Gaieties vs Hampstead, 8 June 2025 - full video for the doubters
compiled by 🪑& Skipper Tarek

Acquiescing to Hampstead’s request for a 12.30 start and 45 overs per side, Gaieties trolled up the Finchley Road from Le Cottage Suisse to whispers that Hampstead were, for reasons of their own, fielding a side made up mostly of 3rd-6th XI players. With Tarek’s arrival delayed by TFL, Shomit won the toss and we batted. Saturday’s deluge seemed not to have affected the ground unduly, and, under spells of alternating sunshine and cloud, Hampstead opened up from Imelda Staunton Memorial end with a burly-but-wayward quickie and, at the other end, a portly-but-accurate trundler. Surviving early nerves, Mikhail and his débutante pal Ralph Jeffries built a terrific opening partnership of 124, their harmonious understanding a tribute to their long friendship. The excellence of their running between the wickets was an especially notable feature, right up until they were both run out in quick succession, Sen scoring 46 and Jeffries 61.
Out of form and looking to catch a break, the batsman formerly known as Shomit D came to the crease at no. 3 determined by hook or crook to smack a few boundaries and, Ralph Richardson-like (“Has anyone seen my talent?”), reclaim his mislaid gifts. Joined by our other débutante, resplendent in immaculate box-fresh Gray Nicolls kit and a Cambridge University-ish sweater, “Billions” star Damien Lewis shared a gritty partnership with Dr. Dutta until Shom (31) succumbed to a straight, swift one. Benny Clinch’s innings lasted just the one similarly very straight, rapid delivery from the burly Webb, who certainly didn’t bowl like a 5th XI bowler from what I could see at square leg. At 181-4 Grandmaster Schneider of St. Vincent & The Grenadines strode out to bat, chomping at the proverbial bit. On the touchline, hallooing her beloved's name to the reverberate hills cheered his freshly-wedded Sophie (his devoted mother also in attendance). Lewis was soon out, also clean bowled, having batted combatively overall (and driven stylishly in particular) en route to a creditable 45. Long-levered Finlay Glen now joined the truculent Schneider, two lions rampant who sent the scoreboard total spinning up to 262-5 by the climax of our allotted 45 overs. Glen’s 26 off 9 including two fours and two sixes, blows struck with the velocity of Exocet missiles, begging the question why doesn’t he bat like this when he opens? It was a buoyant end to the innings, but with many hitters in our lineup still in the hutch, we were wondering if there weren't a few more runs left out there…
Gaieties started sprightly in the field. Genuine pace at both ends supplied from messrs Martin and Glen. Martin ripped through their no.2 early on and soon after had their other dangerous opener caught at cover. Thereafter Hampstead’s captain and no.3 led a crucially charmed life. Dropped to Finn at mid on and then soon after to The Chair at mid-off on top of surviving a stumping, he made inroads into the total. Lawrence came on at the pavilion end and took a quick wicket to stunt their progress, but then the impetus did change markedly. With spin at both ends, batting was looking easy for them and a run a ball target didn’t seem like a difficult chase. With an uncanny similarity to the week prior at Oxted, the opposition suddenly only needed 120 off the final 20 overs with 8 wickets in hand (we were both batting with 12).
Something needed to change fast…who was going to stop the flow or runs and where were the wickets going to come from?
Up to the plate stepped Schneider senior. A handful of runs off his first and then a maiden, which doesn’t sound much, but it seemed to coincide with a turning point in the match That and a change of end for Lawrence who then proceeded to dismiss both set batsmen in the space of 3 balls…first their no.5 trapped in front and then their talismanic captain, who played on.
Wickets started to tumble to Lawrence as the crowds of WAGS swooned and chanted his name. Belief surged through the side and victory looked likely. However, in a late twist, their previously described burly opening bowler provided late resistance. It came down to J Schneider to protect a delicate 6 run lead in the final over. Tension and pandemonium spilled into frantic run grabbing. The final ball - 3 needed to win for Hampstead. A wallop down to deep long off. A scramble across the boundary from Tarek with throw in couldn’t prevent the second. But James whipped the bails off with the batsmen our of his ground and in a moment of sheer confusion we all celebrated the win…only to be denied seconds later as a tie was announced.
A white knuckle ride was certainly the best description of the game, but more than that another gritty show of character and resilience from this Gaieties team proved to be the real winner.
