On another blisteringly hot day, Waverley arrived at Sandhurst after both teams were left with a gap in their fixture lists for the weekend. With Atif (“the Peacekeeper”) and Khan (“Chaka”) Qadar both turning King’s evidence for Waverley, they were joined in the XI by Marcus Carmichael (“MC”), Simon Brewer (“KV”), Drew Upward (“Labradrewdle”), Sam Tempest (“Troy”), Aiden Upward (“Bane”), Adam Carmichael (“AC”), Finley Upward (“Fin”), Andy du Gay (“Daddy Doogs”) and Adrian Day (“Mog”).

Winning the toss and electing to bat first in this 40 over game, Sandhurst were soon in trouble against opening bowlers Troy and Bane. In the fourth over, Bane got one to nip back off the pitch which D Oliver (4) was only able to inside edge onto his stumps. At the other end, Troy had already seen two catches go to ground (including a chance off the first ball of the innings), but his perseverance was rewarded when Gadiraju (4) was held by Bane. Labradrewdle was introduced to the attack shortly afterwards, challenging the new batsmen when he probed on (and just outside) off-stump; at the Pavilion End, AC immediately hit his line and length but Yadav and Dixon proved adept at chipping the ball just over (or just in front of) Waverley’s fielders. There was a slow accumulation of runs, but the arrival of Fin into the attack yielded a breakthrough. The ball was clipped by Yadav to Labradrewdle at square leg, with Dixon (24) setting off for an ambitious single. Yadav remained immobile at the other end and Labradrewdle kept his cool, calmly returning the ball to Fin to complete the run out at the non-striker’s end.

Wickets tend to fall in clusters and Daddy Doogs (on for AC) was the beneficiary, a full toss to Zargar (7) being swept straight into the bread basket of Labradrewdle at backward square leg. Stand-in skipper Mog joined the fray and induced a wicket with his first delivery. Having completed a well-made half-century, Yadav guided the ball through the cordon and decided to take on Bane’s arm for a second run – Bane’s throw was accurate and KV was able to complete the run out with Yadav (53) short of his ground. At 111-5, Sandhurst’s lower order rallied and Davison (20) added some useful runs before he was caught at point by a backpedalling MC off the bowling of Chaka. AC came back on for the death overs and was rewarded with a brilliant catch by Bane to dismissed B Oliver (6), the ball looking for all the world like it had cleared him at deep mid-wicket until he leapt and took a one-handed catch over his head. AC had a second wicket with a caught and bowled from M Oliver (11), ~~the ball dollying up off a leading edge~~ demonstrating lightening reflexes that clearly matched Bane's earlier effort, but Sandhurst negotiated the remaining few deliveries without further loss as Sanders (9* not out) and Jones (3* not out) guided the home side to 169-8.

After tea, Chaka and MC were looking to lay a solid foundation for Waverley’s run chase. After a watchful first few overs, they started to open up and MC in particular was looking “in the mood”, his first six scoring shots all going to the boundary for four. With Chaka and MC also being Waverley’s quickest batsmen between the wickets, they kept the scoreboard rotating and the 50 stand was soon passed. MC continued to find the boundary and he soon notched his half-century, before looking to accelerating the scoring rate. In so doing, he tried one lofted drive too many and holed out to Davison off the bowling of Jones for a well-made 59, ending a stand of 103 for the first wicket and leaving Waverley in a decent position with fifteen overs to go.

Once again, wickets came in clusters. Chaka (36) had been batting nicely, but in trying to up the run rate he was caught by Sanders to give Jones his second wicket. When the Peacekeeper (6) departed in next over, Waverley had plenty of wickets in hand but needed a few quick runs. KV was the man for the task, blasting a quick-fire 35 (including a booming six off M Oliver) before holing out in the deep. With only fifteen runs needed for victory and just over six overs to get them, Troy was castled first ball by M Oliver and the spectre of a Waverley batting collapsed briefly threatened to overtake the proceedings. However, Labradrewdle (7* not out) was resolute in defence and Bane (14* not out) made short work of the target, crashing a full toss through point for four to hand Waverley victory by five wickets.

Match ball sponsored by William Knox Landscaping.

Waverley Cricket Club

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