Putney CC 1 July 2024

Manager Andrew Hodder-Williams

Match Drawn

SOA 231 for 5 dec (Ayyaz Mallick 77*, Alex Ross 69, Andrew Hodder-Williams 36)

Putney 221 for 9 (Sam Down 3 for 43, Bertie Gowen 2 for 55, Craig Foster 2 for 54)

This year to Queens College for the rematch vs the touring Putney CC.  For those with short memories, an overly generous declaration in 2023 allowed Putney to easily overhaul our exclusively off-spin attack.  This year under cloudy skies, SOA again elected to bat, determined to post a more challenging total, armed with inside father-son knowledge that Putney were again batting rich this year.

Alex Wildman fell early chipping Putney skipper Barney Hodder-Williams to cover, but Alex Ross (69 off 53) went out hard against the opening attack.  Juni soaked up pressure at the other end, but wasn’t able to capitalise falling to the newly introduced spinner in the 16th over.  Alex had time to complete a multiple choice ‘where shall I put this’ question, before choosing the wrong answer and finding deep midwicket, bringing your correspondent to the crease to join Ayyaz with the score at 99.  Pace off the ball was perhaps the wise choice on this extension to the Abingdon Road, but the partnership yielded 85 at ~6 an over, before Ayyaz (77*) countermanded his skipper’s call (who, despite having slept on it, still thinks there was one there).  Sam Down took one too many steps down the wicket to the leggie, leaving newcomer Sattyam Bankar (20*) to take us into tea on 231.

Determined not to repeat 2023’s monochrome attack, SOA came armed with two proper seamers in Freddie Selby Lowndes and Sattyam, both bowling accurately to keep the openers under 4 an over.  The Queens pitch allowed for a few blows through the line, with each boundary accompanied by 10 press-ups from the slip cordon led by Juni, until it was soon only he who was still playing that particular sub-game.  A toe injury led to the early introduction of Craig Foster who, once he got used to altitude sickness and the ‘wrong’ end, induced a snick smartly taken by debutant keeper Julius Ford Clough, soon followed by a chip to cover by the other opener.  Meanwhile Sattyam had been bowling tightly without reward (8 overs for 30), containing Putney to 74-2 off 17 at drinks and the start of the last 20.  Bertie Gowen immediately tempted their #3 to slog sweep his first ball into the river, but with the clatter of stumps it remained a dream (for rather a long time as he tried to process the disappointment).  A brief shower at drinks made ball and outfield a bit slippy, and Putney’s Bendre (48) started to benefit on the leg side.  A chip to midwicket by their #5 brought Ockwell (57) to the crease and the pair found fluency before the former was run out by some sharp work by Freddy.  It was around this time that the cry of ‘grow’ was heard from the keeper as a ball whistled over your correspondent’s head, a wish more realistic at his 16 years than for this 61 year-old.  Meanwhile Sam Down (off-spinner #3, precedent not completely removed) had replaced Fozzie, and Putney sensed the target was within reach.  Time for Alex Ross to lock up one end, leaving Putney to go after Sam, who induced 3 smart stumpings from Julius, leaving Putney just 10 short with a wicket in hand, perhaps ruing some batting order decisions.

A fine game at the welcoming Queens College.  Thank you to Nick Wilks for umping, and Fred Gowen for scoring.