RBCC1 vs Crescent CC – Sunday 25^th July : Written by Alex Daniell

On an overcast day the RBCC side turned out to face Crescent. RBCC prospects were looking about as bright as the weather, however, since Crescent turned out a full strength side including the two big hitters in the league. The turn out showed how markedly different the makeup of these sides are; Crescent young and keen contrasting with RBCC missing 15 of its regular first team to summer holidays, kids and travel and only managing to rustle up 3 first team players. A surely interesting socio economic analysis, the upshot providing opportunities all round for the RBCCs own young and keen to taste some straight bowling and hard hitting.

Cap scored at least a reasonably full days cricket by ensuring Crescent got to bat first. First up, Big Mick bowling up the hill took a while to settle, the Crescent openers picking off the loose ones. Brighton, with the wind, though feeling a bit sorry for himself after the injustices dealt by the Gent Festival and strong beer, having dismissed one opener took some punishment from captain and Big Hitter Number One. The individual battle encouraging a less than enthusiastic initial input from not so Bright-on to perk up and put in some impressive bouncers clearing batsman and even keeper at times.

Hitter Number One/Nice to Watch, kept hitting cleanly, Cap tried a few bowling changes, Dinesh’s gentle consistency got the treatment; Iqi calmed things down with a great display of spin completely baffling hitter Number One/Nice to Watch with the googly. On the uphill came another long seamer, Alex, who amongst some rough tat and punishment managed to bowl a taster outside off which Big Hit One brushed to keeper Shivaji moving right. Exit Big Hit/Nice to Watch specially when walking back to the clubhouse.

Iqi at the other end was proving difficult to do anything with and kept the lid on things for a while. Picking up a wicket, however only served to bring in Big Hitter Number 2/Nice to Watch who didn’t take long to start smashing it around even putting a few well into the driving range next door. He eventually fell in a moment of madness when stepping down the wicket to Iqi and was sharply stumped by keeper Shivaji, who didn’t miss a thing all day.

Not so Bright-on, (or Sad-On)’s, woes continued as Nick was several frames out of the picture from an edge to slip. Nick made amends bagging a firmly struck one at mid off.

Amitt and the Hutchster came on to see away the tail end after the number 11 kept swinging and hitting eventually top edging to Amitt who took a good catch on the run in from the boundary.

After tea RBCC tried to take on a seemingly indigestible total of 241 about which there isn’t really much to say. It turns out that Big Hit One also bowls a steady line away swinger and the Crescent attack made mince-meat of the RBCC batting. The fig leaf to RBCC embarrassment was Amitt who on his final game as an RBCC regular couldn’t find anyone to play with and was left even feeling guilty that he might be delaying home- time. RBCC limped to 3 figures.

In all an out-gunned RBCC side did well in the field – perhaps without the 2 big hitters we would have had a more competitive game. But no need for the sad-on – a days cricket and good experience for some junior team members rounded off by a few sherberts, some fighting talk from one or 2 belligerents and laughs all round. Fairwell to Amitt, all the best in Paris!
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