Quadrant CC 293-4 (35 overs) beat Hackney Marshes (Martians CC) 235-ish by 58-odd runs
Quadrant won their first game in two years at the weekend thanks to a blistering 155 from Imraan Arbee, a financial director, who is now a glued first choice candidate on our burgeoning CV.
Make no bones about it. We had a starting XI - although this came down to nine when Al Chamberlen was taken to hospital by a hungover fiancee after being hit in the cheek during his fine unbeaten 71 while Cas had to go to the cinema - and Quadrant finally made it count in an easy win.
Batting first, Gilmour was out in the first over, bowled by Bohla. No joke, 'A Bohla' was far and away Martians' best and had Alex Thomas lbw for five in his next over to leave Quadrant on 15 for two.
Benji Aitchison scored a very brisk 21 - better things were to come with him from the ball - before Arbee and Chamberlen bludgeoned a marvellous fourth wicket stand. 150-run + partnership? It must have been. Quick-running (both were hungover) and a succession of Chamberlen dabs and Arbee cuts ensued.
Arbee was controversially out dancing down the track, but Isaac Sananes took Quad close to the 300-mark by finishing the innings with 6,4,6.
Quad took until the eighth over to knock down Martians first victim. Aitchison was the most economical. Thomas took a wicket with his first ball, bowled some pretty rank stuff mid-spell before coming back brilliantly. Gilmour took two in his opening over to effectively crunch the run chase and Ben, Benji's mate, took his first wicket in 15 years with the final delivery of the match. Credit to Matt, Sellon and Alistair for their debut performances with the ball as Martians fell 50-odd runs short.
And to think that the skipper was going to retire Arbee soon after scoring 100.
** Add comments to any other performances I may have missed, including some highly sceptical umpiring from [Geoff] Thommo.
*** Diary note: Rematch against Worcester Park on Aug 16....
