Demijohns have done well to play 9 fixtures this season despite a regular ongoing struggle for player availability – 42 players have turned out for the side thus far which is testament to the power of ringers in friendly cricket! Things have been looking touch and go for a first winless season since 2008 despite some good individual and team performances. We have managed 2 draws – firstly against Oporto (see tour report) and most recently versus Further Friars in the pleasant Wiltshire village of Erlestoke. Despite a strong opening from Le Clercq (30) and Ritter (33), a lynchpin innings from Stuart Bachelor (96* and declared(!) on 219-9), a 10-man offside field and the best efforts of ringer Sam Cripps in taking DJs’ first 5-fer (10-0-60-5) since 2020, we were unable to take the final 4 wickets in time.
DJs travelled to Maidenhead to play Pinkneys Green in the penultimate match of the season with the prospect of a strong Caterham side also to come. While off to a good start batting first at 115-3 off 21.0 with top scores from Tom Hill (45) and Bach (30), the well-known middle order tumble came and DJs settled on 170 all out after 35 overs. Pinkneys’ two openers made an assured start at 26 runs from the first 4 overs before their number 2 and 3 were trapped LBW. Astute bowling changes by skipper Tom Ritter brought the heat from Dom Hewitt (7-2-30-2) and a refined spell from Jeremy McGahan (9-2-24-2) to control the run rate and dismantle the middle order, with opener/skipper dismissed by Hewitt for a patient 51. A recall to attack the tail brought up Liam Peck’s maiden 5-fer with spells of 7-2-25-2 and 2-0-8-3 to leave Pinkneys 140 all out with 14 overs left to play and bring home the first Demijohns win of 2024. We are grateful once again to ringers Ronak Chandreja (Maidenhead & Bray) and Ganesh Poon who added valuable runs to our total at 9 and 10, and both bowled well (Chandreja 7-0-34-0; Poon 3-0-10-1).
