RBCC vs  Lewes Nomads – Saturday 31^st July : Written by Ed McNeill

RBCC were invited to bat after losing the toss in overcast conditions. Fears that the visiting Englishmen would exploit the overhead conditions, having been inspired by Jimmy Anderson’s terrific spell of swing bowling at Trent Bridge on Friday, were soon laid to rest as Gregg began peppering the boundary. However, RBCC were soon in trouble at 30-2 with Gregg and Pratik falling in quick succession. Gregg will count himself particularly unlucky having been undone by the combination of RBCC’s Waqas and Adeel, who were loaned to Lewes at the start of the game.

A period of consolidation followed as Kumar and Ed McNeill began a counterattack. Kumar, in particular, unleashed a succession of lusty blows down the ground off Waqas. However, with RBCC coasting along at more than 8 runs per over, Waqas had the last laugh as he claimed a return catch to dismiss the dangerous Kumar. Ed soon followed, also undone by the crafty sideways movement of Waqas. There was soon panic amongst the RBCC camp as wickets continued to fall as the friendly bowling tempted the batsmen into some very audacious strokes. but, cometh the hour, cometh the man as Allan Wilson took the opportunity to play one of his more memorable innings as he knuckled down to top score and produce a club best 39. A half-century was well within his sights, but after launching a six from his penultimate ball, it was clear that the fatigue had set in and he was bowled all ends up. Some scampering by Danish and Abrar saw RBCC post a respectable 219 from the allotted 35 overs.

Feeling very satisfied with the batting performance, RBCC welcomed Lewes into the pavilion with an excellent spread of sandwiches and home-baked cakes prepared by Ed Thomas’ girlfriend, Emma. Full to the rafters, a leaden footed Brussels took to the field and managed to forge a promising restart. Allan and Kumar paired together to produce very economical opening spells, restricting the Lewes openers to 26 after 10 overs. However, the tide soon turned following an excellent piece of fielding from Gregg which led to the run out of one of Lewes’ openers who was clearly from the Geoff Boycott school of batting. The dismissal brought to the crease the dangerous Waqas. Combining with an impressive youngster from the Lewes side, Waqas forged a century partnership en route to an entertaining 58 complemented by 11 boundaries. However, Waqas’ innings was not without chances, with Kumar grassing a regulation chance at mid on before Waqas was really out of the blocks. A verbal exchange followed, and it was clear that Waqas felt that Kumar had dropped the game. However, the wily Jalal Syed had different ideas and was soon causing the batsmen trouble with his cunning flight and guile. In one of Jalal’s overs, 3 wickets fell and it looked like Lewes were dead and buried as the run rate began to climb towards 10 an over. When Lewes’ talented young opener fell to a brilliant catch in the deep by Usman, the writing was on the fall. Adeel Ishtiaq clearly had different ideas and responded with a brutal innings of 32 to leave Lewes sniffing a rare tour victory. RBCC clearly felt the pressure having been rattled by some entertaining lower order hitting out. A couple of wild overs followed and some sloppy fielding saw Lewes home with 2 overs to spare.

The man of the match was certainly Waqas with his 58 and 3 wickets.  It may have been a very different game had he been playing for RBCC instead!
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