Shanmugavel hundred wraps up season

The final three matches of the season produced a washout and two wins, the latter a reward for the long-suffering skipper who somehow ensured we always fielded a side despite a appalling number of drop outs. The Flashmen game was called off the day before after 48 hours of torrential rain which left us with two away matches to finish things off.

We arrived at the lovely Abinger with nine (two late Covid pings), including perennial substitute Dick Kennedy Hawkes, and the home side kindly lent us two. We batted first and at 35 for 6 a very short and unsatisfactory afternoon seemed on the cards. But Eds Copleston can not only raise a side from nothing but also has the ability to make a close finish out of games we dominate or are dominated in. This was no exception. The wily Ed Henderson (21) and the promising Hugo Puddle (34), aided by the obdurate Hawkeye, steered us to 129 for 9 off our 40 overs. Henderson, who had been smacked to all parts on the same ground a year ago, rolled back the years with his first five-for in more than a decade, taking 5 for 25, while at the other end Harvey Jackson, who hit a hundred in this game in 2020, took 4 for 17. Dylan Edwards (57) almost alone kept Abinger in the hunt but the return of the opening bowlers enabled us to squeeze home by 10 runs.

The season finale was a new fixture against Sussex Martlets at East Grinstead CC. Eds was at his sneaky best in luring players into his web by telling them the game was at Arundel before springing the change of venue on them at the 11th hour. Even so, he was again scuppered by cry-offs and needed the recruitment of two non OCs to bail us out. Martlets won the toss and batted and although six of their top seven made starts, none went on to play a substantial innings and their final total of 190 for 9 off 47 overs always looked a little below par – had it not been for eight dropped catches it would have been far worse. Our two guests, the Sorrel brothers, gave us a good start and the fall of the first wicket brought in Sachin Shanmugavel who has been in such good form of late. With George Sorrel (58*) keeping the other end ticking along, Shanmugavel powered to his maiden hundred off 74 balls to see us to a nine-wicket win with more than seven overs in hand. Having missed out when well set earlier this season for both the School and OCCC, it was popular and deserved century.