BCCC v Peshwa. Peshwsa won by 4 wickets.

Match played at Barnes Common, perfect weather, bright and clear. Peshwa defeated Barnes Common by 4 wickets.

We won the toss and batted on a pitch with a few unknowns. Ciju and Nik set about getting us off to a solid start but with some accurate bowling and the pitch doing a bit were both out LBW to deliveries that stayed low with the score at 16. With Zef and Keshav at the crease we added 61, both striking the ball with classic drives to the straight boundaries, Zef with 9 fours out of his 50, being caught behind and Keshav was bowled having made 21. Out of the next 7 batters, only two reached double figures. We had two run-outs, Ashy was unlucky to have played on and we found ourselves all out for 169 off 35.1 overs; possibly 20/25 runs short of a defendable total. Peshwa’s fifth bowler Lucky Jha was the pick of the bowlers, 7.3 overs, 2 maidens, four for 22; skipper Anil bowled tightly for his 5 overs, two for 15.

With a small total to defend, we needed to take early wickets and we did just that, with the score on 16, Hassan ran from gully to third man and with a strong throw Keshav gathered an awkward bounce taking off the bails with Lohokare short of the crease. Vish was bowling quick taking wickets in his fourth and fifth overs and Ash taking wickets in his second and third overs. Ash had Angre brilliantly caught at square leg by Ciju taking a sharp catch low down.

Although we had taken 5 wickets for 63, we thought we were a good chance, however, Peshwa were scoring freely. Once their number six Alok Shinde came to the wicket, we could manage only one more wicket, we had no answer for Alok who scored a blistering 82 not out, taking their total score to 174 in 26 overs. Bowling figures, Vish 2 for 50, Ash 2 for 30, Graeme 0 for 16, Hasan 0 for 12, Adi 1 for 21 (a brilliant running catch by the stand in skipper) and Jack 0 for 13.


If we had the Man-Of-The-Match trophy, Zef had earned it for his well constructed 50 against some fine bowling on a pitch that was by no means batter friendly.


GRAEME