Captain Tom the master tactician (and he does make exceedingly good cricket teas)

Gymkhana B 143

Shine Thomas 33, Chanchai 24, Asif 2-24, Ubaid 2-21

Gymkhana A 142/7

Martin Cardno 40 retired, Richard Cowles 23, Asif 34, Adam Green 2/13, Michael Cant 1/9

Gymkhana B
won by 1 run

There was a very exciting finish to the match played on Gymkhana Club on Sunday as a good turn out of Gymkhana Cricket Members saw 16 adults and 6 juniors put on a good display which suggested there was plenty to look forward to in the new season. Gymkhana B, captained by Tom Salusbury, just came out on top as Gymkhana A needed 4 runs to win from the last over but managed only two singles to lose by 1 run.

Gymkhana A looked the stronger side on paper but Shine Thomas and Adam Green provided Gymkhana B with a rousing start as the score reached 50 in just 6 overs. Adam ran himself out and Shine fell for a swash-buckling 33 from 24 balls, then Michael Cant and Chanchai also looked set for good scores before falling for 14 and 24 respectively but Champ and Por got useful runs at the end.

Gymkhana B were bowled out for 143 in 23.2 overs with Asif and Ubaid taking two wickets aoiece and both teams then enjoyed a tea that wouldn’t have been out of place in an English village. A tea time feast was had by all as there was an array of sandwiches, quiches and flans, topped by strawberry cakes, all home made by Tom Salusbury and his wife Prem.

Chanchai started well with the ball as he dismissed the dangerous Ubaid but Chris Coombes looked solid and Martin Cardno continued in his rich vein of form, rarely seeming to use the middle of the bat but racing to an early retirement on 40 nevertheless. Tom’s captaincy also looked like a throwback to the early days of the Sunday League with the opening bowlers both given their full five overs and then the same policy used for the next pair.

Adam Green was able to bowl a very steady spell of 2 for 13 from 5 overs including the crucial wicket of Richard Cowles for 23 and Wani backed him up well to ensure there would be a tight finish. Asif was batting sensibly but captain Tom was able to turn to Michael Cant who proved hard to get away. Shine Thomas was asked to bowl two overs at the other end and the match looked to have slipped away when guest player Hermes hit a four from the last ball of the 24th over.

Only four to win from the last over and Asif took a single from the first ball but the decisive moment of the match came from the next ball as Shaffi seized on the ball at mid on and somehow hit the stumps when falling backwards and Asif was run out as he looked to get back on strike.

Michael Cant was bowling a superb final over as two dot balls and a wicket followed and a single from the last ball of the match was not enough as Gymkhana B won by 1 run. Captain Tom was proud as punch having again proved his skill as a tactician but his real talent is for producing wonderful cricket teas and if there should soon be a queue of visitors arriving at Gymkhana on Sunday afternoons, you’ll know the reason why.

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