Sunday 1st XI

Won by 6 Wkts

Won by 7 Wkts

Cancelled

Won by 4 Wkts

Won by 4 Wkts

Won by 5 Wkts

30th July 2006: vs Twickenham (H) - Won by 5 Wkts

A strong Old Pauline Sunday X took on a Twickenham XI in the great surrounds of Twickenham Green. From the off there was no telling OPs were a player short after we had again chosen to bowl first.

Rose bowled an extremely good opening spell, the play and miss being the shot of choice. Mann backed him up well and runs were hard to come by. It was not until Olly "golden arm" Price came into the action however that the wickets started to come. After a couple of rather loose overs he soon found his form. In tandem with Ash the wickets started to fall fairly regularly - Price ending up with 3 and Ash 1 . Brandon bowled well at the death and took 3 important wickets, Methuen also chipping in with a couple. Twickenham ending on 160-9 after their 40 overs. The fielding again excellent and some good catches held.

Brandon and Titley got us off to the perfect start, bringing up 50 before the first wicket fell. Unfortunately both fell in the 20s but Philips and Ash carried on the momentum. Philips caught in the deep for a well made 40 after Ash had gone for a quick 20 odd. It was then left to Collis to finish things off with a couple of lusty blows, with 9 overs and 5 wickets still in hand.

The OP Sunday 1st XI record now reads played 5 won 5. [DM]

23rd July 2006: vs Commonwealth Office & Balham (H) - Won by 4 Wkts

On another sweltering day at TD the OPs Sunday 1sts faced the bizarrely named Commonwealth Office and Balham.

Having won the toss, the Old Paulines chose to field safe in the knowledge that they could chase almost anything on this pitch. It turned out that ‘anything’ was only 88 in this case as wickets came steadily throughout. Highlights came from a lightning quick opening spell from Pugh, metronomic in its accuracy, the uncanny ability of Price to take wickets almost at will and the spin twins Methuen and Ash, a combination not bettered on these shores since Illingworth and Underwood.

The OPs were never in danger as they chased the runs down in half the allotted number of overs. Good knocks from Ash and Seagall provided the base for a cracking innings from Clark who provided the shot of the day, an on drive back past the bowler for four exquisitely timed runs.

Another victory as the OPs continued their unbeaten start to the season. [PM]

16th July 2006: vs Long Ditton (H) - Won by 4 Wkts

Another baking day at TD saw the Sunday 1s take the field with 10 leavers from 2000 and Ash. Having elected to bat first Long Ditton made pretty heavy going of things, with extras the only significant contributor. A fiery opening spell from Pugh came to no reward while a tight spell from Mann could have reaped more than the one wicket but for a bit of misplaced arrogance.

The pressure was maintained all the way through the 40 overs with Clappe, Malston and Price all bowling well. Clappe showing few signs of rustiness in picking up two good wickets, one from a spectacular Malston catch. 3 wickets from Methuen and another miserly spell from Ash ensured a very gettable 143 was the target. Extras again the top scorer with 41.

A reversal of the batting order kept Long Ditton interested, but once Collis had got going the result was never in doubt. A quick fire 39 from him and another half century from Ash meant the target was reached with 19 overs remaining and 4 wickets in hand, Malston winning it in style.

The 100% record of the Sunday 1s was maintained in style. [DM]

25th June 2006: vs Carnegie (H) - Won by 7 Wkts

A tea time kick off in the football meant that the Old Paulines were treated to an uncharacteristically shortened game of 30 overs a side on Sunday.

Having been asked to bat first, Carnegie wasted no time in making their intentions clear with four consecutive boundaries in the first over. This attacking strokeplay saw them to 80 for 2 after only 8 overs. However, the OPs fought back well with Curtis, Methuen and Ash keeping it tight from there on in. A total that looked certain to be well over 200 was therefore restricted to 183 for 6.

A rapid start from openers King (25) and Rampling (28) meant that the run rate required was always attainable- especially after a quickfire 47 from Ash coming in at 3. Some cultured batting from Curtis(39*) and

Kiernan(15*) saw the OPs close the game up with 7 wickets and 5 overs to spare.

Man of the match to Curtis for a very good all round display. [PM]

11th June 2006: vs Battersea Ironsides (H) - Won by 6 Wkts

OPs won the toss and inserted Battersea on a typically flat track on a muggy day at TD. A superb opening spell from Mann and Greif meant runs were hard to come by, the first 10 overs yielding about as many runs. Battersea managed to get up to 201 for 9 in their 40 overs thanks in no small part to an extras contribution of 54 - next top scorer 36. The wickets shared around amongst 7 bowlers - 3 for Methuen and 1 a piece for the rest - Messers Seagall and Price rolling back the years to great effect. A very tight and testing spell from Ash could easily have yielded more rewards.

The chase got off to a slightly iffy start but Ash soon got tucked in, with good partnerships from Radish and Scrivener. 1 over from their slow left armer yielding a brutal 29 runs. He finally fell for an excellent 82 - leaving Scrivener (34) and Mann (35no) to see the job off by 6 wickets.

I successful and thoroughly enjoyable start to the season for the Sunday 1s. [DM]

2005 Season Review

The Sunday 1s had an enjoyable season, playing 6 matches, winning 2 and losing 4. As joint skippers, Will McIntosh and Paul Frangi had plenty of players to call on, with some new faces in amongst the Sunday regulars. Highlights included a quick-fire 94 from overseas player Kieron Noema-Barnett against the Putney Pirates, a painstaking 50 from Richie Carroll in the same game, and a first ball wicket on his debut by Mark Doogan. Dave Methuen and Paul Mann will take over the captaincy this season, and we all look forward to some more enjoyable Sunday afternoons on the cricket field. [Paul Frangi]