BAFTA CC/SCC beat SCC by 64 runs
20/20 match

Comrades!

The season has begun. The sun shone bright and this small corner of Ham, nestling alongside the Thames became our battleground. For a municipal pitch it was actually rather attractive, lined as it was on all sides by trees, horses and the entrance gate to Ham House. Even the outfield threatened little risk of a broken ankle, wicket was also reasonable though dull.

BAFTA CC needed supplementing by SCC members so we brought about fifteen along and were able to get a match on, which was after all the whole point of the season, cricket! Pitch was laid out and the PAWS were soon sat in expectant excitement.

SCC fielded first and due to commencement running late, there was already a feeling of time pressure. Myself and New comrade Tomsk (Tom Mayhew) opened the bowling and tried to keep things calm. Very quickly it became clear that S.Tommy (?) was a good bat and was finding sixes and fours from the first seven overs. Bennettov was donated to BAFTA and opened alongside Tommy (really? Is that his name?) He was only just back from foreign travels and I think the foreign food may have influenced his performance. Good for us though and I hope he forgives me for keeping his score under check with tootsie bowling.

Comrade Chipmonkski Nibbed in ( Brother Tim Richardson). Tomsk moved back into the field having fought valiantly against Tommy and Bennetov over three overs for 22 runs. Chipmonkski had a fight but by now both bats had some eye in. The run rate stepped up and the mood drooped. Chipmonkski was joined in the battle with Soldya (Dan March) but Tommy was clattering briskly by now. Two slow medium pacers were too tempting and the traps set for a catch were never quite tight enough. The odd dropped catch… Ahh.

With Tommy passed 50 Samovar (Sam Kankamage) was called up. Bennettov adopted the impartiality of the BAFTA loan with fine aplomb and scored a lovely 25 before being caught delightfully by Jonty at mid wicket! The atmosphere was lifted. Our very own comrade captain commissar captain Marx popped up, again on loan to BAFTA. Sixteen scored not out.

The last few overs were quite tough to watch from the outfield but were blessed by fighting spirit and two great moments. Tomsk, who had been passing me every over as we travelled in and out, was brilliantly rushing in from the deep and pouched a lovely catch taking the wicket of Tommy for 104. A great score by him and a great catch by Tomsk. There were also two run outs the best being on the very last ball of the innings, seeing Robski clatter the stumps after a furious scrabble. Brilliant!

Even by the length of this report so far you can see that time had slipped by and the sun was beautiful, golden… And just about sunk below the west! We should have reduced overs? Who knows but it was so dark! Samovar and Tomsk were in first and both out very soon from sharp bowling by Miller. This bought Robski and myself in. Spotting a dark red ball against the sun at dusk against silhouetted trees is obviously not a great laugh and bouncers and medium fast bowling doesn’t help. But after Robski departed, Brandonovski and myself settled nervously down to a little Dorothy and a little hitting out. Two career bests followed ( career!!! lol) and saw Bennettov put up 20 and myself 12. We shall both be smiling for weeks.

Vladimir Boringski (Charlie Richards) and comrade commissar Treasurer Ilyeva produced scores of 18 and 8 respectively and if I am not wrong, that may have been Ilyeva’s best too. Quiet and solid. Well done both.

So BAFTA CC/SCC win 154 runs over 90 and congrats and good luck with the team and year ahead. Special mention to S.Tommy whose 104 was blinding and well deserved. Thanks To Ross too for being bold enough to start a BAFTA team and we hope to meet again on the field.

For me, comrade of the match?…. I think I shall nod to Brandonovski who projected his batting forward brightly into this new season. All the nets have made an enormous difference on the weaker part of last year’s games, the batting. Let’s keep it up comrades and have a great season. Semper Sodales, fors et victores!

Do Svidaniya

As ever, to amend any details in this report you have 30 days to do it! Let me know as I am only human. Thank you.