GOLDEN oldie Giles Fagan rolled back the years to smash his side to victory in yesterday’s high-scoring Intra-Club match.
Three batsmen between the sides passed fifty in the match as Giles’s Boom Booms ran out deserved winners on Clapham Common.
Former skip Matt Cocken’s Fatties put up a fierce fight but fell short by three wickets as The Road took to the field for the first time this year.
It was an encouraging warm-up for the Orange Caps whose batting has often been worryingly brittle in past seasons.
And there were a number of new faces making their bow – Chris MacNichol, Chris Ashton, Michael Rossi, Matt Glover, Jeremy Smith and Ben Thornton.
Matt, who’s day got off to a bad start as he arrived late and had to call the toss on the phone, shrugged off a hangover to play a captain’s innings and top score with 59.
Then big-hitting Andy Saker stepped in to reply with a tasty 53 not out to take his side past the post.
But it was The Road’s new skip who set it all up after he blasted an incredible 50 not out off just 27 balls, including 9 fours and a six.
The match started with the Fatties batting confidently to put on 171 based around Matt’s innings and a late 21-run cameo from newboy Matt G.
The Boom Booms succeeded in keeping the run-rate under control -with spinner John Smalley particularly impressive with the ball, finishing with 2 for 2 off 4 overs.
Dan Sherman was also in on the wickets, taking 2 for 16 off 3. Andy, Chris Beckett and Giles took a wicket.
It didn’t stop the Fatties posting what looked like a imposing total though and on a flat artificial wicket offering pace and bounce, but little movement, the Boom Booms knew they had to stay in and be careful to catch it.
The reply got off to a great start with Giles and Raju Mazumder posting an impressive 51 for the first wicket before Raj was run out on 9 after straying from his crease.
Fatties all-rounder Jamie Keating, along with Chris A, was involved in that and soon after took advantage of another mix-up when Sham DeSilva was run out on 3.
With old man Giles retired having passed the half-century milestone, the Boom Booms started to wobble despite being well above the required run-rate.
Newboy Ben fell caught and bowled second ball to fellow debutant Chris M.
Michael and Leon Watson then turned the screw with six overs of tight bowling that saw the back of James Prichard for 9 and Dan Sherman for 7.
Andy, batting at six, was staying put and milked what came after to wrestle the advantage back.
Despite losing first Dan then Jeremy, another rookie, third ball to Amir Alipour he smacked 10 boundaries including a towering six.
And with actor Giles getting ready to return to the stage to resume his innings, a handy 14 from Chris B and then 10 not out from John at the end were enough to haul the Boom Booms over the line.
No doubt the encounter bodes well of the fast-approaching season, which kicks off at Wandsworth Common on May 1 against Westway CC.