number 4 started to open up – posting Merstham’s first boundary only in the 14th over.

Danny gave way to Alvin after bowling five overs but Mike Ottley completed a great if unlucky spell of 7-1-28-1 to be replaced by Rahul Khanna. Dominc then made up for an earlier drop by removing number 4 for a good 30 with a catch off Rahul at mid-on, and 76-3 became 80-4 as Rahul bowled Merstham’s skipper for 1 off the inside edge. Alvin’s luck was worse then Mike’s – he should have finished with a wicket maiden but for a bad miss at midwicket, instead posting 7-0-35-0 – but Daren Salmon’s entry into the attack finally saw off the troublesome opener as Richard Evans held a top edge at slip.

That was 97-5 with just 10 overs left, but Merstham milked Daren and Ian Watson well to put on a stand of 52. Ian ended 3-0-14-0 while Daren had 4-0-29-1 as Rahul and Danny returned to bowl their final two overs each. The 33rd over began with Danny taking a great reaction caught and bowled as the ball was hammered back at him, then the fourth ball was sliced to Dave Winpenny at point who took the spiralling catch and was engulfed by his team mates (except Dom who managed to miss him completely with his dive). The drama wasn’t over: the fifth ball bowled number 9, and number 10 then drilled a low catch straight back to the bowler.

Danny had completed a hat trick, a quadruple wicket maiden, his 16th catch of the season, 31st wicket and a five-wicket haul. He ended with 7-2-15-5 while Rahul had 7-0-29-2. Just three more runs were added to leave us a target of 153.

Dom and Danny started our reply in murky conditions against an accurate young pace attack, reaching 22 until the introduction in the ninth over of a wily old spinner induced Dom to mistime a drive to cover for 7. Richard Evans then feathered behind second ball for 1, and 23-2 became 40-3 as Danny fell lbw to the spinner for 9 in the 15th over. All now depended on Rahul, supported by Ian Watson, rebuilding and then accelerating. By 20 overs the asking rate had climbed above six an over and by 25 it was 6.7 but Rahul now set about the change bowlers, hitting nine fours in all and bringing up his fifty with a reverse sweep. But on 107 in the 28th over the match turned as he repeated the stroke only to swat straight to slip. His 56 had taken 60 balls but the remaining batting couldn’t sustain the chase. Daren Salmon was bowled for 1, Dave Winpenny was caught second ball and Manny Vardavas first as both tried to hit out, and Ian ended unbeaten on 17 and Mike Ottley 3 as our innings petered out. We just hadn’t found the answer to Merstham’s nagging accuracy early on, leaving too much to do too late.

Franklyn’s delicious food was excellent consolation back at the Sultan, and Danny’s four-wicket over will live long in the memory. A win must come soon.

 

 

Sunday Aug 21 v Putney CC Sunday 2nds LOST by 5 wickets 

Bricklayer’s Arms 163-7 (40 overs, Rahul Khanna 104) Putney CC 164-5 (30.4 overs, Rahul Khanna 2-30, Mike Ottley 1-19, Danny Lombardo 1-27)

We beat Putney last year, so it was no surprise to see their team somewhat strengthened on Putney Common this year – precious few colts or granddads and a smattering of 1st XI tyros, including its vice-captain skippering. And when he won a vital toss and put us in under cloudy skies, the challenge got harder. Sure enough the ball swung, wobbled and stopped on our batsmen. Danny Lombardo went second ball of the innings, slapping to point for a duck, then after a couple of fours Lewis Caley played on for 10 and shortly thereafter skipper Ian Watson mistimed to cover for 1 to leave us 13-3. Five overs gone and only Rahul Khanna left of our major batsmen, facing a huge task to make any sort of match out of this game. He was joined by Mike Ottley in a painstaking repair job where preserving wickets was key. This they did in a stand of 27 in nine overs, Mike contributing a doughty 2 in 31 balls before Alvin Spencer broke the habit of a lifetime by giving him lbw. The supporting role then passed to Damon Rutherford, who likewise took 31 balls to post 7 before being run out.

All the while Rahul was playing a great sensible innings, defending expertly and picking off the bad ball as the score gradually accelerated – 19 after 10 overs, 39 after 15, 53 after 20, 71 after 25 and 96 after 30 when Damon was out. Now Rahul eased past his fifty and started to hit out – 14 off one over, three successive fours off another to bring up 136 off 35 overs – while at the other end Geoff Brunner, watched by his enthusiastic toddler son Charlie (“Daddy bat!”) joined in with two fours and a straight six of his own. Rahul’s own first six took him to 98, and now the question was whether he could bring up his first ton. First Putney missed a run-out chance to take him to 99, then he top-edged over the keeper’s head only for slip running round to drop the skier. The single was run and the century made off 106 balls, the last 50 of which had brought 68 runs. Geoff finally spooned to midwicket in the penultimate over for 19 in 23 balls, and on the same score of 162, with three balls left, Rahul tried his first reverse sweep – and dollied straight to slip. His 104 had taken 113 balls in all, with 12 fours and a six, and put him three clear of Danny Lombardo as leading run-scorer. Manny Vardavas took a single off the fifth ball, Dave Winpenny didn’t off the last and we had set a target of 164. Pretty good after 13-3, but with the sun now out probably 30-40 short of a winning total.

Ian decided to ring the changes in the bowling, keeping the bowlers to short spells in the heat and resting Rahul as long as possible. All started well as Mike Ottley bowled one opener for 2 and the other was run out by a Danny Lombardo/Chris Locke combination for 9, but from 36-2 the wickets dried up as Messrs Peach and Kumar defied all comers and all lbw appeals. Alvin Spencer’s three overs cost 20, Damon Rutherford’s three 19 and Lewis Caley’s single over went for 18, while Geoff Brunner’s costlier second spell left him with 5-0-26-0. Mike ended with 5-0-19-1 to hand over to Danny Lombardo, while from the other end Rahul finally entered the fray, getting Peach to slice to Geoff Brunner at deep point for 68 at 133 and trapping number 5 lbw on 150. Danny, who took 7-0-27-1, also finally secured an lbw on 151, but the skipper joined Kumar to see Putney home with nine overs to spare. Rahul sealed his man of the match place, as if there were any doubt, with figures of 6.4-0-30-2.

 

Sunday Aug 14 v Mynthurst, Leigh, Surrey LOST by 7 wickets 

Bricklayer’s Arms 138 all out (40.3 overs, Lewis Caley 76) Mynthurst 139-3 (23.3 overs, Mike Ottley 2-21, Geoff Brunner 1-28)

This is the fifth time we’ve been down to Mynthurst and their lovely rural ground close to the Sussex border, delightful pub on the local village green and superb hospitality. Previously we’ve repaid this three years in succession by grinding out a draw with nine wickets down, then suddenly last year we won an overs game. So there was a certain inevitability about the balance tilting this time, especially as Mynthurst put us in to bat and took the draw out of our equation.

With neither Danny Lombardo nor Dominic Ewer playing, opening the batting fell to Ian Watson and Rich O’Donnell. Both went early, Ian for 4 in 12 balls caught at short leg, Rich bowled for 5 off 22 balls as Mynthurst’s bowlers used their local knowledge of the sloping pitch to choke any fast scoring. 13-2 then became 28-3 as Fraser Wright (24 balls for 6) picked the wrong delivery to open up and was bowled by a spinner. This left a lot of responsibility on Lewis Caley, and he shouldered it superbly. Supported by Geoff Brunner, Lewis carefully constructed an innings where bad balls were ruthlessly while the good were capably defended. When Geoff went finally caught at slip for 5, the score had risen to 70, and Dave Winpenny then took over the support role with relish – to a partnership of 45 he contributed 26 scoreless balls, though he did deny Lewis a screaming straight four when it hit his hand as non-striker. Lewis’s innings in all lasted 95 balls, with 13 classy fours and two sixes hit off successive balls as he took 17 off four balls once past his fifty. But on 115 he miscued a skier to mid-on and our momentum went with him. Daren Salmon hit one boundary but only got a single for what he thought was another which stopped just short of the longest boundary, then went lbw for 5, and Dave, having opened his account with a snick to the boundary through slips, went for the same score having lasted 29 balls in all. That was 130-7, and the innings ended just short of our allotted two-and-a-half hours as the last three wickets (Mike bowled for 3, Chris caught at silly mid-on for a duck and Alvin swinging to midwicket for 4) all fell on 138.

After an excellent tea Geoff Brunner opened the attack with Alvin Spencer. Alvin quickly withdrew having found no turn, his two overs going for 16, but on 32 Geoff’s slower ball cut in low off the slope to bowl their hard-hitting opener. At the other end Mike Ottley also found no turn, so upped his pace with instant success, removing the remaining opener lbw on 63 and then getting rid of number 3 on 84. Geoff came off with creditable figures of 7-0-28-1, Martin Frost failed to find his line as two overs cost 15, and though Mike’s spell returned a praiseworthy 7-1-21-1, Fraser Wright endured miserable luck as skiers went down at mid-off and short cover in the same over. Riding that luck, Mynthurst’s batsmen took him for 31 off three overs while 19 off Daren Salmon’s 14 balls saw him home.

At least we were early back to the pub – the Plough at Leigh, where the oppo kindly provided yet more food as we enjoyed a couple of pints in the sunset. We’ll be back next year.

 

Tuesday Aug 9 v Science Museum, Wandsworth Park LOST by 24 runs 

Science Museum 158-4 (Dave Packham 1-12, George Duckett 1-20, Lewis Caley 1-27, Geoff Brunner 1-37), Bricklayer’s Arms 134-8 (Simon Phillips 61)

Some things must go on, riots or no riots, and Bricklayer’s cricket is one of them – though so, alas, is our losing streak.

On a sunny evening with not a hoodie in sight, new opponents the Science Museum won the toss and batted. Things started well as in the second over Rich O’Donnell held on against the sun at long-on to give Geoff Brunner a wicket, but 9-1 was as good as it got as next over Chris Locke spilled the low catch off Simon Phillips which would have removed the other hard-hitting opener. That reprieve was all he needed as he blasted 61 within eight overs, the last particularly harsh on on Geoff as 20 came from boundaries and the only dot ball nearly broke his hand from a straight drive. Geoff’s spell ended 4-0-37-1 while Simon’s was 4-0-32-0, but mercifully the batsman then retired on 61 and the score 69. Our uphill struggle continued as catches went down in the deep, with Lewis Caley unlucky only to take the one wicket bowled to finish 4-0-27-1 – all the drops seemed to come off him. At the other end debutant Chris Turner posted 4-0-24-0, and our pantomime evening in the field was summed up as Alan Petrides at fine leg came for a catch, missed it, then mislaid the ball so comprehensively that the batsmen ran four while the rest of the field bellowed “Behind you!” Despite George Duckett bowling their number 4 with a fine off-cutter and the evergreen Dave Packham marking his first appearance of the season with a caught-and-bowled, the Science Museum moved with some ease to set us 159.

Eight an over briefly looked feasible as Dominic Ewer and Lewis Caley began briskly, Lewis clouting his first ball over midwicket for six. But in the third over Dom, having hit 10 at an uncharacteristic run a ball, edged the 11th delivery to the keeper, and when Lewis was taken at mid-off next over (10 off 9 balls) we were 25-2. Rich O’Donnell and Simon Phillips continued to attack before Rich was bowled for 9 on 47, with Alan Petrides falling to a shooter (“should have been a no-ball”) for a duck on the same score. Dave Winpenny stayed with Simon to add 28 until he toe-ended to mid-on for 3. By now Simon was hitting superbly, taking 19 (dot, 6,4,6,2,1) off the 14th over to give faint hopes of an unlikely victory. But next over at 106 he went for an excellent 61 (38 balls, 3×6,7×4), and without him 11 an over was unlikely. Despite George Duckett’s 15 not out, first in partnership with Chris Turner (run out for 11), then Dave Packham (first ball four, second bowled) and finally Geoff’s 2 not out, we fell 24 short.

Both sides then repaired to the Brick to defy the Chavs’ Revolt and drink to cricket’s enduring spirit.

 

Sunday August 7 v Woodlawn CC, Hampton LOST by 10 wickets 

Bricklayers 142-6 (37 overs, Fraser Wright 41, Geoff Brunner 23 not out, Ian Watson 20) Woodlawn 143-0 (17.2 overs)

This is the time of year when football rudely intrudes upon cricket, and none more so than Saturday, when Chris Locke’s afternoon was ruined by the news that Alvin Spencer, Rahul Khanna and Danny Lombardo had all managed to injure themselves playing soccer that lunchtime. Three key players out less than 24 hours before the match. The appeals for sudden substitutes went out everywhere. First Ben Evans answered, then Camra skipper Tom Brain, though he couldn’t persuade any of the rest of his team. Finally Fraser Wright, himself carrying a wrist injury, succeeded by closing time in the Brick in talking Gordon Bowen into turning up next morning, even though he hadn’t played for 20 years.

So, against all odds, eleven players arrived at Carlisle Park, a lovely ground which, just like last season, looked in imminent danger of a soaking. Woodlawn took one look at the cloud cover and put us in to bat. Dominic was dropped by one of Woodlawn’s colts before, sure enough, after five overs the rain came, a 10-minute stoppage at 10-0. Dominic Ewer and Ian Watson then advanced to 33 before Dom, having hit two fine fours to backward point despite the soggy outfield, fished outside off to be caught behind for 11. Ian meanwhile was starting to hit hard against a pacy attack, creaming three boundaries before thrashing one hard to extra cover – 47-2. Then, four runs, came more rain in the 15th over. This time it was 25 minutes before the covers (yes, covers) came off. Only their presence had saved the game, and it was agreed to carry on with the aid of copious sawdust for the bowlers’ run-ups but that another rain shower would be terminal.

The clouds were still menacing and the ball still swinging, with even Woodlawn’s colts bowling well. Ben Evans went for 11 when after two fours and a drop he was well caught at mid-on by the same fielder who had spilled his earlier dolly. Enter Tom Brain with instructions to stay with Fraser, which he did as the score moved from 72 to 101, whereupon both fell. Fraser, having creamed three successive fours to make eight in total, tried one shot too many to be bowled for 41 – a great effort with a sore wrist – while Tom was also bowled. Peter Lamb and Geoff Brunner added 21 before Peter was bowled, and Geoff continued to pile on the twos with Dave Winpenny as they put on an undefeated 20, Geoff ending 23 not out and Dave 2 not out. We had batted out our two and a half hours but only 37 overs had been bowled thanks to the need to dry ball and pitch.

Our total always looked 40-50 runs short, and sure enough after a great tea Woodlawn were in no mood to repeat last year’s draw. We had dodged the last huge shower that could be seen soaking Twickenham, and now conditions changed as the sun came out, the pitch dried in a warm wind and Woodlawn’s openers, particularly the left-handed Shand, made short work of our depleted attack. Credit to Geoff for managing a maiden in 7-1-45-0, but Ben’s four overs went for 42,  Daren Salmon’s five for 43 and Tom Brain’s eight balls for 8  as Shand hit a practically chanceless 96 not out while his partner survived one drop for an undefeated 40. And credit too to Gordon Bowen, denied a bat on debut but chasing enthusiastically to the deep in inappropriate shoes, and to all those who made this game happen – a bit of a victory in itself.

 

 

Thursday Aug 4 v Craney’s Cavaliers, Wandsworth Common LOST by 6 wickets

Bricklayers 141-6 (20 overs, Rahul Khanna 39 not out, Rich O’Donnell 17), Craney’s Cavaliers 142-4 (20 overs).

Craney’s Cavaliers play the 20-over game differently – retire in the over you score 25, no-balls and wides count as 2 but give no extra ball and all outfielders bowl two overs – but we still found ourselves in a last-ball thriller for the second time this season. And for the second time we lost.

Put in to bat on an unexpectedly sunny evening where earlier rain had soaked the outfield, we started steadily with Dominic Ewer and Danny Lombardo, but neither could find the boundary and Dom couldn’t find his box – it slipped down his trouser leg every time he attempted a run, with the result that all Danny’s speed counted for nothing as Dom lumbered awkwardly while grasping his boxer shorts. The result was a slowish start before Dom’s discomfiture was ended, bowled for 9 at 29. Nor did Danny get the chance to run a quick single at last – Simon Phillips sent him back to his doom for 11 on the same score, and then five runs later was caught at long-on himself for a duck. But Rich O’Donnell hit our first four and a couple more in 17 before being stumped, and with Rahul and wides contruting generously we had roared to 110-4> Geoff Brunner was then bowled for 1 on 112, but Rahul took full advantage of the retirement conditions – having established he was on 22, he hit a four and single, got the strike back immediately from George Duckett, then went 4, 2 and 6 to retire on 39. With Dave Winpenny not out 1 and George hitting a four and six in the last over before the final delivery bowled him, we had mustered a competitive total.

Caliers set about the chase positively, seeing off Danny (2-0-12-0), Alvin Spencer (2-0-16-0) and Geoff Brunner (2-0-21-0) before their skipper Barry gave danny his 13th catch of the season at deep midwicket for 24 off George Duckett (2-0-14-1). The other, slower opener retired on 26, and Rich O’Donnell’s 2-0-12-0 slowed the pace and set up Dave Winpenny (2-0-15-1) to have the dangerous Henry beautifully caught tumbling by Simon for 17. With Simon himself (2-0-9-1) applying more brakes and bowling number 5 things were swinging our way – even Dominic Ewer, in only the second two-over spell of his life, went 2-0-14-0. Cavaliers needed 28 off five overs, then 17 off three, then finally, after Rahul Khanna had gained an lbw and figures of 2-0-8-1, 10 off the last over, Manny Vardavas’s second – his first having yielded just five. Three twos came off the first three balls, then two singles leaving two to win and one to tie off the final delivery. Alas, a mow to square leg in the gathering dark was not cleanly gathered and they scrambled home. A damn close run thing and a great, unusual game.

 

Sunday July 31 v SW London Camra, Nursery Road, South Wimbledon LOST by 134 runs

SW London Camra 312-6 (35 overs,Fahad 3-70, Rahul Khanna 2-21, Alvin Spencer 1-57), Bricklayers 178-8 (35 overs, Danny Lombardo 45, Peter Lamb 37)

One thing you have to do playing Camra – get Shaun Lombard out cheaply. Alvin Spencer emphasised in his skipper’s team talk that we must hold our chances, having been put into the field. So hopes were high as Shaun miscued early to square leg off Fraser Wright. But the ball fell to earth in front of Fahad. We were to pay a heavy price.

Camra had started off at a fierce pace, abetted by a dry, hard outfield where every edge raced for four. Ben Evans, opening against us, particularly rode his luck this way against Danny Lombardo, though also proving that his eye remains as keen as ever with some cracking offside boundaries. Fraser, who couldn’t get his line, was withdrawn from the attack with figures of 3-0-32-0. But at the other end Danny was having no joy either, so Alvin turned to Fahad and Rahul Khanna. This put the brakes on scoring – just as well as Camra were 83-0 off the first nine overs – and finally brought a breakthrough as Alvin, replacing Fahad, trapped Ben lbw for a spirited 62 and, next over, Rahul got number 3 to loop the ball to Chris Locke behind the stumps. That was 17 overs, drinks, and Camra pegged back to 127-2.

Shaun had only made 44 by that point, but he re-emerged determined to race on. Though at 149 Rahul got number 4 beautifully – short ball to get to him to back away, then a corker to take middle stump – he was the only economical bowler, finishing with 7-1-21-2. Shaun was caning everyone else, though Danny’s luck was summed up by his last ball seeing Shaun dropped at mid-off. Danny finished with 7-0-53-0 and shortly afterwards Shaun posted his ton.Fahad then took number 5 in his second spell, thanks to a skied catch by Alvin at short midwicket. That was 203-4 with less than 10 overs left, but now Shaun really went for it, and by the time he finally holed out in the 34th over – Lombard, caught Lombardo on the deep midwicket boundary – he had belted 163 and the score was 298. In the same over Fahad had number 7 taken by a great dive by Vijay at slip, but some merry swinging mustered 312 by the end of 35 overs. Martin Frost had suffered worst – 5-0-71-0 – but Fahad’s seven overs had returned 3-70 and Alvin’s six 1-57.

Ian Watson and Rahul Khanna began our chase of the massive target, putting on 28 before Ian was run out for 7. Rahul moved to 17 before getting the wrong end of an lbw decision at 49, while eight runs later Fraser was taken by a superb one-handed dive at deep midwicket – that man Shaun again, catching him for 15. With Vijay bowled by Ben Evans for 1 we were 63-4. Danny Lombardo and Peter Lamb set about rebuilding, Danny hitting the ball to wherever Shaun wasn’t until, inevitably, he found him at deep square leg – Lombardo, caught Lombard 45. 141-5 became 154-6 as Peter Lamb was caught at mid-off for a nicely compiled 37. Batting out the overs was now the target, which Dave Winpenny did with some resolve, even pulling a fine boundary to midwicket in the midst of otherwise resolute defence. Though Fahad (2) and Chris Locke (0) couldn’t resist dollying up catches from Camra’s wayward occasional bowlers (wides eventually totalled 38), Dave remained undefeated on 6 while Alvin Spencer was 4 not out thanks to Ian refusing to give him plumb lbw on the last ball. But 178-8 was still 134 short.

So, a big defeat. But it was sunny, and the oppo did bring beer – two polypins in fact, which helped the post mortem pass pleasantly.

 

Sunday July 24 v Oasby CC, Ropsley Village Hall Ground, Lincs LOST by 23 runs

Oasby 189-10 (40 overs, Danny Lombardo 4-30, Alvin Spencer 2-14, Rahul Khanna 2-29, Fahad 2-38), Bricklayers 166-6 (40 overs, Rahul Khanna 70, Dominic Ewer 26, Rich O’Donnell 25)

A hog roast with two barrels of local beer, wonderfully hospitable hosts, the run of a beautiful large house, booze and dominoes until 3am – what possible catch could there be in our preparations for Sunday’s game in Lincolnshire, which our opponents had scheduled for an 11am start? OK, the home strategy was pretty obvious, but playing with a hangover is not unusual in this team and we were all too happy to walk unsteadily into Oasby’s trap.

So, after a marvellous evening, very short night’s sleep and excellent cooked breakfast, we found ourselves at the ground just outside Ropsley village that Oasby call home. Part one of their fiendish plan had gone awry – Ropsley FC were playing on half the pitch. To some this was an opportunity for nets, to others (Danny Lombardo, just back from the fleshpots of Ibiza) for sleep. Finally at noon we got under way, fielding against opposition who would bat 12 while our lowest scorer could bat again if required. A long afternoon beckoned.

Lewis Caley, skippering against his father, decided to open the attack with Danny Lombardo and Fahad, as they were the only people not to have drunk the night before. Danny struck first with an lbw, then Lewis’s father, our generous host Dick, spooned to square leg off Fahad to the safe hands of Mike Ottley. Fahad continued the good work by bowling No 3 and would have had a third had Dominic held on at slip. Fate was kind – two balls later Alvin Spencer bowled a dire long hop to the same batsman which he sliced gently to Dom in the same position. But runs were coming too – after a cautious start Oasby had got to five an over by 10 overs, helped by two loose overs from Daren Salmon (2-0-23-0) and Fahad tiring for his final two to give him 2-0-38-2.

Nonetheless drinks on 20 overs saw five wickets down for 101, Alvin getting a second with another miscue to Danny at square leg. Alvin (4-0-14-2) was then taken off to allow Rahul Khanna to switch ends and use the wind. This worked, Rahul taking out Number 7′s off stump with a perfect in-swinger and then catching Number 8 off his own bowling to finish 8-1-29-2. Yet through it all Number 5 bat Leader was steadfily accumulating – Mike Ottley’s 7-1-30-0 went wicketless as three catches were dropped – and was now joined in a doughty stand with Number 9 which was broken only by the return of Danny Lombardo. Danny first had Number 9 caught low to his left by Chris Locke, then was indebted to Lewis for a fantastic one-handed catch to his left at silly point – definitely the game’s champagne moment, even drawing a “not bad” from his dad, who was umpiring – and finally Danny caught and bowled Leader for 80 for his 10th catch of the season (neck-and-neck with Chris) and figures of 8-1-30-4.

That was 10 wickets, but Oasby’s 11th wicket still added a dozen as Lewis’s three overs were wicketless for 15. Nonetheless only 88 had come from the last 20 overs, and the target looked gettable.

Dominic Ewer and Rich O’Donnell, fresh from his 40 last week, opened the batting against some accurate bowling from Oasby – so much so that only 34 came from the first 10 overs, most of that in a blaze of three successive boundaries from Rich, who hit five fours in 25 before attempting to drive a straight one. That was 38-1 and brought in Rahul Khanna, in rich form after a 67 not out from the previous day guesting on Mike Ottley’s Cambridge tour game. Careful defence was mixed with some classic pulls and cuts to the boundary as he and Dom built steadily. Drinks at 77-1 saw us needing just above five an over with 10 wickets in hand – surely doable, with Rahul attacking, Dom playing his usual watchful/supportive/soporific game and Danny and Lewis to come. Sure enough, Rahul brought up his fifty and Dom timed his departure perfectly: caught and bowled for 26 off the last ball of the 27th over, when we needed 73 off 13 overs.

Danny started with a cracking cover drive but that four was all he got, bowled through the gate by an off-break – 130-3. The stage was set for Lewis to hit the winning runs against his family side, and he started with a Gower-esque off-drive to make the target 56 off 10 overs. But then, at 136, the world turned upside down. Rahul called for a single, changed his mind and stranded Lewis on 5. That run-out effectively took two wickets. Suddenly Rahul’s timing went, he started fretting and despite support from Daren Salmon, who hit 8 including one lovely legside clip for four, by the time he’d been caught at cover on 151 the asking rate was soaring. Rahul’s attempts to farm the strike against a deep-set field proved fruitless as singles were declined and boundaries dried up. Finally, on 70 and us a by now distant 156, one very tired shot looped to mid-on – Rahul had hit 10 fours, but only one past his fifty. Dave Winpenny (2 not out) and Fahad (8 not out) batted out the last two overs but the game had gone.

Credit to Oasby’s bowlers, all eight of whom bowled tightly in what for so long had seemed a losing cause, to Rahul for an innings that gave us hope almost to the end, and sympathy to Lewis for the script going wrong at the last. But the real congratulations must go to the Caley family, for a fantastic weekend’s hospitality and a generosity and forbearance towards us all we will long treasure. This is a fixture to keep.

Sunday July 24 v Oasby CC, Ropsley Village Hall Ground, Lincs LOST by 23 runs

Oasby 189-10 (40 overs, Danny Lombardo 4-30, Alvin Spencer 2-14, Rahul Khanna 2-29, Fahad 2-38), Bricklayers 166-6 (40 overs, Rahul Khanna 70, Dominic Ewer 26, Rich O’Donnell 25)

A hog roast with two barrels of local beer, wonderfully hospitable hosts, the run of a beautiful large house, booze and dominoes until 3am – what possible catch could there be in our preparations for Sunday’s game in Lincolnshire, which our opponents had scheduled for an 11am start? OK, the home strategy was pretty obvious, but playing with a hangover is not unusual in this team and we were all too happy to walk unsteadily into Oasby’s trap.

So, after a marvellous evening, very short night’s sleep and excellent cooked breakfast, we found ourselves at the ground just outside Ropsley village that Oasby call home. Part one of their fiendish plan had gone awry – Ropsley FC were playing on half the pitch. To some this was an opportunity for nets, to others (Danny Lombardo, just back from the fleshpots of Ibiza) for sleep. Finally at noon we got under way, fielding against opposition who would bat 12 while our lowest scorer could bat again if required. A long afternoon beckoned.

Lewis Caley, skippering against his father, decided to open the attack with Danny Lombardo and Fahad, as they were the only people not to have drunk the night before. Danny struck first with an lbw, then Lewis’s father, our generous host Dick, spooned to square leg off Fahad to the safe hands of Mike Ottley. Fahad continued the good work by bowling No 3 and would have had a third had Dominic held on at slip. Fate was kind – two balls later Alvin Spencer bowled a dire long hop to the same batsman which he sliced gently to Dom in the same position. But runs were coming too – after a cautious start Oasby had got to five an over by 10 overs, helped by two loose overs from Daren Salmon (2-0-23-0) and Fahad tiring for his final two to give him 2-0-38-2.

Nonetheless drinks on 20 overs saw five wickets down for 101, Alvin getting a second with another miscue to Danny at square leg. Alvin (4-0-14-2) was then taken off to allow Rahul Khanna to switch ends and use the wind. This worked, Rahul taking out Number 7′s off stump with a perfect in-swinger and then catching Number 8 off his own bowling to finish 8-1-29-2. Yet through it all Number 5 bat Leader was steadfily accumulating – Mike Ottley’s 7-1-30-0 went wicketless as three catches were dropped – and was now joined in a doughty stand with Number 9 which was broken only by the return of Danny Lombardo. Danny first had Number 9 caught low to his left by Chris Locke, then was indebted to Lewis for a fantastic one-handed catch to his left at silly point – definitely the game’s champagne moment, even drawing a “not bad” from his dad, who was umpiring – and finally Danny caught and bowled Leader for 80 for his 10th catch of the season (neck-and-neck with Chris) and figures of 8-1-30-4.

That was 10 wickets, but Oasby’s 11th wicket still added a dozen as Lewis’s three overs were wicketless for 15. Nonetheless only 88 had come from the last 20 overs, and the target looked gettable.

Dominic Ewer and Rich O’Donnell, fresh from his 40 last week, opened the batting against some accurate bowling from Oasby – so much so that only 34 came from the first 10 overs, most of that in a blaze of three successive boundaries from Rich, who hit five fours in 25 before attempting to drive a straight one. That was 38-1 and brought in Rahul Khanna, in rich form after a 67 not out from the previous day guesting on Mike Ottley’s Cambridge tour game. Careful defence was mixed with some classic pulls and cuts to the boundary as he and Dom built steadily. Drinks at 77-1 saw us needing just above five an over with 10 wickets in hand – surely doable, with Rahul attacking, Dom playing his usual watchful/supportive/soporific game and Danny and Lewis to come. Sure enough, Rahul brought up his fifty and Dom timed his departure perfectly: caught and bowled for 26 off the last ball of the 27th over, when we needed 73 off 13 overs.

Danny started with a cracking cover drive but that four was all he got, bowled through the gate by an off-break – 130-3. The stage was set for Lewis to hit the winning runs against his family side, and he started with a Gower-esque off-drive to make the target 56 off 10 overs. But then, at 136, the world turned upside down. Rahul called for a single, changed his mind and stranded Lewis on 5. That run-out effectively took two wickets. Suddenly Rahul’s timing went, he started fretting and despite support from Daren Salmon, who hit 8 including one lovely legside clip for four, by the time he’d been caught at cover on 151 the asking rate was soaring. Rahul’s attempts to farm the strike against a deep-set field proved fruitless as singles were declined and boundaries dried up. Finally, on 70 and us a by now distant 156, one very tired shot looped to mid-on – Rahul had hit 10 fours, but only one past his fifty. Dave Winpenny (2 not out) and Fahad (8 not out) batted out the last two overs but the game had gone.

Credit to Oasby’s bowlers, all eight of whom bowled tightly in what for so long had seemed a losing cause, to Rahul for an innings that gave us hope almost to the end, and sympathy to Lewis for the script going wrong at the last. But the real congratulations must go to the Caley family, for a fantastic weekend’s hospitality and a generosity and forbearance towards us all we will long treasure. This is a fixture to keep.

Wednesday July 20 v Wandsworth Planners, Wandsworth Park LOST by 27 runs

Wandsworth Planners 119-8 (20 overs, Alvin Spencer 4-19, Rahul Khanna 2-20, Simon Phillips 1-15, Zaman 1-35) Bricklayer’s 92-7 (20 overs, Rahul Khanna 26, Lewis Caley 23)

Another damp evening, another game completed thanks to both teams ignoring the rain with all the sang-froid of Sid James and Joan Sims in Carry On Up The Khyber. But this time, with no Danny to be inspired by his kit getting soaked and in positively Stygian gloom, we failed to record a victory.

The night began badly as Mike Ottley lost the toss and we were sent out to field. Zaman, back for his first bowl in two years, couldn’t find his line and was hit for 17 off his first over. With Planners’ skipper Paul Landsberg severe on anything wayward 56 were rattled up from the first five overs. But Rahul Khanna’s persistence paid off as first he bowled the other opener off his pads and then had Paul lbw for 36. With Simon Phillips replacing Zaman the run rate was slowed dramatically as he bowled Planners’ number 4 to record 4-0-15-1, while Rahul ended with 4-1-20-2.

With Paul gone and the outfield now sodden, only one more boundary was hit all innings – Mike Ottley reeling off an unlucky 4-0-22-0 mainly down to tip and run – and Alvin Spencer found the perfect length to take two wickets in three balls, both pitching middle-and-off and turning to hit leg. He then added a midwicket catch by debutant Vijay and a stumping by Chris Locke to record 4-0-19-4. Zaman finally found his line second spell and got a clean bowled last over to finish 4-0-15-1, and we had clawed the Planners back to such an extent that 63 had come from the last 15 overs at a cost of seven wickets.

That still left a target of 120, however, in the rain and increasing dark against a good bowling attack which started with a maiden. Rahul and Simon built steadily from there, though Simon survived a confident stumping appeal when Alvin Spencer insisted his toe was behind the line (to general disbelief, but the opposition’s fielder at point later confirmed he was right). Simon did eventually fall victim to the keeper following a top-edge, out for 16 with the score on 39, but after 10 overs we seemed still in the hunt, needing 72 with nine wickets left and skipper Paul bowled out.

Alas Rahul, having hit three fours and a six in his 26, drilled a catch straight to cover as the Planners’ third, fourth and fifth bowlers took the game away from us. Vijay swung and missed for a duck, Jason Reid was bowled for 3, Dominic Ewer ran himself for 1 and Manny Vardavas could hardly see the ball that took his stumps for a 1 which owed everything to Rahul’s reluctance to signal byes.With five overs left we were 62-6, and though Lewis Caley hit four great boundaries in his 23 he had not had enough of the strike to win the game on his own. He was finally lbw at 88, leaving Alvin to swipe 3 not out to accompany Mike’s unbeaten 9. Planners’ bowlers had just been too accurate and too quick for us.

Tuesday July 12 v Chelsea Cobblers WON by 6 wickets

Chelsea Cobblers 67 all out (19.3 overs, Mike Ottley 4-11, Danny Lombardo 2-14, Geoff Brunner 2-14, Lewis Caley 1-17) Bricklayer’s 71-4 (16.3 overs, Rich O’Donnell 40, Peter Lamb 17)

After one ball of this game Rich O’Donnell’s experiment of turning up sober for cricket was not going well – he had just dropped their opener off Danny Lombardo at backward point. However Rich’s adventure in virtue did eventually bring the reward of his highest score in a solid win.

With half the team late Chris Locke lost the toss and we fielded. Danny Lombardo and Geoff Brunner started tightly but the first wicket was a run-out as Dominic Ewer at square leg gathered a ball that had just fallen short and ran in to take the bails off himself. Skipper Nishwas next to go as Geoff spared Chris’s blushes from a muffed run-out by trapping him lbw next ball. With Danny (4-1-14-2) taking a double wicket maiden to remove number 4 bowled round his legs and 5 caught by Lewis Caley at cover, both for ducks, we were well in charge, especially with Rahul Khanna delivering a beautiful but luckless 4-0-8-0 from the other end. Lewis himself now tied up the batsmen with a mix of off and leg spin, bowling their obdurate opener with a flatter one to post 4-0-17-1. Mike Ottley now picked up where he had left off on Sunday, recording identical figures as he had two men caught by Jason Reid at mid-on, one bowled and one lbw. With Geoff returning for a second wicket, bowled, to get 4-0-14-2, Jason’s second catch ended Cobblers’ innings three balls short of 20 overs to give Mike 3.3-0-11-4 and us a target of just 68.

As Jason Reid reeled off a trademark powerful four it looked as if this could be short work. But he got under the next one to hole out to deep mid-on, and this brought Rich O’Donnell in to join Peter Lamb. The two posted a 55-run partnership before Rich was bowled off his 43rd ball for a 40 which featured one six and five fours through the lush outfield. Fraser Wright hit 3 but on scores level he edged behind and then Peter, who had played a fine supporting role, miscued a pull off his 36th ball to perish for 17. But with the next ball going for four byes neither Dominic Ewer nor Mike Ottley needed to score a run, and it was back to the Red Lion for some much appreciated food laid on by the Cobblers, followed at the Brick by some much-needed alcohol intake for Rich (with a little assistance from his team-mates).

Sunday July 10 v Fawe Park, Roehampton Recreation Ground, Dover House Road LOST by 7 runs

Fawe Park 147 all out (26.4 overs, Mike Ottley 4-11, Rahul Khanna 3-9, Danny Lombardo 1-3, David Illingworth 1-13, Geoff Brunner 1-29) Bricklayers 140-8 (35 overs, Danny Lombardo 36, Rahul Khanna 35, wides 28)

Rahul Khanna took the Brick’s first hat trick, we held seven catches, the opposition donated 28 wides – yet still we lost in an extraordinary see-saw match on Dover House Road.

That this could be an unusual game was indicated when the first ball, from Geoff Brunner, was belted back over his head for six by Fawe Park opener Sanjay. Though Chaz Held went second over, bowled for 0 by Mike Ottley, Park rattled up 23 off the first three overs. Mike then applied the brake in tandem with Danny Lombardo, with Mike inducing a caught and bowled the next three overs yielded just three runs. Skipper Ian Watson was rotating our bowlers, never allowing the batsmen to settle, and David Illingworth (2-0-13-1) picked up the next wicket as Geoff Brunner took a good catch round the corner – 40-3 off 10 overs, and the key wicket of Sanjay went just after as the delayed Fahad took a fine catch, a skier to midwicket, off the first ball for which he was on the field, giving Danny figures of 3-1-3-1.

Now Rahul Khanna came into his own, getting Harry Tilbury to edge onto his stumps. For the next ball Ian moved Lewis Caley to silly point, and the catch duly popped up. One fast leg-stump yorker later Rahul had his hat trick, his first, the first for the Brick and we think for our previous incarnation as the Adelaide as well (can anyone recall one?). That left Fawe Park 58-7 and Rahul with figures of 3-0-9-3, but skipper Richie and No 9 Jim mounted a recovery against Dave Winpenny’s 1-0-10-0 and Fahad’s 3-0-20-0. It took the return of Mike to dislodge Richie, extra bounce bringing a thin edge to Chris Locke. Jim continued to swing but a juggling catch in the deep by Danny gave Mike his fourth wicket and figures of 5-0-11-4. Lewis was unlucky not to wrap up the innings as Mike dropped a skier that Chris should have called. Reprieved, No 10 Alex laid about him, leaving Lewis with an undeserved 5-0-40-0 as he belted 36 before Geoff Brunner (4.4-0-29-1) got him to snick to the diving Chris.

The target of 148 represented an asking rate just over four an over, but the pitch was keeping low with occasional surprising bounce, and had turned from the start. Sure enough, Park opened with two spinners whom Fraser Wright and Danny Lombardo played cautiously until Fraser edged behind for 12 on 31. Nonetheless we had 51-1 after 10 overs, but on 57 Danny hit straight to cover. Ian Watson then contributed 3 to a stand of 35 before departing lbw, and Mike Otlley was caught and bowled for a duck on 97. Lewis Caley cracked a nice boundary but then the game swung yet again as first he went lbw for 5 and then Fahad ran himself out for 1 first ball. At 104-6 the wheels were coming off, but Geoff Brunner batted well for 14 and Rahul Khanna had moved steadily into the mid-thirties.

With three overs left and 10 to get it seemed we were home. But Fawe Park’s skipper then bowled a wicket maiden, removing Geoff last ball, and from the next delivery Alex bowled Rahul as he chased an urgently needed boundary. Davids Illingworth (0 not out) and Winpenny (1 not out) under Ian’s instructions, denied Fawe Park the satisfaction of bowling us out, but we had still fallen short in a match that for so long we had looked like winning. That’s cricket for you.

Tuesday July 5 v Westminster, Wandsworth Park WON by 8 wickets

Westminster 137-7 (20 overs, Lewis Caley 2-7, Danny Lombardo 1-13, Mike Ottley 1-15, Simon Phillips 1-19, Alvin Spencer 1-30) Bricklayer’s Arms 141-2 (17 overs, Danny Lombardo 94 not out, Dominic Ewer 27)

At long last a win. At the eighth attempt midweek, and for the first time for exactly a month, we could celebrate a rare victory. Westminster had started our midweek losing sequence by beating us by 11 runs back in May, and with a strong side we were determined to reverse that result, regardless of forecast or actual rain.

On a grey evening Westminster batted first, and the last ball of the second over saw Bricklayers debutant Simon Phillips take a debut wicket as Chris Locke clung to a fast low inside edge. Next over Simon himself was the catcher, hanging on after a great run and tumble off Danny Lombardo at long on. Both Simon (4-019-1) and Danny (4-0-13-1) bowled well to contain the scoring. Just as well, since Ben Evans could find neither line nor length, his second over costing 26 as he went 2-0-33-0. Mike Ottley’s 4-0-15-1, featuring an lbw, was more like it, and helped by a run-out when the batsman slipped mid-wicket the rate was slowed again. However the showers now arrived with some force, producing a flurry of errors and extras as the wet ball slithered around. Alvin Spencer did manage to bowl one batsman off his pads but his figures were 4-0-30-1. Instead it was Lewis Caley who produced the star turn with two overs of leg-spin, the fifth and sixth balls of his first over setting up a hat trick after a well-judged catch by Rich O’Donnell at mid-on and a plumb lbw. Sadly the umpire turned down the whole team’s appeal for lbw next ball, and Westminster set us 138 to win.

All this time Danny Lombardo’s mood was darkening. He’d dropped two deep catches, then been heckled by his team-mates for trying to stay dry under the trees. Now he found no one had thought to move his kit to shelter from the rain. Not a good move – somebody was going to suffer for this. It soon became obvious, as Danny’s first scoring shot was a six, that that somebody was any Westminster bowler. For the first two overs Dominic Ewer kept pace with him as 25 runs flowed, then Danny raced ahead.Only when he was on 42 did Danny take his first single – before then just two twos had punctuated the hail of sweetly-struck boundaries. By 10 overs the pair had put on 89 with Danny well past 50. Dom finally fell on 111 for 27 off 28 balls (3×4), which on any other day would have seemed like rapid scoring. Lewis Caley was bowled first ball and Simon Phillips then hit 9 not out, but it was fitting that Danny struck the winning runs with three overs to spare, his 15th four to add to three sixes in a magnificent unbeaten 94 that took just 55 balls.

So a victory – not just over the oppo but also the weather. Thanks to all on both sides who defied the damp and endured the wet – it certainly made Danny’s batting flower.

Sunday July 3 v London Fields CC, London Fields, Hackney LOST by 7 wickets

Bricklayer’s Arms 179-3 (35 overs, Fraser Wright 76 not out, Rahul Khanna 32, Dominic Ewer 24), London Fields CC 180-3 (30.2 overs, Danny Lombardo 2-42, Fahad 1-22)

A new ground for most of us as we took over one of the now defunct Captain’s Select XI’s established fixtures, on a ground that traces its history back to the Napoleonic Wars and provided the best wicket and outfield we have yet played on this season.

Dominic Ewer won the toss and batted, determined to avoid the early batting collapses that have plagued our most recent games. This he and Danny Lombardo did in gritty style, resisting Fields’ opening attack to post 30 off the first 10 overs. First change then did for Danny, bowled by a full toss for 13 at 35, while 10 runs later Dominic fell lbw for 24 as umpire Manny Vardavas answered the mildest of appeals in the affirmative. At drinks on 18 overs we were 56-2, but Fraser Wright and Rahul Khanna, having played themselves in, now granted the pleas of a stoned rasta spectating on the boundary to “hit the ball, man” with some ferocity. Fraser in particular continued his great recent form, eventually unfurling two magnificent sixes and 11 fours, while Rahul still managed five boundaries in his 32 despite an over-fondness for the reverse sweep. The pair had added 86 when the ball ballooned off Rahul’s glove to slip. Ian Watson then joined Fraser in an unbeaten stand of 48 to which he contributed a hard-hitting 16 as Fraser reached 76 off 68 balls.

This left a target of 180 at just above five an over, which Fields set about with alacrity. Their openers were helped by a muffed run-out first ball and early catches dropped at point and slip, while the fast outfield led to a number of edges for four to third man. However Danny Lombardo’s perseverance was rewarded by bowling one opener off his pads at 51 and trapping the other lbw at 61 in a wicket maiden as he, Rahul and Mike Ottley started to apply the brakes. Danny ended with 7-2-42-2, while Rahul’s pace and swing was unjustly unrewarded as he finished with 7-2-22-0. Mike was also unlucky that a catch went down at deep midwicket to leave him 5-0-24-0. But once past drinks, when we had a glimmer of hope having restricted their score to 101, Fields’ three and four really opened up, savaging Daren Salmon (Salmon 2-0-25-0) in particular. From the other end Fahad (4-1-22-1) bowled well, his wicket coming at 175 as Fraser held Fields’ skipper at mid-off, but even the return of Geoff (5.2-0-34-0) could not prevent Fields getting home in the 31st over.

A much improved performance, then, but still not a win – for that we must hold our catches.

Thursday June 30 v Fleet Street Strollers, Wandsworth Park, LOST by 87 runs

Fleet Street Strollers 164-4 (20 overs, Mike Ottley 2-34, Geoff Brunner 1-18, Alvin Spencer 1-48) Bricklayer’s Arms 77-6 (20 overs, Alan Petrides 20)

You know you’re in trouble when an opener belts four boundaries off the second over of the innings. Alvin Spencer was the unfortunate bowler, though he did get his man bowled next over. By that time he had hit 35, however, contributing most of them to Alvin’s eventual figures of 4-0-48-1. At the other end Geoff Brunner (4-0-18-1) was more economical, and had indeed claimed first blood by getting the other opener for just 1 as he fended a lifter low and fast to Chris Locke. But occasional Brick player John Low carried on the aggression for the Strollers, who had posted 69 off the first eight overs. Danny Lombardo’s excellent unlucky spell put the brakes on as he recorded 4-0-10-0, while Mike Ottley trapped John lbw for 31 and bowled his partner for 15. But a late assault on Steve Neville (2-0-16-0) and especially the luckless Dave Winpenny (2-0-33-0), who saw one deep catch missed and another taken by Danny over the boundary as the last over went for 24, took the Strollers to an imposing 164.

 

All hope of chasing eight an over effectively ended first ball, as Danny’s off stump was knocked over by a beauty of a delivery. Dominic Ewer soon followed, bowled for 3, and from 8-2 survival became key. Alan Petrides and Peter Lamb saw off the very accurate opening bowlers but after eight overs we had reached just 22. Peter then went bowled for 1 by first change. A bright knock of 13 by Rich O’Donnell (“that’s the first innings I’ve ever played sober for the Brick”) took us to 45 before he was bowled, and Geoff posted his first runs of the season, 9 with two fours, before being undone by a grubber on 56. Finally on 62 Alan Petrides’ obdurate resistance was ended by a catch at deep extra cover – without his 20 we could well have been skittled – and Steve Neville, with a bright cameo 10 not out, and Mike Ottley, who practised his batting for 3 not out, closed out the overs. Then it was back to the Brick to wish baby boy Daren Salmon a very happy birthday.

 

 

Sunday June 26 v Highgate Taverners, Woodside Park Sports Club LOST by 8 wickets

Bricklayer’s Arms 127-7 (35 overs, Rahul Khanna 72, Fahad 17 not out) Highgate Taverners 133-2 (20.3 overs, Rahul Khanna 2-27)

It’s been our week for batting collapses. On Thursday we were 17-5 in six overs, on Sunday 39-6 after 18. And once again, despite a spirited recovery and another fine half-century, there was no way back in the end.

A blazing hot day began late thanks to North Circular traffic, but once all were assembled we were put in on a green track against some very good bowling. Daren Salmon, pressed into opening, top-edged early to slip for a duck, then at 3 Danny Lombardo missed a straight one for a rare zero, and 13-2 swiftly became 16-3 as Dominic Ewer was “strangled” down leg side for 8. When Lewis Caley edged a drive to slip for 2 on 22 some serious rebuilding would be needed. Dave Winpenny (bowled) and Mike Ottley (caught and bowled) each lasted 11 scoreless balls as foil to Rahul Khanna, but drinks on the fall of Mike’s wicket saw us more than halfway through overs and wickets with just 39 scored.

Yet the next wicket was not to fall until the last of our 35 overs. In between Rahul Khanna moved smoothly from watchful defence to sparkling attack, hitting 72 off 93 balls with three sixes and seven fours (including one reverse sweep). He was excellently supported by Fahad, who hit two fours in 17 not out spanning 44 balls. Rahul lofted to cover off our penultimate ball, leaving Manny Vardavas to biff a two and Taverners a target of 128.

This they set about with the speed of men who have already stood about quite enough in the sweltering sun. Danny Lombardo’s seven overs went for 42, Mike Ottley’s two cost 17, Daren Salmon’s three 18 and Manny Vardavas’s pair leaked 22. Only man of the match Rahul had any success, two clean bowled on 49 and 100 to post 6.3-1-27-2, as the winning six was hit in the 21st over. Both sides gratefully ran for shade and drink.

 

 

Thursday Jun 23 v Oracle, Barnes Common LOST by 29 runs

Oracle Health Services 143-3 (20 overs, Mike Ottley 2-19, Al Carlson 1-19) Bricklayer’s Arms 114-7 (20 overs, Al Carlson 51, Mike Ottley 20 not out)

When chasing a target of 144 it’s best not to start by losing five wickets in the first six overs, but that’s what we managed last night. Oracle, reincarnated out of Phase Forward, had accumulated a challenging total by seeing out Danny Lombardo’s excellent opening spell (4-0-8-0) and punishing most of the rest of our bowling. Alvin Spencer’s four overs cost 34, Manny Vardavas’s two 29 and David Illingworth’s two 23 as the boundaries flowed, the only surprise being that no balls were lost after some big sixes. Mike and Al were our only wicket-takers, Danny Lombardo pulling off two fine deep leg field catches while Al pouched one for Mike at cover.

Danny Lombardo then pulled the first ball of our reply for four to give some hope of chasing down the target. However opening bowler Ali (4-16) soon had his revenge, first getting Dominic Ewer to spoon to mid-on for 2, then bowling Lewis Caley for a second-ball duck and doing the same to Danny on 11. With Steve Neville holing out to long-on for 0 and Alvin Spencer, also scoreless, playing on next over this put us 17-5 in the sixth over. Mike Ottley then joined Al Carlson to steady the ship, and a good partnership of 80 gave some hope of a miraculous finish. But Al, knowing the rate was now 17 an over, tried to cut off middle stump for a third successive boundary and was bowled for a fine half-century. David Illingworth hit 5 and Manny 9 not out, but after that start we were never really going to get there. At least we topped three figures with wickets intact when a record low total had seemed more likely.

 

 

 

Sunday June 19 v Fawe Park, Putney Cup semi-final, LOST by 3 wickets

Bricklayers Arms 121-5 (20 overs, Danny Lombardo 77 not out, Rahul Khanna 23) Fawe Park 125-7 (20 overs, Geoff Brunner 4-19, Danny Lombardo 1-20, Rahul Khanna 1-20, Alvin Spencer 1-31)

Sunday June 19 v SW London Camra, Putney Cup plate, LOST by 9 wickets

Bricklayers Arms 130-5 (20 overs, Danny Lombardo 57, Rahul Khanna 33) Camra 132-1 (20 overs, Lewis Caley 1-21)

It was the draw neither side wanted – instead of a repeat of last year’s final, the Brick and Fawe Park would be up against each other first up, with the winners favourites to take the Cup. And so Fawe Park did, but not before a thrilling semi-final that was decided only on the last ball.

Fawe Park won the toss and put us in. Danny Lombardo and Fraser Wright began steadily against a tight attack until Sanjay, who was to take 3-3 in four overs in the final, got Fraser lbw for 8 with the score at 34. Returning skipper Fred Shiels then gave a low caught-and bowled to Spencer, the other opening bowler, for1 at 35. But those were to be the only wickets for a while as Rahul Khanna joined Danny for a stand which steadily accelerated through sharp running and judicious hitting:73 were added before was taken at cover for 23. Though Lewis Caley (1) and Geoff Brunner (0) both perished in search of quick runs, Danny’s magnificent unbeaten 77, featuring two sixes and eight fours, had let us set a competitive target of just over six an over.

That looked much more defensible as Geoff bowled a maiden first up, then had opener Sean well held by Danny Lombardo at deep square leg and skipper Richie bowled for 1. But from 18-2 Robin Held and remaining opener Spencer built steadily until Alvin Spencer bowled Robin with the last ball of his 4-0-31-1 spell. However with Fred wicketless for 33 off his four overs, it took the return of Rahul Khanna for his final two overs to dislodge No 5 Luke at 108 – Rahul finished 4-0-20-1. Back came Geoff for his last over, the 19th, and he bowled the obdurate Spencer and had the dangerous Harry caught behind by Rich O’Donnell from his final delivery. Geoff had posted 4-1-19-4 and had put us back in the match. Seven were needed from the last over, bowled by Danny. A boundary reduced that to three off three balls.

High drama followed as Al Boy pushed a quick single to mid-on, making it despite one bail being dislodged at the non-striker’s end in the run-out attempt, then turning for two more overthrows as the ball ping-ponged between ends. Finally Danny removed the other bail with ball in hand to claim the run-out. No dice, said umpire Richie, the wicket is already broken, only pulling out a stump with ball in hand would do. Ah, but there was still a bail to detach, protested the fielders. In the end, nobody knew for certain, on pitch or boundary, which was correct (I’ve just submitted the question to “You Are The Umpire” in the Observer) so to ensure the controversy did not decide the game Richie called the runs “one short” but with the batsman not out. This left scores level, and the tension was heightened when Danny (4-0-20-1) bowled Alex Bell with the next ball. But the last delivery of the match was glanced for four to give Fawe Park the win.

In the other semi the Plums had beaten Camra by one run in an equally tight finish. Fred, family in tow, ruled himself out of the second game (“I decided to drop whoever scored the fewest runs, but found it was me. Then I thought no, I’ll drop the most expensive bowler, but found it was still me”) and Chris Locke, Alvi, Dave Winpenny and David Illingworth replaced Peter Lamb, Fred, Rich O’Donnell and Alvin – the latter two finding themselves guesting for Camra who were short through absences and injuries during the match. Dominic Ewer won the toss and batted, sending in Lewis with Danny. At 30 Lewis was undone by a grubber for 10, but Rahul and Danny reprised their partnership, this time adding 72, just one run fewer, for the third wicket before Danny was lbw for 57 just after he had taken 21 from an over. He had hit eight fours and one six this time, so in one day had scored 134 runs with 16 fours and three sixes for once out.

Camra now brought on Shaun for an accurate spell of four overs for just 16 which pegged back the scoring, though as so often it was the highly occasional bowler at the other end who reaped the rewards, Keith taking an unlikely 3-11 as Rahul (33) and Alvi (2) both found Shaun at deep midwicket and Ian Watson was bowlede by him for 7.

Nonetheless we had set 130, and Camra had been all out 95 in the semi. But on that occasion Shaun had got out cheaply. This time, despite the best efforts of Geoff, who had him dropped at long-off, and Alvi, from whom Chris Locke failed to hold a dive to his right, we could not catch him until Lewis fooled him with his slow loop and took his middle stump for 59. Nor could we shift the other opener, our own Ben Evans, who turned up on the off-chance and been drafted in to Camra. Ben ended 45 not out as he and the number 3 knocked off the remaining 30 runs with five overs to spare.

So back to the Brick to tell sad tales of trophies lost and run-outs ruled out. And nobody knew what was right there, either.

 

 

Wednesday Jun 8 v Archery Tavern, Wandsworth Park LOST by 2 wickets

Bricklayer’s Arms 81-4 (18 overs, Rahul Khanna 27), Archery Tavern 83-7 (13 overs, Danny Lombardo 3-22, Rahul Khanna 2-8, Martin Frost 2-19)

Another midweek, another defeat – though we are definitely getting closer, with this one a good, tight game as we just failed to defend a very small target. With the Archery arriving late and short-handedand rainclouds threatening, the match was cut down to 18 overs. Danny Lombardo and Lewis Caley opened against very accurate bowling from the Archery’s Ant and Gilly. Lewis did manage two boundaries before being bowled for 10, with Gilly also bowling Danny for 7 to leave us 21-2 after they completed their spells – eight overs gone and we were already struggling with run rate. Rahul Khanna did his best to accelerate, first with Peter Lamb (bowled for 4 at 37) and then with Mike Ottley, before he edged behind for 27 (including one great six) at 72, and Rich O’Donnell posted 4 not out to go with Mike’s undefeated 8, but the six an over we’d managed off the last 10 still only left 82 to win.

Taking wickets would be key, and Danny led the way, knocking back the opener’s off stump first ball. Rahul Khanna then bowled the other opener, also for a duck, and between them they made short work of numbers 4,5 and 6 (none of whom looked like batsmen) all also bowled and two also for ducks to leave the Archery 36-5. Danny finished with 4-0-22-3 and Rahul 4-0-8-2. But through it all Archery’s number 3 “Big Mike” had been laying about him, surviving a run-out chance to smite 34 before Martin Frost took out his leg stump. That made 45-6 and a real chance of victory. But more run-out chances went begging while Danny and David Illingworth were both unlucky not to hang on to what would have been blinding catches. Instead the only other dismissal came as Lewis held a low slip catch off Martin, who ended 2-0-19-2. Alvin Spencer (2-0-10-0) and David Illingworth (1-0-9-0) could not part the last pair as they chased down the target with two wickets in hand.

At which point it was back to Brick to celebrate Chris Locke’s birthday, aided by a splendid feast laid on by Becky.

 

Sunday Jun 5, 2pm, v Battersea Ironsides – WON by concession

Bricklayer’s Arms 243-0 (35 overs, Fraser Wright 102 not out, Dominic Ewer 100 not out) Battersea Ironsides 29-4 (10 overs, Evan Samuel 2-9, Danny Lombardo 2-16)

A day of firsts for the Brick – the first century Fraser Wright has scored, the highest partnership two batsmen have put on for any wicket for us (253-0 against the Trafalgar two years ago featured three innings as James Mawson had retired) and the first time a demoralised opposition skipper has conceded the match as we walked off in the rain.

Ironsides’ side was the usual mix of old lags, dads and colts, and it was the latter who provided the bulk of the bowling attack. Initially this meant a flurry of extras – 15 out of the 19 scored in the first three overs – before they found their line and Fraser and Dominic Ewer had to mix careful defence with punishing the bad ball. Drizzle and a long lush outfield resulted in plenty of twos, threes and even an all-run four for Dom, but as both openers got into their stride the boundaries started to flow, with 50 posted in the 10th over and 104 by drinks after 18, by which time Dom had 47 and Fraser 33 (“and I’m not finished yet,” he vowed). Nor was he – as Dom passed 50 Fraser started to accelerate with some brutal straight hits and then, once long-off was finally in place, fierce pulls and elegant cover drives. He did have one life – dropped off a dolly caught-and-bowled – while Dom’s occasional miscues evaded the field, but otherwise the pair were now nip and tuck on scoring as 150 came up in the 25th over and 200 in the 30th.

With both batsmen in the late 80s the question was if one or both could make their tons. Endless recounts of the scorebook finally produced the answer that Fraser, facing, needed three off the last over while Dom, who had finally got a late cut to work for four off the previous ball, needed six. Fraser duly brought up his ton off the second ball with his 17th four, and after a hug from his partner then dispatched the next ball for what could have been an easy two. Dom, who had lost the count through the scorer’s confusion, turned for the second but Fraser knew the score and sent him back – “No! Stay! Sit” – and informed him, as did the rest of the team from the boundary, that he needed six from three balls. Dom doesn’t do sixes. Instead his trusty dab through third man brought two twos, but the last ball was nurdled straight to the fielder. One was easy but two should have been suicidal as the ball hit the keeper’s gloves with Dom yards short. But the keeper dropped it and kicked the stumps over as Dom got gratefully home to the delight of the whole team. His 100 not out had featured 11 fours to Fraser’s 17, but he had faced 87 balls to Fraser’s 104, so all the scampering his partner had made him do proved worthwhile.

After a splendid and very happy tea we emerged to worsening weather as drizzle turned to showers. Nonetheless the Ironsides’ skipper wanted to go out for a while and see how things turned out. Evan Samuel, who surely could never have imagined that turning out for the Brick would entail sitting padded up at number 3 all innings, had the consolation of first crack at bowling while Danny Lombardo, who but for late arrival would have opened the batting, took the other end. Both bowled well a sodden ball – Evan taking two bowled for 5-2-9-2 while Danny, bowling one and catching the other, took 5-1-16-2. Increasing rain and the sight of Daren Salmon coming on was enough for the Ironsides skipper, who used the word “concede” to Dom as he said we deserved to win, so we’ll take the victory.

Thanks to the whole team for umpiring, sub-fielding and standing in the rain, but the honours go to Dom and especially Fraser, who was as proud of getting Dom to his ton as he was of his own richly deserved maiden century. The Brick was a happy place that night.

 

 

Thursday 2 June, v Chelsea Cobblers, Wandsworth Park LOST by 15 runs

Chelsea Cobblers 159-7 (20 overs, David Illingworth 2-21, Al Carlson 2-27, Martin Frost 1-19, Rich O’Donnell 1-14, Dave Winpenny 1-14) Bricklayer’s Arms 144-3 (20 overs, Dominic Ewer 74 not out, Al Carlson 30, Alan Petrides 12),

As soon as Mike’s email mentioned the dread phrase “fill your boots” we had a feeling something could go wrong here, and it did. The Cobblers won the toss, batted and – crucially, it turned out – picked up a spare man from the boundary as they were two short.

Martin Frost and Danny Lombardo opened our bowling, Martin bowling well with no luck until he out-thought the opener, cramping him with two great inswingers before inducing a waft to David Illingworth at mid-off. Danny however couldn’t find the right line (and had a hard chance spilled at gully) and the Cobblers total steadily mounted, aided by far too many extras in wides and byes past a below-par Chris Locke.

Martin’s spell ended at a creditable 4-0-19-1 and David Illingworth, in an otherwise wayward over, clipped the other opener’s off stump as he swiped at a full toss. Now at last wickets started to tumble, Al Carlson following up a plumb lbw with tucking up skipper Nish, who spooned to backward short square where Alan “The Cat” Petrides lay in wait. Al ended with 4-0-27-2, while David added a more conventional clean bowled to finish with 2-0-21-2.

But, apart from a tighter final over from Danny which left him 4-0-29-0, we were now down to the more occasional bowlers. Both started well with Dave Winpenny inducing a slog to long on where Al Carlson made taking the ball against the sun look easy, while Peter Lamb pulled off a fantastic one-handed leaping catch at deep square to give Rich O’Donnell his wicket, and they ended with identical analyses of 4-0-14-1. But Cobblers’ spare man proved impossible to shift, and some brave hitting took them to 159 – of which 41 were extras.

This meant we needed eight an over, and Danny Lombardo showed the way, pulling the first ball for four. He and Dominic Ewer advance steadily until at 23 Danny got a low one from their skipper to depart for 9. Al Carlson then upped the rate with some brutal hitting, though both he and Dom found Cobblers’ 10th man in sparkling form on the cover boundary (he also turned out to be a reasonable bowler). At 82 another low bounce did for Al on 30, bringing Alan Petrides out to join Dom, who by now was in flowing form as he passed fifty. But with the requirement at 36 off three overs skipper Nish produced a wicket maiden, bowling Alan for 12 off its last ball, and neither Dom, who ended 74 not out despite being bowled by a grubber (Martin Frost correctly called a no-ball for rolling) nor Peter Lamb, 4 not out, could make up the deficit.

So we finished 15 short, despite scoring more runs off the bat and taking more wickets. They only conceded 15 extras, you see.

 

 

Wednesday 25 May, v Wandsworth Planners, Battersea Park LOST by 5 wickets

Bricklayers Arms 143-7 (20 overs, Rahul Khanna 52, Danny Lombardo 30, Lewis Caley 21), Wandsworth Planners 147-5 (17.3 overs, Geoff Brunner 3-18, Alvin Spencer 1-37)

Battersea Park’s number one pitch, tree-fringed with its own pavilion, is a lovely little place to play cricket – but the operative word is little. So short are the boundaries at either end that twos are rare and threes unheard-of. It’s a big hitter’s paradise, as this match proved.

Mike Ottley made a good start by winning the toss and batting, plus also finding a spare cricketer – Leon Watson, who had been stood up for net practice – on the boundary ready and willing to replace no-show John Busby. Danny Lombardo picked up where he had left off on Sunday, again hitting four fours in succession (and seven in all) as he raced to a 26-ball 30 before skying the first ball from a change bowler to cover on 47. His opening partner Rahul Khanna then picked up the pace, even unfurling the reverse sweep as he peppered the boundaries. Peter Lamb was bowled for 2 on 76 but Rhanna proceeded to a fine fifty before being taken at deep at deep midwicket, his 52 taking 47 balls and including two sixes and eight fours. On the same score, 114, Dave Winpenny was bowled second ball, but Lewis Caley was now in the swing – one six and three fours in a 16-ball 21 before he was bowled off his pad to make us 123-5. Pick-up Leon and debutant Alex Carden (who hadn’t held a bat since school) then took us to 143 before Alex was run out for 4 off the penultimate ball and Geoff Brunner’s thrash at the last delivery sailed high to gully. Leon was left 11 not out and the Planners were left just above seven an over to win.

On such a small pitch, the key is taking wickets. We started well, Geoff Brunner trapping one opener lbw with the last ball of the first over and then taking out numbers 2 and 4 clean bowled with successful deliveries in his second. But there is one wicket that is vital to victory over the Planners, that of skipper Paul Landsberg, and try as we might – Chris Locke only getting fingertips to a flying edge off Danny, Leon failing to hold onto a huge six on the long square leg boundary – we could not prise him out. Instead boundaries flowed as he had good support from number 5 (eventually bowled by Alvin to give him figures of 3-0-37-1) and 6 (spectacularly run out by Danny throwing from a prone position having fielded his own bowling). Danny, with 4-0-37-0, and Rahul (4-0-22-0) were particularly unlucky not to get a wicket, as neither did Mike (2-0-13-0). Paul finished 82 not out as he hit the winning four to leave Geoff with figues of 3.3-0-18-3 and us to reflect on what might have been if we’d held those catches.

 

Sunday 22 May, v Rotten Livers, Barn Elms WON by 4 runs

Bricklayers Arms 173-5 (35 overs, Danny Lombardo 62 not out, Fraser Wright 54), Rotten Livers 169 all out (31.4 overs, Danny Lombardo 5-31, Mike Ottley 2-31, Fraser Wright 1-13, Geoff Brunner 1-22)

On a blustery day which somehow escaped the shower that soaked Putney a mile away, both sides turned up a man short. Luckily Ben Evans answered the call to replace the missing Peter Lamb (what happened, Peter, and what’s your mobile if it happens again?) arriving mid-innings from Tooting. By then Chris Locke, standing in for the delayed Alvin Spencer, had won the toss and batted against a team who beat us both times out last year.

The pitch soon did for Ian Watson as the ball spat up onto his bat handle and ballooned to the keeper, while Geoff Brunner also posted a duck, bowled to put us 12-2. However Fraser Wright and Dominic Ewer started to rebuild the innings, seeing off the opening bowlers – Fraser belting one out of the attack with a straight six – and taking the game to the spinners. Fraser was particularly prolific behind square, with another skimming six and several fours, but unfortunately on 18 Dom’s attempt to imitate him resulted only in a scoop to short backward square – 45-3. Danny Lombardo then joined Fraser, who by now was seeing the ball well enough to belt 16 off one over (including another six over square leg), and the pair accelerated past 100 for their first fifty partnership together. Finally Fraser mistimed a pull to midwicket to make 101-4. His 54 had come in 55 balls (the first 11 of which were scoreless) featuring three sixes and six fours.

Dave Winpenny came to the wicket determined to see Danny to his fifty, while Danny was equally set on seeing Dave to his first run of the reason. Sure enough a mow to midwicket gave Dave that single before he went caught and bowled on 111. Mike Ottley joined Danny for our second major partnership – a vital unbroken 62 which featured four fours in succession by Danny (his 17 off the over just beating Fraser’s earlier effort) and three fours in total for Mike as he contributed an invauable supporting 16 not out. Danny ended on 62 not out with seven fours in 63 balls, and we had set the Livers five an over to win.

The Livers’ openers started steadily an opening attack that featured Geoff Brunner at one end and an alternating Ben Evans and Martin Frost at the other. A rare blemish from Danny denied Martin, who finished with 4-0-21-0, an early breakthrough as opener Jones skied to midwicket and was dropped on the run. But on 25 at the other end Geoff got one to snort up at Livers’ skipper Martin Davies, who could only deflect the ball into Chris Locke’s gloves. Geoff finished with figures of 7-1-22-1 (including a wicket maiden), while Ben had 4-0-16-0. But though the Livers were advancing slowly, we needed wickets. Suddenly they came in a clatter as Danny and Mike took over the bowling. First Danny’s slower ball trapped number three lbw – 63-2 – then on 69 he took a caught and bowled as number 4 slapped a full toss straight back at him. And on 77 three wickets fell – Mike taking one lbw and one clean bowled, while Danny finally caught opener Jones off his own bowling.

The match could now have effectively been over had the umpire upheld Chris’s confident appeal for a snick behind off Mike. Not only did number 7 Umar Shah not walk, he then proceeded to whack us all round the park. Twenty of his 51 came from Alvin Spencer’s only over, and with good support from number 8, a couple more lbw appeals declined and the fielding growing ever more ragged and fractious, 89 runs were added in double-quick time and suddenly only eight were needed as Danny reached the end of his spell. But on Danny’s penultimate ball Shah tried a reverse sweep and was ingloriously bowled, sent off gleefully by Danny. Next ball number 9 swung high for Mike to take a fine running catch at long-off, and for the second time in a week Danny had a five-for – 7-0-31-5. Mike, with 6-0-31-2, still had an over left, but the spotlight turned first to Fraser, who promptly conceded two no balls and a bye. Then, glory be, a change in line induced Livers’ valiant number 8 to edge onto his off stump. Fraser finished with 2.4-0-13-1 and we had won by just four runs – a great and deserved victory against one of our oldest and strongest opponents. Cue celebrations in the Red Lion and then at the Brick that were curtailed only by closing time.

 

Tuesday May 17 v Alvin’s Lionhearts, Wandsworth Park LOST by 9 wickets

Bricklayer’s Arms 96 all out (16.4 overs, Dominic Ewer 27, Fraser Wright 16, Danny Lombardo 5-9, Geoff Brunner 2-14, Dave Winpenny 1-7, Charlie Bullingdon 1-17, Alvin Spencer 1-17))

Alvin’s Lionhearts 100-1 (12.2 overs, Lewis Caley 36 not out, Charlie Bullingdon 34, Alan Petrides 16 not out, Fraser Wright 1-22)

The Lionhearts are Alvin Spencer’s football team, through or to which many of the Brick’s players have been introduced, so it was an easy step to augment last year’s Mike v Alvin scratch game into a proper fixture featuring mainly Brick players plus a few of Alvin’s friends. After some adjustment for no-shows 11 v 11 were sorted out and Mike Ottley chose to bat on a grey drizzly evening and typical Wandsworth Park pitch.

Adnan Mamoon went early after one four, bowled by Geoff Brunner, but Dominic Ewer, who hit Lewis Caley (2-0-22-0) out of the attack with four fours and a single from one over, and Ben Evans took the score from 4 to 36 before Geoff (4-1-14-2) and the pitch did for Ben on 7. Hassan Mamoon was bowled for a duck by Charlie Bullingdon before the game’s champagne moment came on 47 as Dominic Ewer faced Dave Winpenny. First Dom halted Dave in his run-up, so Dave staked out a longer run. Dom charged him then charged back again to turn up the ball to leg and trample his leg and middle stumps – out hit wicket for 27 (6×4 and a lifetime of shame).

Dave retired from the attack with 1-0-7-1, replaced by Danny Lombardo who started by having Peter Lamb caught for 3 by the keeper from a skier – 57-5 Enter Steve Neville who smote his first ball over long-on for six to slightly ruin Charlie’s figures, which still came to 4-0-17-1. Unfortunately Steve played the same shot to his next five deliveries, missing them all until Danny got one on his stumps. Meanwhile Fraser Wright was batting well and was joined by Rich O’Donnell who clumped Alvin for two fours before making the mistake of asking Alvin if that was all he’d got. No it wasn’t – next ball bowled him for 8 to make 83-7 and give Alvin figures of 2-0-17-1. Fraser (2×4) was bowled by Danny on the same score for 16. Mike and David Illingworth advanced the score to 96 before Danny took Mike caught and bowled for 4 and Chris Locke cut his first ball to Lewis Caley at slip, who took a staggering one-handed catch diving to his right, leaving David stranded on 6 and three overs unused.

Chris Locke’s evening then went from bad to worse as first he had a confident appeal turned down before Charlie Bullingdon had scored, then was barged off a Charlie skier by an onrushing Ben Evans (who in fairness had called when Chris hadn’t) and then spilled a dive running back for another spiralling top-edge off the same batsman. All came off the luckless Hassan Mamoon, whose four overs for 36 reflected some great hitting from Charlie but masked a number of mishits that failed to go to hand. At the other end Fraser had Lewis tied down for long periods but no reward, his only success coming getting Charlie out lbw for 34 (4×4,2×6). Fraser’s 4-0-22-1 also contained one other memorable moment, when Chris managed to shin one delivery straight into where Mike’s box should have been – a warning to all slip fielders. At 58-1 entered the venerable figure of Alan Petrides, whose 16 not out (3×4) recalled past glories as he and Lewis (5×4 and 2×6 in his 36 not out) saw the Lionhearts home against change bowlers Mike Ottley (2.2-0-21-0) and David Illingworth (2-0-22-0), with Alan hitting the winning four.

Then it was back to the Brick for a highly social evening and barbecue. Thanks to all for participating and especially to Danny for cooking the food, Alvin for providing some of it and Becky for supplying the rest, including making her own flat “stink like a fairground” in frying the onions. A great evening for the team, whichever side they were on.

 

 

Sunday May 15 v Trafalgar Arms WON by 4 wickets

Trafalgar Arms 91 all out (24 overs, Daren Salmon 4-12, Rahul Khanna 2-9, Al Carlson 1-1, Dominic Ewer 1-17, Dave Winpenny 1-23)

Bricklayers Arms 94-6 (28.1 overs, Danny Lombardo 35, Dominic Ewer 24)

The big question against the Traf is simple – will 17-year-old Lawrence be playing? The skipper’s son, who on debut aged 10 was recalled by Chris Locke having burst into tears when bowled, had repaid us by tonking an unbeaten 153 last year. To our great relief he was absent, as was his dad. Instead landlord David Norman won the toss and batted.

On a windy day Martin Frost and Dan Salmon shared the new ball. The pitch was never easy for batting and Daren struck first on 13, as Traf opener John walked to a snick behind to Chris, soon followed on 17 by number 3 caught at cover by Al Carlson off the same bowler. Martin (4-1-15-0) had less luck bowling uphill with the wind taking the ball to leg and was replaced by Rahul Khanna. Meanwhile on 26 Daren bowled number 2 and Rahul struck immediately to bowl number 4 to leave the Traf 28-4. With the last ball of his excellent spell Daren castled number 6 with a slower ball to finish with 7-1-12-4, making 38-5. Rahul continued to impress and gained delayed reward when Chris Locke made amends for a drop the previous ball by delightedly taking the same batsman, the appeal preceding the catch by some seconds – 49-6, and Rahul finished with 5-0-9-2.

Now skipper Alvin Spencer rang the changes. Dave Winpenny got number 6 out on 56 to a fine catch at long-on by Ian Watson in a spell of 4-0-23-1. At the other end Dominic Ewer was astonished to get a spell – “nobody’s ever given me a second over before” – and David Norman conjured his customary unusual dismissal, run out this time having hit to Rich O’Donnell, whose throw bounced over Dom and the Traf landlord’s head to roll agonisingly straight down the pitch to the waiting Chris as David trailed some yards behind. That made 76-8, but lusty hitting by number 8 Kerrigan, top scorer on 31 not out, took the score to 90 before a great dive at short mid-off by Rahul gave Dom his wicket (3-0-17-1) and one run later Al Carlson (1-0-1-1) had number 11 caught at cover by Danny Lombardo.

This left a target of 92, but we were soon 9-2 as on the same score Rich O’Donnell went for a 12-ball duck and Ian Watson, after one great four, went to a diving backward slip catch by David Norman. Dominic and Danny set about repairing the innings first with watchful defence, then some good use of quick singles and finally a flurry of boundaries in a stand of 53. Dom skied to mid-off on 24 (3×4) to make it 62-3, but with Danny joined by Al Carlson there seemed little danger. But Al was bowled for 7 on 79 and then Danny, on 35 (4×4) was given out caught behind by Alvin and on the same score of 84 Dave Winpenny was bowled for a 12-ball duck. However Rahul (6 not out with one big four) and Daren saw us home, our man of the match fittingly hitting the winning boundary to end 4 not out.

 

 

Wednesday May 11  v Westminster CC, Wandsworth Common LOST by 11 runs

Westminster 128-2 (18 overs, Mike Ottley 2-28) Bricklayers 117 all out (18 overs, Adnan Mamoon 24, Ben Evans 21)

A narrow defeat on a typically ropey Wandsworth Common pitch kicked off our midweek season. Westminster are among our oldest and strongest opponents, though we did start with one little triumph – for once we were all pitchside before their final players arrived, a feat unprecedented for this team.

The delay meant a cut to 18 overs each, but after they won the toss and batted things definitely went their way. Opening bowlers Danny Lombardo (4-0-29-0) and Hassan Mamoon (4-0-18-0) had no luck, and it took the introduction of skipper Mike Ottley, getting considerable bounce off the pitch, to induce a steepling skier which David Illingworth called and judged well moving back from slip – 58-1. However David (4-0-24-0) had no such success as a bowler, nor did Lewis Caley at the death (2-0-22-0) and the other opener helped himself to 68 before snicking to Chris Locke while trying to pull Mike, who ended with 4-0-28-2.

This left us just above seven an over to get as the sun set. Danny Lombardo started well with two cracking fours. Then the pitch took a hand as a grubber took his middle stump. Lewis Caley had no such excuse for being bowled, swinging wildly for a third-ball duck, and when one stopped on Peter Lamb he went caught at cover for 4 to leave us on 23-3. Enter Ben Evans, returning fit and well and batting as fluently as ever, hitting four fours in 21 before also being bowled at 59-4. He and opener Adnan had put us close to the asking rate – at halfway we were just short on 61 – and now Adnan’s brother Hassan joined him as boundaries continued to flow. Although Adnan’s excellent knock – three fours in 24 – came to an end at 70 and Dave Winpenny was bowled off his hip first ball, Hassan biffed two more fours to post a quick 17 and Mike Ottley’s first four balls went dot-2-4-4 to bring up our 100 with four overs to go.

Next ball, though, Mike was caught at mid-on. Dave Dobbs was bowled for 5 and while David Illingworth and Chris Locke swung merrily in the dark (David even notching a six in the last over thanks to nobody seeing any umpire signal), David was bowled off the last delivery of our 18 overs for 8, leaving Chris 3 not out and us 11 runs shy.

The one consolation, especially for Danny, is that we don’t play on that pitch again until August – Wandsworth Planners have moved our scheduled May 25 game there to Battersea Park.

 

Sunday May 8 v SW London Camra, Raynes Park WON by 7 wickets

SW London Camra 45 all out (17 overs, David Illingworth 3-4, Danny Lombardo 2-5, Geoff Brunner 2-15, Lewis Caley 1-1, Rich O’Donnell 1-7, Dave Winpenny 1-12)

Bricklayers Arms 47-3 (10.3 overs, Lewis Caley 20)

 

A short match and a merry one. Shorn of Shaun and the rest of their South African contingent, Camra had trouble finding a side. Thanks therefore to Adnan and Hasaan Mamoon, Pio Cardoza and Matthias Winter for guesting for the opposition, meaning both sides had a full XI.

 

Chris Locke lost the toss and promptly handed over skippering responsibilities to Ian Watson as Camra chose to bat. A briefly hard-hitting opening stand was broken as Danny Lombardo bowled one opener with a slower ball and Geoff Brunner had the other – Hasaan, who bludgeoned 12 – caught at mid-off by Lewis Caley. Then came the game’s champagne moment as, facing Geoff, Adnan sliced the ball high to point where Dave Winpenny, down on one knee, clasped both hands safely round the skier – a pose from which he was immediately knocked flat on his back by in-rushing mates who piled joyously on top of him. With Rich O’Donnell also holding a high slip catch off Danny the momentum was firmly with us, so Ian decided to replace Geoff (4-1-15-2) and Danny (3-1-5-2) with spin twins the two Daves – Illingworth and Winpenny.

 

On debut, David Illingworth soon bagged his first Bricklayers wicket, Matthias stumped by Chris for 1, then Dave Winpenny’s day of days continued as he had Mark plumb lbw to give him an analysis of 2-0-12-1 . Fraser Wright at square leg took a low catch off Pio to give Illingworth his second wicket, soon followed by a peach of a dismissal as David, bowling left arm round but extracting real turn with his leg-cutters, pitched the ball middle-and-leg and spat it past Camra’s skipper’s forward defensive to hit the top of off-stump – a perfect delivery to give him superb figures of 3-1-4-3. Lewis (2-1-1-1) and Rich (3-1-7-1)then finished the innings with a clean-bowled apiece: in just 17 overs we’d dismissed one of our oldest rivals for their lowest score against us, with every bowler taking a wicket and every catch taken.

 

This left 46 to get at a less than demanding 1.3 an over – made even easier by Camra’s generous donation of wides and byes. The first 12 runs were all extras, though punctuated by Fraser snicking to the keeper for a duck, before Martin Frost and Peter Lamb finally notched a single apiece. For Peter on debut, alas, that was his only score as he was bowled soon after. Lewis Caley then decided it was time to get a move on before the Man U-Chelsea game – his 20 included three fours and a six before he holed out ninth ball to long-on. Dave Winpenny (eight balls for 0 not out) then joined Martin (30 balls for 3 not out) to see us home with the aid of yet more extras, which finally top-scored with 23.

 

All that remained was tea followed by a lot of beer, first at the ground and then in the Brick.

 

 

Monday May 2 v Hobgoblin Nomads, Belair Park, Dulwich LOST by 154 runs

 

Hobgoblin Nomads 252-3 (35 overs, Alvin Spencer 2-26, Danny Lombardo 1-39) Bricklayers Arms 98 all out (27.3 overs)

 

The Hobgoblin Nomads are excellent new opposition – enthusiastic, sporting and very hospitable. They are also, as a bunch of ex- Goldsmiths College students playing out of a New Cross pub, distressingly young. There were times on Monday, as they batted more fluently, bowled more swiftly and fielded more athletically, that they seemed half our age. As, for some of us, they were.

 

Ominously, Dominic Ewer lost the toss on a sunny, gusty day and out we went to field. The Nomads openers kept out our opening attack of Danny Lombardo and Lewis Caley but it was Alvin Spencer who showed how much could be got out of a dry, uneven pitch – he got one to spit up which the batsman feathered through to Chris Locke and immediately walked – good man – at 58-1. Then, on nought, number three skied Ian Watson to a back-pedalling mid-off. But Lewis dropped him, and from then on the runs piled up. First Ian (2-0-21-0) and then debutant Pio Cardoza (1-0-9-0) were removed from the attack. But Alvin was in the groove, and finally bowled the other opener with a fizzing off-break – 112-2 in the 19th over. Numbers three and four, though, were in no mood to be tied down. Having seen Alvin off for an excellent spell of 7-0-26-2, they pasted the returning Lewis to ruin his figures (7-0-48-0) and took the long handle to Manny Vardavas (2-0-31-0), James Mawson (2-0-24-0) and the luckless Fahad (7-0-46-0). Catches evaded the field or went to ground but mostly the pair dealt in boundaries in a stand of 134, posting 70 apiece before Danny gained belated reward for a battling spell (7-0-39-1) by having number four taken at cover by James Mawson, and their innings closed at 252.

 

By now the wind had ripped any last moisture out of the pitch, and unlike us, the Nomads had the fast-medium bowlers to exploit its spiteful bounce. From opener James Mawson to Fahad at number eight, every Bricklayers batsman bar fellow opener Danny Lombardo donned a helmet. Wisely too, as the ball reared up off a ridge at one end – nobody could setlle and Ian Watson did take a blow to the side of the visor. That was after James (4) had been well taken down the legside and Lewis (5) had gloved a lifter, both the keeper’s catches. Those wickets fell on 6 and 19, then on 34 Ian (4) was then run out and Dominic contrived to get bowled fourth ball for a duck.

 

All the while Danny had been defending, ducking and punishing the rare bad ball. Now, joined by an immovable Dave Winpenny, he pushed the score to 57 in what proved to be our highest stand, but then on 30 top-edged to slip looking for his seventh four. Dave soon followed, bowled for a gritty 23-ball duck, then Pio gloved another lifter second ball for 0. Fahad (run out) and Manny (caught and bowled) smote happily for 7 apiece and the extras mounted as helmets weren’t needed for the lower orderagainst their occasional bowlers, but once Alvin picked out midwicket for 2 that was it – 98 all out and Chris Locke stranded on 1 not out, deprived of the glory of hitting 155 to win in 39 balls.

 

For those (too few) who made it back to their pub an excellent free Thai curry was provided and we will definitely play the Nomads again. We just need them to act our age.