HAJELA SWOOPS TO SEAL STUNNING WEEKENDERS VICTORY IN FRONT OF TWO WINOS AND A PAEDOPHILE.

WCC 166 –9 dec

Roehampton 157

WCC won by 9 runs.

The club was still reeling from the shock resignation of the Fixture Secretary following the non-committal response of all but 4 Weekenders to the Kirtling game. In a belated attempt to get Tony to change his mind, no fewer than 22 Weekenders turned up promptly for pre-match drinks at The Telegraph in Roehampton - twelve players plus Sam Freeman and a striking assortment of wives, partners and catamites. In an unprecedented display of keenness, the top four in the batting order for our game against the Madhatters in May 2018 also appeared in their carrycots, demonstrating the club’s hallmark qualities of mid-afternoon lethargy and exceptional thirst.

Roehamtpon inserted and Chiari and Hogben reached 39 before Hogben feathered a catch to the keeper. Husaini and Johnstone fell cheaply after some powerful shots which brought in the Skipper who caught up Chiari with just four mighty blows. d’Inverno’s cameo over, the Weekenders’ burly engine room gave beefy support to the blossoming Chiari, notably debutant John Harvey who got off the mark with a magnificent pulled 6. Chiari’s classy and superbly-paced innings of 52 came to an end just a few overs short of tea. A last-wicket stand of 30 between Douglas and PJ Harvey raised the total to a still slightly below-par score on this ground.

Pumped-up fielding and sharp catching, especially by Husaini and Chiari, kept the total in check. Douglas monopolised the bowling from the Wildcroft Road end while a rich variety of fare was on offer at the other. Nevertheless Mike Harvey teased, Freeman turned the screws, Hargroves taunted and PJ Harvey enjoyed some long overdue good-fortune. Filial Phil also ensured his wicket-keeper dad got plenty of vital leg exercise after his long flight from Australia. And then there was Hajela.

Roehampton needed just ten off the last four overs. By now the mothers and babies had drifted away but the two winos swearing on a bench at long leg and the paedophile lurking in the trees could not have guessed what a princely treat of cricketing excitement lay in store for them.

Douglas managed to propel his body off a full run and, more surprisingly, bring it to a standstill in time to take a return catch which broke the flourishing seventh wicket partnership. D’Inverno now tossed the ball to Hajela and the magic-armed medico responded with a cunning low-bouncing long-hop that hit the base of the middle stump. In the next over the rampant rheumatologist picked up and threw down the stumps at the non-striker’s end to run out the last man by inches. Our 287-day wait for a win was over.

WCC 166 for 9 dec off 47 overs

Chiari 52, Hogben 22, Husaini 0, Johnstone 4, d’Inverno 16, Hargroves 7, Hajela 7, M. Harvey 3, J. Harvey 13, Douglas 10*, PJ Harvey 12*.

Roehampton 157 all out off 40.5 overs

Douglas 16.5-3-31-3, M. Harvey 7-0-37-1, Freeman 7-0-30-1, PJ Harvey 7-1-39-3, Hargroves 2-0-16-0, Hajela 1-0-1-1.

Catches: Chiari 2; Hogben, Husaini, M. Harvey and Douglas 1 each.

Run out 1 Hajela

Feeds: J. Chiari 24, S.Hargroves 18.7, N. Husaini 17 (and one near miss)

Projectile vomits: D. Hargroves 1 in the bar.

Debut: J. Harvey