IBP Cricket Match ‘a classic’

The annual Journalists versus PRs cricket match, sponsored by Clancy Consultants Ltd., did not begin with a flourish. But by the end of the afternoon at Thames Ditton Cricket Club’s ground in Surrey it had turned into what more than one of the participants called ‘a classic’.

There were good, solid starts to each innings. Grieff and Cassie, opening for the PRs against some distinctly sharp medium fast bowling by Gaved and Lynch, seemed well in control and as the innings progressed useful contributions from Dixon, skipper Andy Walker and Chris Helsen pushed the total well into what looked like being the comfort zone.

And then came Helsen senior! I never saw David Helsen in his ‘pomp’ but these days his batting is uncompromisingly simple. He plants his front foot down the wicket and whacks whatever is bowled to him. So it was this time. He blasted his way to 29 and indeed carried his bat so that the PRs set a challenging total of 153.

The buzz went round the fielding PRs. “That should be enough.” So it should have been. After his usual poised start, Chris Hart fell victim to an unnecessary run out but then Dawson, Windle, Rogers and Lynch chipped away at their target – and suddenly it was in reach.

Walker, Dixon, Cassie and Chris Helsen had produced excellent bowling performances but they couldn’t quite get the final break through and the Journos finished at a dash.

It was all genuinely exciting stuff and the feel good factor that comes with a game of cricket keenly fought out between two well-matched sides was clearly evident in the bar afterwards.

Andrew Moffatt of Clancy Consultants Ltd. did the presentational honours and David Helsen, fresh from his batting triumph of the afternoon, was once again the genial host, dispensing drinks with the same skill with which he had wielded the willow. It had been a great match and was declared by a very large majority as ‘the best so far’.

It suggests a terrific contest next year.