After our successful opening match, this tie against Westcliff felt like it would be a tough gig. Captain Dave’s plan was to win the toss and bat to get some scoreboard pressure on. As ever we lost the toss and were fielding in the gloom, with the prospect of batting beyond 8 o clock in the full darkness.
The pitch was heavy and damp and Matt Curtis on return from Australia, sporting a very Aussie looking mullet, found some great early pace and movement and along with Luke also bowling at full tilt kept Dave busy behind the stumps.
Luke picked up the first with a plum LBW, Jerin and Wali took over the pace attack and picked up one apiece, at 44-3 it was game on.
Sahil spun the next wicket (83-4) and with the return of Matt, wickets tumbled. Dave took a particularly good low catch at keeper to dismiss Aman Deep. Thanks to Westcliff for the loan of a sub fielder (for Darsh when he decided to turn up half an hour late) who took a particularly good catch in the deep and had a strong arm.
Bowling honours to Matt with 3-14 off 4 pacey overs.
Westcliff finished on 120 from their 16 overs.

We found it difficult to get a start and soon the required rate was above 10, Wali fell cheaply and Darsh at 3, claimed not to be able to see his first 5 balls. Bob played a characteristically reliable anchor role and got 19 from 20 to keep things steady.
There was a small controversy as Luke was caught off a chest high beamer, but eventually good sense and sportsmanship took over and he was called back to the crease. NB Umpires please note over waist high = no ball.
Luke and Matt were out quickly and finally Darsh got into his stride and started to reach the boundaries, retiring on 55 from 39 featuring three 4s and four 6s, a really tremendous innings, I think this will be an early candidate for performance of the year, to be awarded at the end of season gathering.
Unusually for Dave he did not fancy batting and was quaking in his boots as he tried to find his way through the dark to the crease with 15 still required from 2 overs.
Run for everything was Dave’s instruction to Sahil, who was soon running for the pavilion as Dave ran him out. Once again Dave had a go at running me out, I was stranded half way as the bowler fumbled the ball and fell onto the stumps village style and I “waddled” back to safety, not out for 0.
But my mood was soon forgotten as with uncharacteristic early speed Dave knocked 12 from 7 to get us over the line with 2 balls to spare.

An extraordinary victory for Civic by 5 wickets

Great to see so many stay to help us win bar as well (see picture)

Man of the match Darsh for such a great innings

Quote of the day from Facebook: “…it doesn’t get any darker than losing to David Colwill…”


Have a peaceful bank holiday
Martin 3/5/24