Come along and support the Bricklayer's Arms Cricket Team during 2009. Results are at the bottom of the page.

Anyone wishing to play please contact Chris Locke on chris.locke@standard.co.uk

Midweek games start 6pm, weekends at 2pm unless otherwise stated

SEASON RESULTS: PLAYED 33 WON 21 LOST 12 TIED 0 DRAWN 0

Upcoming Fixtures

Back for the 2010 season!

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Latest Match Report

Sunday 27 September, v Railway Sidings, WON by 7 wickets
Railway Sidings 188-8 (30 overs, Lewis Caley 2-9, Fred Shiels 2-26, Mike 2-37), Bricklayers 189-3 (26.4 overs, Lewis Caley 56, Dominic Ewer 55)

So the sun set on our most successful summer ever, crowned by a record-breaking 21st victory.

The railway Sidings are new opponents for us, skippered by Lee who did the embroidered logos on our new shirts. Fred therefore decided to put them in on winning the toss – not the most popular decision among his side who were already gearing up for beers on the boundary in the sun. However it looked good when the first wicket went down at 2 – clean bowled by Geoff.Then things began to slip away. Catches went down, boundaries started to flow – even two sixes off Alvin – and despite a wicket for Mike the Sidings at halfway had hit 104-2, going at seven an over with eight wickets in hand. Enter Fred into the attack and at last the wickets started to tumble. Al Carlson took two sensational catches in the deep, Chris Locke grabbed a sharp top edge standing up, Manny and Mike also held one apiece as wickets were shared round the bowlers.

Despite Fred having to limp off when he pulled a muscle in sympathy with Lewis and Dominic colliding as they failed to take a skier, we managed to keep the score well below 200 – though with Fred injured it could still have been tough.Geoff then opened the batting in his inimitable style, bludgeoning 22 in no time before going to the inevitable swipe and catch. Dom, in surprisingly frisky mood, and Lewis then came together at 36-1. Moving nicely along at seven an over, untroubled except when Lewis reached the nervous mid-teens (the crowd erupted in applause as he nurdled a single to pass 17, the mark at which he normally departs) both hit well-deserved fifties in a partnership of 116 which sealed the game. Lewis was stumped, Dom then gave himself run out as umpire Geoff admitted he hadn't been watching, leaving Al and Fraser to see us home with 20 balls to spare.

There was only so much of the Raynes Park Sports Club's karaoke night we could stand, so it was back to the Brick for a fine self-congratulatory session. Next fixture is our AGM on Saturday November 21 – see you then if not before. 

Previous Results & Match Reports

Thu May 7 v Phase Forward LOST BY 5 RUNS
Phase F 106-6 Bricklayers 101-6 Geoff 30, John Low 3 successive fours in 15 but couldn't quite overhaul them in the dark.

Sun May 10 v Priory Arms WON BY 34 RUNS
Bricklayers 124-9 (Ed 26, Al 28n no); Priory Arms 90 all out (Geoff 4-15, Lewis 3-9). Four players recruited from the pub over the winter made their debuts in a sparkling fielding performance featuring six catches as we defended a small total in some style.

Thu May 14 v Parry's Whippets WON BY 11 RUNS

It didn’t look good to begin with only 7 turned up, but they kindly lent us 2, so 9 vs 10. We batted first as only had 5 at start and somehow got 88 off 15 – not bad from 30-5 (Geoff, straight off the train, 25no, Mike 13, Extras lots). They stormed ahead but guest bowling and fielding pegged them back plus excellent single wkts for Manny, Geoff and Martin. Then needing 18 off 4, with only 8 in the field, a bizarre 13th over by Mike in which they lost final 3 wkts – 1. Bld. 2. No ball. 3. Run out bowlers end. 4. Hit for 2. 5. Run out keepers end! Sadly though Chris had to go off with v bloodied nose when one reared up while keeping.

Sun May 17 v Captain's Select XI WON BY 7 WICKETS

Capt Select 179-7 off 35 (Alvin2-22, Lewis 3-34, Zaman 7-2-13-0, plus good catches by Chris, Freddy and Al); Bricklayers 180-3 off 27 (due to excellent unbeaten 172 run p/ship by Freddy 81 no and Al 85 no).

Thu May 21 v Chelsea Cobblers WON BY 9 WICKETS

Chelsea Cobblers 110-8 off 20 (Lewis 3-13, Jason 3-14 (first game of the season). Bricklayers 113-1 off 16 (Lewis – again! – 49 no, Ed 41 no in an unbroken partnership of 94).

Tue May 26 v Westminster WON BY 5 WICKETS

Westminister 128-2 off 18 (Danny 2-0-9-1, Alvin 4-0-17-0, Mike 4-0-26-1). Bricklayers 129-5 off 16.4 (Lewis 37, Ed 36, Richard 29, Jason 12no). Again, another good fielding performance esp in defending a very short leg side boundary with all overs bowled from the same end. Steady opening half century partnership by Ed and Lewis (64 off 10) followed by timely acceleration from Lewis and Richard. Bit of a wobble at 126 when we lost 3 wkts but wides and Jason brought us home with over to spare.

Sun May 31 v Pimlico Strollers LOST BY 5 WKTS
Bricklayers 119 all out (Fred 54, Danny 18 no), Pimlico 120-5 (Alvin 2-23, Danny 2-23). Despite Fred's fifty we didn't post enough runs and were all out inside 23 overs. Nonetheless the bowlers, Alvin in particular, made Pimlico struggle for victory, but dropped catches can't win matches and we shelled four hard chances.

Wed Jun 3 V Battersea Ironsides LOST BY 8 WICKETS
Sadly, our midweek winning run came to an end against a typically strong Ironsides side stuffed with Surrey League players. But we went down fighting, with an excellent batting, bowling and fielding display.
We batted first (Mike finally winning his first toss of the season) and posted 103-8 off 20 overs – Danny 18, Mike 19, Lewis 28, Alvin 13 n.o. In reply they knocked them off for the loss of two wkts (both to Danny) but they only got away in the last few overs.

Sun Jun 7 V Youngs LOST BY 5 WICKETS
Youngs proved too good for us yesterday – winning by 6 wkts with 5 overs to go. Still, pleasing to have a game after that incredible two-hour thunderstorm earlier in the morning. We batted first and made 168 all out, probably 20-30 runs short of what was required – but their early bowling tied us down well. Fred made 72, his third successive half century, Paul 22 and Ian and Danny 17 apiece. Of their innings, Alvin pick of the bowlers with 2-29 off 7. Praise too for Paul stepping into Lockie’s shoes (or gloves!) behind the stumps and Mike for excellent sausage rolls!

Tue Jun 9 v Fawe Park LOST BY 5 WICKETS Bricklayers Arms 83-6 (off 18), FawePark84-5 (off 12)
On Tuesday, the rain held off (just!) and despite murky conditions we were able to get in 18 overs a side against our neighbours FawePark. After electing to bat, recovering from 12-4 was always going to prove to be difficult and, despite claiming some early Fawe Park scalps, they got the required runs for the loss of 5 wickets with a bit to spare. Pick of the batting was Danny with 28 and Mike with 17, together with an unbeaten 19 from Alvin who entertained the crowd with some Calypso hitting to leg at the end. On the bowling side, 2 wickets for Danny and Alvin again proving to be economical (1 for 6 off 2). Bizarre stat of the night? Their opening bat who finished 10no out of a total of 84!
And of course thanks again to Becky for the fab Bangers and Mash afterwards.

Sun Jun 14 v Rotten Livers WON BY 6 WICKETS
Rotten Livers 205-4 (30 overs) Bricklayers Arms 206-4 (off 24.5)
Back to winning ways with a good containing performance in the field and some sparkling batting on a tiny artificial pitch in Battersea Park. Good bowling all round from the returning Geoff and Zaman, Alvin's 1 for 23 off a full six overs, Danny's 2-43, with Steve and Fred sharing the fifth bowler slot for 0-19 and 1-30 respectively, plus catches from Fred, Danny and Chris " flying through the air like a baby Zeppelin" (thanks Wimps), set us less than seven an over on a batting pitch. Openers Dom and Danny went early but at 24-2 Fred joined Ed Marland for whatproved a winning 169-run partnership, and when Fred was stumped for 71 with 13 still to win the only question was whether Ed would make a well-deserved century. All seemed set fair as he moved to 99 and Dave Winpenny blocked five balls to ensure Ed could bring up his ton and the victory.Unfortunately the bowler hadn't read the script – the last ball of the over shot down leg for five wides, leaving Ed stranded. Cue sympathy and beer all round.

Tue Jun 16 v WESTMINSTER LOST BY 9 WKTS Westminster gained revenge last night beating us by 9 wkts in a full 20/20 game. We posted 127-6 which was a reasonable target in the circumstances but probably 20 runs short of what was really required. Another half century to Ed (56 no) who with late support from Jason and Alvin took us through to our final total, which was 30 rums more than we were looking to get at one point. Though they won by 9 wkts (plus one retired hurt), it wasn’t an easy win – they only had 2 overs left and a bit more luck in the field would have made for an interesting finish. Sadly, our injury list mounts out – Kamar, on his debut, going to hospital with a dislocated shoulder when falling awkwardly in the field. We wish him well. And hopefully Rich can talk this morning after that collision with Alvin!

Sun Jun 21 – Bricklayers 66 all out (Jason 21), Plums 67-1 LOST BY 10 WKTS.

South West London Camra 160-9 (Zaman 4-21, Alvin 3-22), Bricklayers 161-3 (Ed 66 not out, Danny 45). WON BY 7 WKTS.
The Bricklayers Arms CC has its first cricket trophy. Not admittedly the Putney Cup itself – that was retained by Fawe Park in a close final against the Plums – but a batsman's statuette on a tiny plinth with a nameplate wonkily screwed to it, believed to be the work of Dave Packham in his woodwork period. This is our prize for beating Camra in a thrilling third-place play-off.

"There's no way back from losing early wickets in Twenty20," said Jonathan Agnew of yesterday's Lord's final, and so we proved on Wandsworth Park by slumping to 11-4 after four overs despite having our strongest batting line-up for years. Even with 12 players a side we could only muster 66 all out, thanks chiefly to 21 from Jason, and the Plums lost just the one wicket in passing this despite some valiant bowling. This left us needing to beat Camra, a side we haven't defeated for four years, to maintain our record of never finishing last in this tournament.
Heroic bowling, especially from Zaman, who at one time had four wickets for three runs from two overs, made this look possible as we reduced Camra's strong side to 91-9 by the 14th over, only for Shaun to take charge of an unbeaten last-wicket stand in which he sped to 107 not out while his skipper Tom posted one not out. This left us 161 to win off 20 overs – more than eight an over – and at 79-1 after 13 overs it looked a tall order. But Danny Lombardo and Ed Marland had paced things perfectly, and even after Danny went for 45 and Fred for 7 we have still had Norman (the second of the brothers Zim making a welcome return) to finish the game with a six and a leg bye from the first two balls of the 20th over. The main batting credit goes though to Ed for his stylishly violent unbeaten 66. The sight of Camra's centurion Shaun beating the ground in frustration as his team muffed a run-out chance summed up an enormously satisfying win – one well worthy of the trophy we triumphantly bore back to the Brick.

Tue Jun 23 Bricklayers Arms 103-7 (20 overs); Archway Tavern 93-8 (20 overs). Bricklayers WON BY 10 RUNS.

Pleased to report that the midweek team got back on track with a close fought win over Archway on Tuesday. On a truly spiteful pitch at the Park, leading to a low scoring encounter, we won by a slender 10 runs. Choosing to bat in lovely sunny conditions, from 67-6 off 14 (Dom 30), some late order scampering by Dave P (12) and Mike (14no) took us to 103 off our 20 – not to mention Geoff's four off his one and only ball, the last ball of the innings. In reply, Archway openers were up on the run rate but some splendid stumps-to-stumps bowling by our ‘pace quartet' (their words!) of Danny (4-0-17-1), Scott (4-1-10-2), Martin (3-0-20-2) and Geoff (4-0-19-1) took out the top and middle order and, although still only needing 30 off 6, Jason (3-014-2) and Mike's (2-0-8-0) tight bowling forced them to run out of steam. Good contest, played in excellent spirit. Good to report another excellent fielding performance – heading off those boundaries with inches to spare may have made all the difference – although the attempts at runs out (all failed) were hilarious. Praise too for Rich in only his second game behind the stumps – taking all those shooting and rearing deliveries. Interesting stat of the night? Bar one, all wickets we took were bowled.

Sun Jun 28 Captain's Select XI 306-6 (Gus 127, Rob 97, Geoff 4-42) Brick 98 all out. LOST BY 208 RUNS.

A disaster, yes, but also something of a triumph. I can't recall a team posting 300 against us, though have a vague feeling that Young's may have beaten us by even more than 208 once. Keeper of the archives Stan will know. Yet the triumph was that we fielded eleven at all. A year ago this was a match we would have had to call off faced with a perfect storm of absences from Sunday regulars. So the first thing is to thank all those who filled the many gaps, some at extremely short notice. As for the game, sod's law dictated that we came up against a Captain's Select side pretty well at full strength, who then won the toss and batted. And batted. And batted. Despite some heroic toil, we didn't really have the bowling to stem the flow, with only Geoff, who seemed inspired by the lack of sleep which goes with being a new father, taking more than one wicket and the fifth-bowler slot having to be shared between Richard Small and Dave Winpenny – to whom all honour for answering the call to bowl at centurion Gus in full flow. Nor was this the batting side to chase down nine an over – Richard Small top-scored with 19, Zaman 18 and Awais 14 being the only others into double figures. Hence 98 all out. So, onwards and upwards. I hope debutants George and Fahad are reassured it's not always like this – a month ago we walloped the same opponents by seven wickets – and this Sunday we play the Trafalgar Arms.

Thu Jul 2 v Parry's Whippets. WON by 2 wickets
Whippets 169 for 8 off 20
Bricklayers 171 for 8 off 19.3

Cricket lovely cricket at Lords where they played it!

Well it wasn't Lords, and it definitely wasn't the Ashes, but you would be hard pressed to find a Twenty20 world cup game that was more exciting or more passionately contested than Brick Layers Arms VS Parry's Whippets last night, Sources say that 10 ball from the end William Hill still didn't have an odds on favourite.

On a bright, sunny evening in Wandsworth Park, the rejuvinated Brick took on the mighty Whippets in a twenty20 to top all games. Winning the toss the whippets decided to bat, and seeing that at the time (6:15) they only had 7 present, it proved to be a good decision. Style (31) and Jarvis (35) started the Whippets innings with a flourish, taking 10 runs off Jason's first over. Scott, bowling the second tied them down slightly, but a couple of loose balls , and great batting saw the total racing away in the first 5 overs.

Jason's first spell ended and Danny tried his luck but the opening batsmen were relentless… until Danny, trying numerous variations bowled a tempting ball wide of off stump and Jarvis took the bait edging it for a superb catch taken full length behind the stumps by Rich O' Donnel, the Brick had the break through.

Not to be out done, Scott produced a peach of a ball in his next over to dismiss Styles, (Bowled), The brick had the scent of a win… Great bowling by Danny, in tandem with Scott saw the whippets lose two more quick wickets and suddenly there was hope. The brick stepped up their game, tighter bowling saw the Whippets at 106 for 6 off 13 overs, but not to be out done they released their secret weapon Mowcox who beat up a quick fire 56 before being caught by Jason. Even with a great second bowling spell by Jason it wasn't looking good for the Brick , Whippets made 169 for 8, The Brick had never chased a total that size in a twenty20, and although the brick innings started fine with Richie Evans and Stevie Neville ensuring that we were up with the run rate, the finger of doom from the umpire giving Richie out LBW saw panic ripple through the camp. that of course was after Steve's first ever defensive shot saw him bowled, and the brick were very few runs for two wickets.

Things got worse, The brick dug in, but were soon 27 for 5, losing 3 wickets without scoring a run and life looked bleak. With Scottie at the crease, David Dobbs came in to steady the ship, and even when Scott went for 31, (magnificent catch in the deep) the fight back was on. And fight back we did, moving the score from 27 for 5, off 5 overs to 70 for 6, then 74 for 7.

Jason Reid is one of the most exciting batsmen that you will ever see…… when he is angry, Not sure exactly what annoyed him, but Jason opened his innings with a 6.4.1.2.2 to announce that he wanted to win that game, even with failing light and the opening quick bowlers back on at full steam, Jason (partnered by Richard) was relentless, and suddenly from needing 1 5 runs an over, we came down to 50 runs from 24 balls, to 25 runs from 18 balls, to 9 runs from 10, to…….. We won.

This game goes down as the highest twenty20 run chase for the brick, well done.
Congrats to Scott 4:1:17, and 30 with the bat
Danny 4:4:28, Rich 27, David 22, and Jason 47 not out

Cricket lovely Cricket!

Sun Jul 5 v Trafalgar Arms WON BY 182 RUNS

Bricklayers Arms 265-5 (30 overs, Danny 60, Adnan 54) Trafalgar Arms 83 all out (Alvin 2-3, Adnan 3-4, Awais 2-7). A good team performance selflessly skippered by Fred, who demoted himself to number 11 to give almost everyone a bat and a bowl. With Danny (who retired on 60) and George (29) putting on 118 for the first wicket, 61 extras in total of which 49 were wides and debutant Adnan (retired 54) making hay with Zaman (21 not out) at the end, this win was never in doubt and our ten bowlers duly completed the victory, with Alvin, Adnan and Awais the chief wicket-takers and even Dave Winpenny getting a deserved wicket after two catches had been spilt off his bowling. Meanwhile thanks and commiserations to those who guested for the Captain's Select XI against Camra – and saw 300-plus runs racked up against them for the second sucessive week.

Tue Jul 7 v Fleet Street Strollers LOST BY 39 RUNS

Fleet St Trollers 111-2 (15 overs) Bricklayers 72-6.

At ten to six as the rain hammered down nobody could believe a game of cricket was possible, yet the same deranged optimism that had brought 20 cricketers to a drenched Wandsworth Park saw us wait half an hour and then play on a very damp wicket.

With bowlers having to cut their run-ups to save their footing the Strollers quickly built an impressive opening stand and we had to wait for the inspired bowling of Dave Winpenny for the first wicket – a smart stumping by Chris Locke the highlight of an excellent over that also featured a dropped catch at cover. Alvin got an off-break to turn sufficient to hit middle stump of a batsman shouldering arms and by the end of the 15 overs to which the match had been shortened we had hauled the asking rate back to a gettable seven-and-a-half an over.

However quick wickets saw us 4-2 and the momentum stalled further after Jason was caught at long on for 20, Dominic's 39 the main batting contribution.Commiserations especially to Rich O'Donnell, run out first ball as he slipped on the mud. And thanks as ever to Becky for marvellous food and a warm welcome back at the Brick.

Sun Jul 12 v Tuskers WON BY 4 RUNS
Bricklayers Arms 199-7 (40 overs, Mahmood 38, Dani Mamoon 31, Ed 29, Fred 28, Mike 25 not out), Tuskers 195-9 (Mike 3-22, Fraser 2-22).

A lovely ground, great tea and nail-biting result, as we just held off a last-wicket charge to seal victory in our longest game of the season. Winning the toss and batting, we made a great start with debutants Dani and Mahmood putting together an opening stand of 74, Dani even surviving hitting his wicket having been felled by a bouncer rightly called no-ball. But the top order couldn't capitalise and we were left indebted to a breezy seventh-wicket stand between Mike and Rich to set a target of 200 that still looked 20-30 short of comfort.

However tight bowling, particularly Alvin's 1-13 from eight overs, and some great catches in the deep by Rich (twice, plus a run-out), Geoff and Mike (haring to wide midwicket to snaffle a skier off his own bowling), soon saw the asking rate top eight an over as wickets fell regularly. Yet Tuskers stuck at it and boundaries started coming, so that with their last pair at the wicket 21 were needed from the final over. Nerves jangled, fours, overthrows and wides reduced the target to six to tie from the last ball, but two was all they could manage. And only then , as we left the field victorious at 9pm, did we find England had saved the First Test. Perfect.

Thu Jul 16, v Chelsea Cobblers LOST by 7 wkts Brick 153-3 (20 overs) Cobblers 156-3 (16.1 overs)

Part 1, The Impending Gleam: A heavily overcast sky down at Wandsworth Park. Debutante Captain Ed Marland loses the toss, and The Brick are put into bat. Danny and Alan Petrides stride out to the wicket, but both are soon out. Lewis back from a broken wrist, now fully recovered, unfortunately is out for a duck. But who is this promoted up the order? It's Geoff Brunner with his new bat and a gleam in his eye. Partnered by Ed Marland, a feast of batting follows, matching each other run for run, with Geoff batting like a man possessed, totally oblivious to the resounding cheers from the boundary on reaching his 50. Ed is out in the last over for an elegant 54, and up steps Rich for 1 not out, with Geoff finishing unbeaten on 72 ,a career best. Marvellous. The total for the Brick ending on 153-3.

Part 2. The impending Gloom: A sharp opening spell of bowling by Geoff and Danny produce some early wickets. Danny 1-6 (2) and Geoff 1-15 (3), Martin Frost bags the only other wicket but is more expensive at 1-42 (3). A mixed bag of bowling follows highlighted by some tight bowling off an extremely eccentric run up by Dave ( Mr Grimsdale) Packham , 0-7(2). Unfortunately the game drifts away, the gloom descends, impossibly dangerous to see the ball in the outfield, and the Cobblers win. The rain comes down and we all retire to the Brick to quaff some ale.

Sun July 19 v South-west London Camra. WON by 6 wickets

Camra 154-6 (30 overs), Brick 160-4 (25.5 overs, Ed 50, Fred 35 not out, Jason 28 not out, Mahmood 28) We were sure Camra would come at us hard after our Putney Cup win, and when they chose to bat the crucial question was if we could get Scott and Shaun out cheaply. And we did – Fred taking a fine running catch at long-off to dismiss Scott and then Shaun, to his immense credit, walking after the thinnest of edges to Chris. With Norman (6-1-14-1) and Mahmood (6-1-15-2) taking superb advantage of the cloudy windy conditions we soon had them pinned down at 35-4. Mike Ottley kept up the pressure with six overs for just 16, Fraser and Jason also picked up wickets and despite a late flurry of boundaries we were set just above five an over for our very strong batting line-up. Not that it looked so easy when Shaun bowled Dani off stump first ball of our innings. But a stand of 76 followed between Ed Marland (50) and Mahmood, who hit 28 having stayed on to complete his innings despite news of his mother having a bad fall (all best wishes to him and Dani for her recovery). Then at 95-4 Jason joined Fred for an unbeaten partnership that ended as a six-hitting competition. Job done with four overs to go, and safely into the pub before the rain finally came.

Tue July 21 v Wandsworth Planners WON by 20 runs. Brick 170-3 (20 overs, Jason 66 not out, Alan 42) Planners 150-5 (Jason 4-1-2-17, Alvin 4-1-8-1).

A great night for the Brick. The Bricklayers Arms was announced as this year's Camra Greater London Pub of the Year, the GMTV cameras spotlighted Chris Locke and Dave Winpenny at the bar, and we won handsomely against a side I can't remember us beating before. On a murky night and bouncy pitch we did well to win the toss and bat. Ed (16) and Lewis (17) gave us a good rapid start with 47. Enter Jason Reid to join Alan Petrides. Jason patted back the first two balls, then launched into a blizzard of boundaries throughout the rest of the innings, his aggression even affecting Alan, who contributed a spirightly 42 to put alongside Jason's unbeaten 66. This set the Planners a target of just above eight-and-a-half an over. Alvin and Jason began with a maiden apiece, then Jason removed both openers and Alvin bowled their big-hitting skipper for a single with a beauty of an off-break, and suddenly they were 23-3 after nine overs and only 33 at halfway – surely we couldn't blow this one. Yet numbers four and five clearly believed nothing to be impossible, putting on 120-odd in 10 overs and ensuring nerves were only calmed after No 4 Cann was run out by and his partner bowled by Mike in the penultimate over. A few merry swipes by our own occasional weekend player Richard Small took them to 150 but no further.

Thus back to the Brick where Becky, having just heard of her own victory, provided drinks on the house as well as copious shepherd's pie. And finally, apologies to small children and viewers of a nervous disposition who were confronted by the sight of Chris and Dave in their natural habitat at 6.09am today on GMTV. And at 6.38am. And at 8.04am …

Tue Jul 28 v Fawe Park. LOST by 7 wkts. Bricklayers 83-7 (18 overs); FawePark84-3 (11 overs)

Sadly, not much to report about last night as we lost soundly to Fawe Pkon yet another un-summer’s like evening. We won the toss and elected to bat but we could only muster 83 off the allotted 18 overs. Dominic was still there on 28, receiving some support from Jason (12) and David and Geoff at the end. We started well – Geoff removing their opener first ball – but 83 was never going to be enough with their usual batting line up and, although we captured a couple of further wickets, they got the required runs with 7 overs to spare.

Sun 2 Aug v Trafalgar Arms WON by 105 runs Bricklayers Arms 262-0 in 35 overs (James Mawson retd 104, Dominic Ewer 104 not out, Ed Marland 34 not out) Trafalgar Arms 157 all out (Geoff Brunner 2-3, Steve Neville 2-17, Fraser Wright 2-23, Lewis Caley 2-23)

A breathless hush in the close tonight, elderly gentlemen gnawing through the handles of umbrellas… Such images of cricket tension paled beside the sight of Steve Neville at Raynes Park sports ground yesterday. His normal trance-like calm evaporated as he cussed and fretted with the rest of us watching old mate Dominic slowly, painstakingly, agonisingly nudge and nurdle his way to a first ever century, finally secured in the last of our 35 wicketless overs.

Dom's was not the only record to be broken. We've never had two centurions in a match before – the other, James Mawson, repeating his feat and score of two years ago against the same opponents, but only taking 87 balls against his partner's 108 and then retiring to let Ed Marland hit a brisk 34 aimed mainly at giving Dom the strike. Which Dom would promptly return with yet another single. Nor have we ever had a double-century partnership – 205 once James had sealed his ton with a six palmed over by long-off and walked off to well-deserved applause. And never on a Sunday have we failed to lose a single wicket in a full innings. Not that the Trafalgar were as weak as a month ago – no child bowlers this time – but they failed to take their few chances and we took full advantage, with both openers scoring freely until Dom hit the nervous eighties.

The Trafalgar's began with a clearly still overcome Steve forgetting to release his first ball and falling flat on his face. This seemed to put their openers in a merry mood, only ended when their big-hitting skipper was tempted once too often by Dave Winpenny and holed out to Dom at long-off. This spurred Steve into a fine six-over spell, having landlord Dave caught behind and then fooling number three with his "even slower" one. Geoff, who had to leave early for a wedding, then speeded up proceedings by bowling Kelly father and son in successive deliveries. Fine catches followed by Steve, James, Mike and Fraser, the latter two both off their own bowling, Mike's spectacular one-handed leap to his left matched by Fraser hurdling the collided Lewis and Steve to grab a top-edge. Every bowler took at least one wicket, not a catch was dropped (including two off no-balls and one edge behind not given, all off Fraser) and the only downside was that Steve dislocated his left clavicle in that last collision.

Not that that dimmed the celebrations, which started in the Trafalgar and like Dom's innings, went on and on.

Tue 4 Aug v Phase Forward, WON by 52 runs. Bricklayers 164-6; Phase Forward 112-8

Our final midweek match of the season ended in a win last night by 52 runs against Phase Forward, our opponents from the first game way back in May – they won that one so it finishes all square between the teams.

In cloudy, later darkening conditions, we batted first which was very kind of their skipper, Thuens, as we only had 3 or 4 players at the start time – poor form on our part as they got all their team on time – from Maidenhead. We set a solid base of five an over to begin with, which was followed by excellent acceleration, enabling us to post 164. George, in his debut season, hit a maiden half century (60), ably supported by Richard E, Dom, Mike, Geoff and, particularly, James (37 no).

Thuens and Chris Bev (double wkt maiden) took two wkts each. Geoff and Richard T opened the bowling, making early inroads, taking 2 wkts apiece, and, despite some strong hitting from Neem (22) and Chris Bev (33 no), we restricted them to 112 by the end. Mike also took two wkts, including his first Russian batsman. He also took four catches – but was then roundly accused from all quarters of serious jug avoidance in dropping or avoiding catches five and six. Game played in excellent spirit, as usual between the teams, followed by the obligatory retreat to the Brick for final end of season nosh and pints of Timothy Taylor. Pizzas this time – excellent.

Highlight of the evening? Stevie, with arm in sling, trying to signal a six or a wide – very amusing. But thnx again Steve for turning up and umpiring for both sides – hope shoulder on mend soon. So that’s it you midweekers – it’s Sundays only now for the rest of the season. And your midweek club reporter/capt can now sit back and simply admire the views from mid-on – or wherever Fred puts him.

Signing off. Mike

Sunday September 6 v Rotten Livers LOST by 6 wkts

Bricklayers Arms 184-6 (35 overs, Ketan Soni 65, Dominic Ewer 33), Rotten Livers 185-4 (27.1 overs, Alvin 1-12, Fraser 1-28)

Well, all runs have to end eventually. We hadn't lost a Sunday game since June but we didn't have enough bowling to defend a reasonable total against a Livers side out to avenge their defeat by us at Battersea Park earlier that month.

The day did start with a victory of sorts, as we gently but firmly evicted a Wimbledon United XI convinced their match was at Cottenham Park despite their lack of a permit, booking form or indeed any opposition.

Dominic then won the toss and had no hesitation batting, a decision aided by the fact that skipper Alvin was at the wrong ground with two more of our team. Dom and Lewis opened, Lewis belting a quickfire 16 in an opening partnership of 32 otherwise almost entirely made up of wides and no-balls – just the start of the 49 extras the Livers kindly conceded. Dom in turn then had most of the strike in a 51-run stand with Ketan, hitting 33 before gloving legside to the keeper. Fraser then joined Ketan for an entertaining 55-run partnership before holing out at long-off for 15, Dave Winpenny saw Ketan to his fifty before being bowled by a full toss for 4. Ketan then moved to 65 before falling to the first ball of the last over, in which David Dobbs also departed for 1. It was a great effort from the top four in particular, but short of the 200-plus we were hoping for given our lack of strike bowlers.
Fraser opened the bowling with a steady spell of 7-0-28-1 but couldn't match the heights of his five-for on this same ground a month ago, and the tone was set once Lewis had taken the first wicket. In came the left-handed number three to straight-drive his first ball for four and sweep his second for six. Fraser removed the other opener and Ketan got rid of number four to put them at 70-odd for 3, but that was it as we ran short of bowling. Debutants Prasant and Suvir came in for particularly brutal treatment, number three dispatching Suvir for four successive sixes in his only over, and even the retirement of both batsmen brought only a single wicket for Alvin before they reached their target with almost eight overs to spare. Credit to Fraser and Mike for delivering their full seven-over spells despite strains and injuries and to the four catchers who took our only chances. And at least we only conceded 13 extras.

Sun Aug 9 v Battersea Ironsides WON by 5 wkts Battersea Ironsides 170 all out (Fraser Wright 5-41) Bricklayers Arms 174-5 (Ed Marland 63, James Mawson 44)

A superb team effort that saw us deploy four slips and a gully at one stage, wicket celebrations so joyous that a local terrier bounded on to join in and a double first for Rich O'Donnell – taking his first wicket in competitive cricket with his first ball, then hitting his first six. All this plus some beautiful swing bowling from Fraser brought victory over a club side that fielded a mix of vets, colts and Surrey League players

Mind you, it didn't look so easy as their openers rattled up a 50 partnership in the first 10 overs of their allotted 40. But the overhead conditions had looked good for swing – hence our decision to put them in – and Fraser Wright started to move the ball in ways far too mysterious for the Ironsides' top five. First came two lbws in two balls, then an edge to a diving Chris Locke, then in the final over of his eight he induced the opposition skipper to play on and the next batsman to spoon one up to a nonchalant Lewis at square leg. Fraser finished with figures of 8-0-41-5 and the Ironsides reduced to 72-5. A run-out and another Lewis catch at deep backward square off Dave Winpenny kept up the pressure, then Alvin tossed the ball to a protesting Rich O'Donnell – "I don't bowl." "You do now" – whose first delivery moved in to take the top of leg stump. He didn't have quite such success with the rest of his four overs as the Ironsides' ninth wicket added 46, but wickets from the impressive Dave Marland – 5-1-7-1 of left-arm fast-medium – and a Mike catch off Alvin wrapped up their innings with almost five overs to spare.

Chasing 170 holds no terrors these days, even though George Duckett went for a duck second ball. James and Ed added a rapid 128 for the second wicket before Ed tried to a cut a straight one, Rich went six and out and James and Dave Winpenny fell to catches. But Chris Locke and Dave Marland saw us through, Dave sealing victory inside 29 overs with two clumping fours. Next stop Mynthurst

Tue 11 August v Chelsea Cobblers WON by 7 runs Brick 121-6 (Jason Langdon 45, Richard Thickett 18 not out, Rich O'Donnell 17) Chelsea Cobblers 114 all out (Jason 3-4, Mike 3-19)

And so the sun finally set on another midweek season – but hey, we carried on playing anyway. Yes, it was another thriller in the dark as the Chelsea Cobblers invited us to bat and insisted on playing 20 overs. On a beautiful evening their tight bowling saw us 58-5 off 13 overs, With George (2), Ed (14), Mike (9), Dave Winpenny (2) and even gritty Yorkshire opener Rich O'Donnell (17) all departed. Mercifully their need to turn to a fifth bowler coincided with Jason Langdon, a late addition to the team at 4pm that afternoon, joining his flatmate Richard Tibbett at his wicket. Singles soon gave way to sixes as Jason raced to 45.

The 18th over gives the flavour – six-four-wide-six-four-four- dot only because the bowler failed to avoid another straight drive – and despite the opening bowlers' return applying a belated brake as Jason was caught in the last over, we'd set a fighting target of just above six an over. That rate soon climbed as Bert (4-0-20-1 on his first return to the side this season) and Geoff (4-0-17-1) opened our bowling, and despite Danny Buckland's two overs going for 22, Jason at the other end was destroying their main batting with three overs that took three wickets for just four runs. But as the sun disappeared over the horizon he sportingly declined a fourth over. The two established Cobblers batsmen then found they had a better sight of the ball than any fielders and started matching the 10-an-over asking rate, Richard Tibbett's three overs yielded 17, Mike Ottley's first two went for 19, George Duckett's one and only leaked nine (but also a fine caught-and-bowled on a night of great outfield catches).

So to the last over with the Cobblers needing eight to win with four wickets in hand. This was a good moment for Mike to switch back to off-spin. One clean bowled, one caight-and-bowled, one caught by Richard Thickett and the same fielder completing a run-out on the final ball gave the skipper a triple-wicket maiden and us the match. Congratulations to Jason on a fine debut and to everyone on a midweek record that thanks to this victory ended nicely in credit – eight wins to seven losses, with not a game cancelled.

Sunday Sept 13 v South-West London Camra WON by 120 runs
Bricklayers Arms 194-5 (Al Carlson 93 not out, Fraser Wright 31), SW London Camra 74 all out (Chris Folley 3-11, Fraser Wright 3-12, Alvin Spencer 2-25)

"Give SW Camra a kicking from me" was Ed Marland's last message before he departed for Nepal a fortnight ago. Well we did, for the third time out of three this season.

Alvin won the toss and took the team's unanimous advice to bat – the overcast windy conditions weren't going to get any better, the opposition were shorn of Shaun and Scott and besides there was Camra's excellent beer to be drunk. It looked a good decision after only one legal ball – we had scored 11, with five wides, a four from Lewis and then two more wides, leading the umpire to calculate that at this rate we'd run up 2,310 in our 35 overs.

It wasn't quite to turn out like that as Camra's bowlers settled, though extras would eventually score 49. Lewis was bowled for 4 and fellow opener Rich O'Donnell went the same way for 9 to leave us 33-2 as Fraser joined Al at the wicket. But in the next hour and 20 minutes the match turned as these two put on 107, Fraser supporting Al to his fifty before both launched a blaze of boundaries against Camra's fourth, fifth and sixth bowlers. Fraser eventually went for a well-played 31, bowled by a grubber that somehow failed to bounce three times despite never getting more than two inches off the wicket. He was followed by Chris Folley for 5, the ball dribbling on having broken his bat, and Dave Winpenny was also bowled as the returning opening bowlers plus Franklyn applied a belated brake to our run rate. Despite determined scampering from Dave Dobbs, Al could not quite reach a deserved century; though he did top his previous best of 85 not out, also against Camra on his last appearance, giving an unbeaten aggregate of 178 against one of our toughest opponents.

Uppermost in all minds was that we'd failed to defend 184 the previous week. With only 10 more this time we were determined to sharpen up in the field, and so it proved. Rich Tibbett took the first catch off Alvin, then next ball got the other opener's wicket (one of a quartet of nifty South Africans) with a snorter that ballooned to Al in the gully. Camra 8-2 and game on. Ferociously keen fielding (kudos particularly to Dave Winpenny for a flawless display at point) ensured Camra's big hitters could never break the stranglehold: Rich Tibbett's opening spell was 5-1-15-1, while Lewis took the next catch to give Alvin figures of 7-0-25-2. Chris Folley with his first ball bowled their danger man through the gate, following that with another bowled via an inside edge and then a third wicket from a brilliant diving catch by Al in the gully, making Chris's tally 4-1-11-3. Fraser then got in on the act with a spell of 3-0-12-3: two bowled and one great running catch by Mike off a skier to fly slip. A rare glimpse of the unorthodox action of Dave Dobbs was curtailed after three balls when last man Geoff snicked behind – "Did I touch that, Chris?" I'm afraid you did, Geoff." "I'll be off, then" – to give a comprehensive win by 120 runs.

After Franklyn's excellent Cajun chicken had been served on the boundary we repaired first to the Trafalgar and then the Brick for well-earned celebrations. That's 19 wins now, equalling the club record with two games to go. Now for Roehampton on Sunday.

Sunday August 16 v Priory Arms, Belair Park, Dulwich WON by 11 runs
Bricklayers Arms 119 all out (25.2 overs, Ed Marland 28, Dave Marland 23), Priory Arms 108 all out (29.2 overs, Alvin Spencer 3-18, Geoff Brunner 3-22, Dave Marland 2-21)

After Mynthurst cancelled on Thursday, the Priory Arms came to the rescue to provide a nail-biting game of cricket in beautiful surroundings at Belair Park, all to the musical accompaniment of a Caribbean wedding in the mansion overlooking the pitch.

The Priory won the toss and put us in, a decision perhaps explained by the beer they had brought to enjoy once their fielding was done. Dominic Ewer and Geoff Brunner opened in a contrast of styles, Dom all stately dots and singles, Geoff a blaze of edges, boundaries and scoops to butterfingered fielders, somehow racing to 16 before being clean bowled with the score at 28. Dom pottered to 5 before an uncharacteristic attempt to accelerate saw him stumped at 47, followed two balls later by Fraser Wright hoicking straight to long leg. Scott Bromley also went stumped for 7 and Ed Marland, having hit one six into the local pond, was bowled for 28. Dave Winpenny was plumb lbw to a shooter for 7 and George Duckett was bowled for the same score. Some lusty hitting from Ed's brother Dave (23) took us past the hundred but with Alvin and Chris managing only a single apiece Mike was left marooned on 4 not out and we were stranded almost five overs short of our allotted 30. Seven wickets had fallen to their two spinners.

We had been in this situation in our first match this season against the Priory and still won, and a perfect start seemed assured as Dave Marland's first ball was spooned straight to his brother at cover. Ed dropped it, and there can have been no more relieved man when Dave's second ball trapped the batsman lbw. Dave then induced their skipper to feather a catch behind, and with Scott (6-0-16-0) and Geoff tying up the other end the asking rate soon climbed.The Aussies combined to dismiss the other opener caught Scott bowled Geoff and then Geoff clean-bowled numbers four and five.

This left the score 57-5 after 18 overs and the wicket occupied by three men – their opening bowler Stuart, his batting partner with a prosthetic leg plus a runner. With Mike Ottley in the midst of a mean spell of 6-3-10-0 all seemed set fair. Stuart however had other ideas, climbing into some wayward bowling by Fraser Wright and bludgeoning boundaries whenever he managed to get on strike. Dropped catches meant the pair were still together with 25 to get off five, then 15 off 15 balls. At this point at last Alvin broke the stand, bowling first Stuart for 41 and then his stonewalling partner for 7. Two runouts followed next over to leave 12 needed off the last. First ball dot, second Chris stumped their number 11 to give Alvin a third wicket and us the victory by 11 runs. Their last five wickets had fallen for three runs.  

Sunday Sept 20 v Roehampton CC, WON by 8 wickets.
Roehampton 170-5 dec (41 overs, Jason Langdon 2-19), Bricklayers 174-2 (33.2 overs, Fred Shiels 89 not out, Dominic Ewer 30 not out)

In the 18 seasons this club has been going, first as the Adelaide and since 2007 as the Brick, we've never managed 20 victories in one summer. Until now, and with a win to savour.

Roehampton CC have two sides in the Fullers Surrey County league, a proper clubhouse, beautiful ground on Putney Heath and a Sunday side which skittled us out for under 60 last year. The first essential was to win the toss and field, thus ensuring that the match wouldn't end at 3.45 like last time. This Chris Locke did (in the absence of the skipper and half the team) and negotiated half an hour's delay to the 12.30 start and a couple of substitute fielders to tide us over until the latecomers arrived.

Geoff and Alvin were perforce the opening bowlers and performed heroically to keep the scoring down at three an over despite us only having nine in the field. Rich Tibbett then arrived with Jason, just in time to take a catch at cover off Alvin – 12-1 in the fourth over. Mike Ottley and finally Fred then showed. Alvin gave way to the pace of Jason, Geoff bowled a tight first spell of eight overs and though Lewis Caley (5-0-29-0) and Rich Tibbett (4-0-27-0) were less economical, at 20 overs Roehampton were just 80-1. Tight fielding continued to back up the bowlers and the introduction of Mike Ottley turned the screw further – removing their number three bowled leg stump for 49 and sending down five overs for just 10 runs. At the other end Alvin's second spell was also mean, giving him overall figures of 5-0-14-1, before Jason and Geoff returned to round off the innings with well-deserved wickets – Jason's a flying catch behind then an lbw to end with 10-4-19-2, Geoff taking out their skipper's middle stump to finish with 12-0-57-1. Despite all their wickets in hand Roehampton had never risen much beyond four an over: great credit all round to the fielding side.

After tea in the Telegraph it was our turn to bat for an hour and 10 minutes plus 20 overs, giving the option of a draw for the first time this season. It wasn't to be an issue. Dominic opened in a contrast of styles with Lewis, who thrashed 17 before nicking behind for 27-1, and an even starker disparity with Geoff, who clubbed his first ball for four and hit 21 of their partnership of 22 before skying the ball to cover. Enter Fred at 49-2, and now we really were talking batsmen from different planets. The book shows that after a deceptive boundary first ball, Dom's next scoring stroke came on his 15th and his third on his 31st. By his 50th ball he had clearly played himself in to reach 15 not out; Fred meanwhile had taken nine balls fewer before reaching his half-century with a six that was immediately followed by a four and another six.

A pattern emerged of the field spreading to the deep to either drop catches off Fred or watch the ball sail past them, then suddenly rushing in to huddle round Dom's unyielding dead bat. No matter, they were not to be parted. By the time we won with more than five overs to spare, Fred's 89 not out, made in front of his father as well as his family, had taken 60 balls with 12 fours and three sixes. Dom meanwhile had proudly carried his bat for 30 off 88 balls, and the two had put on 125 together.
Celebrations started with a barbecue in the clubhouse before we brought our good news to an already happy Brick on the last night of a highly successful beer festival. Twenty wins in a season is a great achievement – congratulations to all concerned, and particular thanks to Becky at the Bricklayers for her unfailing patience and support.

Last game this Sunday – can we make it 21?