King George’s Playing Field, Morden, Sunday 25 June 2023.

St Anne’s Allstars 169-9 dec (Adams 35, Wigg 4-10) beat The Min 130 all out (Damaze 32) by 39 runs.

Allstars Debut: Andrew Lipscombe.

Report by Neale Adams – Photos by Pete Cresswell

So, on the hottest day of the year to date in the UK, the Allstars gathered at King George’s Playing Fields to take the field for our second fixture against The Min. Excitement was high, and so was the temperature. Thankfully, the heat was tempered by a refreshing wind that continued to blow throughout the afternoon across the elevated playing field. Great conditions and a great venue, even if the facilities were al fresco as there was no clubhouse.

However, as the 1pm start time came and went for the timed game, it soon became apparent that the Allstars had unwittingly decided to divide and conquer. Seven of the team had made it to King George’s Playing Fields in Morden, Surrey – but, courtesy of a bizarre sat-nav error, the four Banbury boys (including the match captain Amit Deverathippa) had ventured to King George’s Playing Fields……in Brentwood. Yes, that Brentwood in Essex. Think we already know the recipients of this year’s end of season award for the best sightseeing tour of London and its surrounding counties!

Undeterred, the Allstars Morden squadron hastily put together a batting order – the majority of whom were lower order sloggers. Now, suddenly promoted to the top order, the aim was to stay in play while waiting for Captain Amit and the cavalry to arrive. But the initial outcome was inevitable and not pretty, as the accurate, full-length bowling of The Min opening pair of Wigg and Casey sliced through the Allstars batting order. What looked like a flat wicket did not help the Allstars’ cause either, as many were bowled by balls which kept low. Coming out to bat with the score 0 for 2, Matt Lo steadied the Allstars’ ship, putting a respectable 28 on the scoreboard before he too lost his wicket to the on-target Wigg, who was the star of The Min bowling line up with impressive figures of 4 for 10.

By the time the early drinks break was called, as the Allstars had run out of batsmen, the team were on 62 for 6.  But, as in all good movies, the cavalry did arrive in the nick of time – or around 3pm to be precise.

So once more into the affray, the Allstars retook to the square with Neale Adams and Pradesh Deveraj to see off the openers and take on The Min spinners. Adams eventually left the crease having put together an excellent 35, and thanks to an inspired cavalry charge by Pradesh, Captain Amit, and Barathwaj Nagarajan, 107 runs were added for the last three wickets before time was called leaving the Allstars on 169 for 9. 

Game on.

Raghavendra and Pradesh opened the Allstars’ bowling attack, but a solid start by The Min openers Earney and Beswick got their scoreboard ticking over steadily. Raghavendra claimed the first scalp with a fine delivery in the seventh over that hit Earney’s stumps, sending him back to the clubhouse….or in reality the bags under the shaded trees.

The Min continued on their way, posting the fifty with just one down, and it was not until the 15th over when Captain Amit struck a vital blow, trapping Strawson LBW. As so often in cricket, one wicket brings two – and next over, without addition to the score, Sanjay Dindyal sent Min skipper Beswick on his way in identical fashion. Sanjay was really working up a good pace, and he bowled Gallagher in his next over to leave The Min 67 for 4.

Damaze and Wigg put together a decent stand to bring The Min back into it, but it was Allstars debutant Andrew Lipscombe’s time to come to the party, as he bowled Damaze with the second ball of his first over before doing the same to Casey. The Min’s stoic resistance was broken, and we moved in for the kill. An inspired spell by the fearless Jimmy Scott brought him two quick wickets, as Usanga was caught in the gully and Garland hitting his own wicket. Allstars Club Captain Pete Cresswell was ever vigilant behind the stumps. 

With the Allstars sensing a once distant looking victory, a Sunday Bazball fielding set up was adopted aiming to put The Min’s last pair under further pressure. Captain Amit fittingly wrapped up the proceedings by dismissing Grant, taking the bails off with a fine delivery, to leave The Min all out for 130.

The game had ebbed and flowed like the first 2023 Ashes Test – but without the crowds, toilets or overpriced champagne. The Min were gracious opponents and all-round fine fellows, and coupled with a good venue, it was a most enjoyable way to spend a hot summer’s day. Next up, on Saturday, we return to our spiritual home of Barnes Common to contest the James Abrahams Trophy against our old friends and rivals Mighty Wanderers.