Match Report
Sunday 9 May –v- West Peckham at West Peckham Village Green
Crusaders returned to winning ways with a resounding victory at West Peckham. The Canning Town Tractor delivered Danglers, Spud and Dave to the wonderful confines of The Swan on the Green at just after midday for some vital acclimatisation. Over a couple of medicinal beverages we were able to watch some last minute pitch preparation, with Moyse and Whale already pencilled in at numbers 10 and 11.
Overnight rain had left the pitch green and spongy, offering encouragement to any bowler who could put it there or thereabouts. Gradually the remainder of the eleven materialised, with Nita and Gordy replacing the injured duo of Channa (knee) and Foy (chipped nail-varnish). Even Wajih managed to arrive in time for the toss, the result of which from my vantage point in the tavern was unclear.
On the strength of last week's top score, The G Man found himself opening with the skip. He probably wished he had refused the offer, being bowled in the 3rd over having failed to trouble the scorers. Whale and Moyse had taken up the perfect scoring position within The Swan, with the pitch only slightly obscured by the large tree. The umpires eventually got the hang of signalling events to the pub.
The only batsmen to emerge with any credit were Pommie who played a patient innings of 33 and a swashbuckling Jabs, who finished top scorer with 45. Together they forged the only partnership of the day, putting on 54 for the 5th wicket. Their departure signalled a lower order collapse with the last five wickets yielding only 3 runs.
West Peckham appeared to be well in the ascendancy, requiring only 101 to win, but with the pitch - unlike at Norwood - showing little signs of improving as the day wore on Crusaders knew they had the bowling attack to make the run-chase uncomfortable.
Danglers and Mr Taylor soon turned the screws, with runs scored at a high premium and wickets tumbling all too regularly for West Peckham. Darren was exacting what pace there was from the wicket, while Mike relied on some subtle changes in pace and flight to unsettle the oppo batsmen. With West Peckham reduced to 12-3 and their best bats safely back in the hutch, it became just a matter of patience, before the victory was wrapped up. Spud - with another indifferent spell - whittled out the middle order, leaving Jabs and Upkar to complete the win.
