Mohammed twice on a hat-trick in exciting Hurlingham draw

Hurlingham 259/8 dec (Mohammed 4-50)

Jesters 195/8 (Butler 69, Carlisle 60)

Match Drawn

Our annual visit to the Hurlingham is always one of the highlights of the summer, and this year did not disappoint. Especially when our hosts unexpectedly chose to bat first on winning the toss (as it is notoriously difficult to take 10 wickets bowling second on this featherbed of a wicket). But this year, as we slowly discovered, the hosts had plenty of firepower…

Our opening bowlers, Sid Shukla and Matt Griffiths, started very tidily, and we were boosted with the early wicket of last season’s centurion in the fourth over, clean bowled by Matt, with the score on just 5.  Matt’s very next delivery saw a flashing back-foot drive just evade the flying hands of Jesters debutant, Lucas Carlisle, in the gully – if Lucas had somehow taken a worldie, it could have been a very different game. 

The Hurlingham number 3 started in fifth gear and never looked back; he was on 26 before he scored a run that wasn’t a boundary. He frequently peppered the short leg-side boundary, and also benefitted from a couple of generous reprieves by the visitors. The second wicket partnership put on 115, before Adnan Mohammed, in his latest 200^th game for the Jesters, came to the rescue, with two wickets in two balls – the latter was the perfect demonstration of the other type of leave, as the deceptive straight one cannoned into off stump, to the considerable bemusement of the batsman. On a hat-trick, we all thought Adnan had pinned the new batsman bang in front, but the umpire thought better of it.

The introduction of Nik Ravikrishnan’s wizardry leg spin before lunch brought immediate rewards, as Louis Harris clung on to a good catch at long-on to dismiss the Hurlingham number 3 just after he had passed three figures (102 off 64 balls!). With lunch taken at 159/4, honours were about even, as we tucked into a delicious lunch in the sunshine, in front of the elegant Georgian-style Clubhouse.

The Hurlingham put on another 50 for the 5^th wicket after lunch, but thereafter the Jesters made good inroads into the home team’s line up, with DJ Chak unsurprisingly impressive as the tail emerged, and Simon Butler jumping to take a fine catch on the rope at long-on. The highlight, however, was another two-in-two for Adnan; another hat-trick opportunity; but Hurlingham sensed a year’s worth of anecdotes, and immediately declared!  Adnan finished with a fine 4/50, Nik 2/49, and both DJ and Matt 1/19.  At that stage, we felt 259/8 dec was probably slightly under par and we strode off delighted…

Lucas and Shorbo opened up with great purpose – the latter keen to break his run of ducks on this batting paradise; the former dispatching his opening ball to the midwicket boundary. Shorbo unsurprisingly soon fell for just 5, but that brought Simon to the crease, and he and Lucas thwarted the home attack in great style.  At tea, we were 80/1 off 15 overs, well set for a triumphant chase reminiscent of 3 years ago. 

However, the home team brought on a fantastic left arm spinner (who bowled 14 overs unchanged one end) and a lightning-quick old-ball specialist at the other end (who bowled 12 overs unchanged, despite a 65 yard run-up).  The following hour was some of the most absorbing cricket we had seen all summer, as Hurlingham went hammer and tongs to defeat this wandering band of Jesters. Simon and Lucas used all their expertise to progress to a promising 126/1, before Simon (badly) misjudged a single into the leg side, and mid-wicket swooped and hit, leaving him well short on 69. 126/1 inevitably became 128/4, as our middle order specialists contributed nothing (other than an amusing run out off a no-ball). Likewise, 153/4 became 154/6 after our no7 specialist also contributed nothing.

Meanwhile, Lucas was holding our innings together from the other end, as our chase quickly became a battle for survival; the home attack just too good. By the time Lucas perished for a hard-fought 60, the draw was pretty much secure, despite only four batsmen reaching double figures and some extraordinary shot selection from our supposedly accomplished lower order.

In the end, the Hurlingham’s declaration proved very well-judged and, although we ended up 65 runs shy of our target, it led to a very exciting finish to the game.  Many thanks as ever to our hosts for a wonderful day of cricket.