Back from the brink

Changes were made for the second match in Mumbai and all the senior pros were rested as Alan Cope led a development XI against a World Cricket Academy side at the Vengsarkar Academy ground.

Cope’s OC captaincy career got off to a blinder when he lost the toss and the Academy chose to bat in sweltering conditions. Peter Hobbs again defied the pain barrier, aided by increasing doses of mind-numbing drugs, to open the bowling and the all-seam attack was supported by enthusiastic groundfielding and outstanding catches from Nathan Ross and Johnny Gates. The surprise package was Damian Hill, decorated with the kind of red facepaint last seen in a John Wayne western, who bowled an excellent spell at the death. The opposition were young and that showed as they nurdled and nudged singles with skill but only really looked to open up in the last three or four overs.

At lunch – we walked back to the CCI – the side was confident, perhaps too much so. Within eight overs we were tottering on 33 for 5 with most of our big guns accounted for. Hill tried to hook the first ball of the innings only to top-edge to the keeper, Sam Langmead lost his off stump via an outside edge, Eds Copleston got a poor leg-before decision and Cope was bowled round his legs. Steve Bailey, who arrived earlier in the day from London and who was enjoying a\ leisurely lunch at the CCI, was summoned, and the he was called straight into action when Michael Chase swung at and missed a full toss, departing reluctantly after remonstrating with the umpire over the legality of the delivery.


Bailey kept his end up but it was Ross, driving and pulling with real class and scampering between the wickets, who stemmed the slide and started to counter attack. Bailey, after almost half an hour, got off the mark with a straight six, but soon after failed to beat a direct hit at the non-striker’s end. Johnny Gates then joined Ross and immediately unleashed two textbook off drives. He was, however, struggling with illness and it quickly became clear he was in difficulties and he retired and immediately threw up.

Ross’s dismissal caused a few jitters, but that of Rosenfeldt, who had kept the run-rate ticking along, two overs later put us in trouble. Gates, looking pasty but determined, returned to the fray and was joined by Hufton with 12 needed off two overs, and we started the last with six required. The game was settled when Hufton clipped a four over midwicket to secure a win in game which we had seemed for all the world to have thrown away.

Old Cranleighans 184 for 8 (Ross 63, Gates 31*) beat World Cricket Academy XI 183 (Henderson 3-39) by two wickets