Dennamite display not enough to defeat Ripley CC

The annals of cricket are filled with heroic displays in a losing cause. But perhaps none will overshadow the accomplishments of Tim Denny, who scored 110 runs, took five wickets and claimed the second ever hat trick in Carpe Vinum history, yet somehow conspired to be part of a team comprehensively beaten in the end by Ripley CC.

The stage was set for a glorious day’s cricket at one of Surrey’s most idyllic grounds, scarcely a cloud in the sky and temperatures resembling July rather than May. It was, therefore, a perhaps ill judged decision by Carpe captain Jonny Hilliard to elect to bowl under the blistering sun despite winning the toss.

Carpe’s bowlers started brightly, tempting Ripley’s batsmen into rash shots and getting good movement with the ball. However, catches fell agonisingly short. numerous appeals went to the umpires unanswered and Ripley’s score continued to grow. It wasn’t until a change was made in the bowling that the wickets started to come. First Nik Darlington took a deceptively nonchalant catch off Swapnil Patne to despatch Ripley’s opener, before claiming two wickets of his own.

Carpe’s tails were suddenly up, but the remaining opener, a ringer from South Africa, performed admirably to steady the ship. In fact he did more than that, clearing the ropes on numerous occasions. His century passed almost unnoticed, but Ripley's rocketing score didn't and the Carpe faithful began to worry that a long afternoon awaited. Then came Carpe’s next flurry of wickets, courtesy of Denny.

After threatening with each successive over, Denny finally broke through, spattering stumps everywhere. His next delivery saw the ringer scoop the ball straight back into his welcoming hands. Displaying the poise and sportsmanship typical of Carpe Vinum in moments of triumph, Denny roared like a bull before slamming the ball into the ground as though he were a wide receiver scoring a touchdown for the San Francisco 49ers. The field gathered in close for the hat trick ball as the next batsman, a young boy, quivered at Denny’s snorting approach. The ball pitched. It nicked the outstretched bat. Wicketkeeper Jimmy Greene snaffled it at his right knee and Denny went into raptures.

This should have signalled a swift end to proceedings for the Ripley tail. New batsmen appeared, were caught out and returned to be replaced by younger, smaller models, as though Carpe was playing a team of Russian dolls. At the other end, however, the No. 8 batsman proved himself to be a consummate performer, swashbuckling to an unbeaten 69 and leaving a weary Carpe team with a daunting target.

That target became more daunting still when Alex Keith returned runless to the hutch in the first over, swiftly joined by Steve Haag and Jimmy Greene, before Strong was caught for a golden duck. The middle order scarcely had time to remark that they had better put their pads on before they were out in the middle.

Charlie Whitting joined Denny at the crease and together they set about rescuing Carpe’s innings. After a cautious start facing the spinners, Denny started to flex his muscles against the quicks, finding boundaries and clearing the ropes. Nearby house owners were proven wise to have bars over their windows.

While Whitting held out at the other end until the drinks break, he departed shortly afterwards, bringing Darlington into the fray. Strong running quickened the run rate and when Darlington was caught and replaced by Patne, the rate quickened even further, but Denny was tiring. A strain sustained early in Ripley’s innings was hampering his progress between the wickets.

Denny was finally out trying for another boundary. The ball was caught when it fell short and with it Carpe’s chase fell short also. Patne was dismissed soon after and the rest of the tail – Ed Thomson, Hilliard and Alex Crabb – were unable to add to the score.