Beckenham v. Dulwich CC 20 April 2024 Friendly
After one of the wettest winters the Beckenham Cricket Club long-serving scorer can remember, Foxgrove looked in perfect condition as he made his well-trodden route to switch on the scorebox for the first time in 2024. Starting the season, the club welcomed near neighbours and old rivals Dulwich for the first match and a chance to catch up with old colleague John Lewis. Earlier, this scorer’s eyes had lit up to find that mild was being served in the bar for probably the first time in the club’s history!
There was a decided chill in the air as the umpires announced that new skipper Matt Fanning had won the toss and elected to bat. Retired skipper Alex Senn, the most successful Beckenham captain of the last 33 years, opened with Rithik Hari and they settled in on a good-looking pitch against Booth and former Beckenham quick, James Ronay. With Senn starting fluently now shorn of the cares of captaincy, a steady start was made before Hari edged behind off Booth. Gethin Roberts, now studying at Loughborough, was unfortunately caught in no man’s land to be bowled first ball bringing Ross Piller to join Senn. This pair batted in splendid fashion and a fine fifty partnership ensued before Piller holed out to the left-arm spin of Watson-Smyth for a fine 32. Archie Holman lent support until unfortunately disturbing his own stumps to give this scorer his first hit wicket! As Senn continued to look very comfortable, he was joined by another home-produced player in Fraser Whiteland, still a Colfe’s schoolboy who soon began to reveal what a classy player he is becoming. The pair took the score past the hundred in the 24th over until Senn, one short of what have been an excellent fifty, was caught in the slips by Khan off the bowling of Ramzan. Whiteland by now was batting quite beautifully and, assisted by Jack McCrossan and veteran Jason Bilimoria, completed a splendid fifty in 67 deliveries before departing next ball. As Ronay took a couple of late wickets, the innings closed on a most satisfactory 185-9. For Dulwich, Booth, Ronay and Watson-Smyth all took a couple of wickets each.
The Dulwich innings started well through Purshouse and Khan, the latter looking a tremendous player at only 18 years of age. A solid partnership of 42 was on the board in 6 overs before skipper Fanning bowled the dangerous Khan for 26. Skipper Ollie Steele then helped add another 40 before he fell to a most promising debut performance from young Kory Smith-Knight who bowled with encouraging pace, Senn snapping up the regulation slip catch. The leg-spin of the experienced Mudit Dayal was now in operation with Smith-Knight and Dayal struck in quick succession to reduce the visitors to 98-4 at the halfway mark. Skipper Fanning then rested the young quickie and turned to veteran Bilimoria who made another two crucial breaches to put Dulwich in trouble at 118-6. Keeper Harms thought otherwise as he and Booth added 37 valuable runs before Booth was run out and then Bilimoria removed Harms for 23, the score now a precarious 157-8 with everything to play for. As Beckenham’s young side continued a lively fielding display, Bilimoria struck again to make the score 173-9 and Dayal returned to take the wicket of Ronay in the 38th over. This had been a most encouraging win for a Beckenham side containing six products of the club’s junior section. On the bowling front, Bilimoria took the bowling award for his 4-19 and was well supported by Dayal with 3-21. Afterwards, the scorer very much enjoyed his mild and bitter!
Scorecard: https://beckenham.play-cricket.com/website/results/6250915 (external website)