The Philanderers v CamCeylon, Sunday 12th July at Exning Park
- Jul 12
- 3 min read
Family Dynasties, Fiery Curry, and Gill’s Blitz: Next-Gen Philanderers Triumphant
Format: 40 Over Match
Result: The Philanderers CC won by 6 wickets
On a glorious, sun-drenched afternoon at Exning Park, The Philanderers gathered for a 40-over contest that proved to be a celebration of everything sacred in wandering cricket: generational dynastic ties, heroics in the face of acute physical suffering, a fiercely spicy tea, and a breathtaking display of run-chasing. Perhaps most remarkably, the Philanderers XI spanned the generations in astonishing fashion, with well over a 60-year gap between the team’s oldest and youngest players.
Eagerly anticipating the mid-innings spread, the Philanderers bowled first on a lightning-fast outfield. The fielding effort was initially hamstrung by the late arrival of Henry Campbell, whose tardiness forced an early reshuffle. CamCeylon’s top order took full advantage, with two immensely talented middle-order batsmen assembling a formidable century partnership - aided in no small part by Rob Gill, who dropped a catch while standing right up to the wicket.
Yet, what the Philanderers lacked in early discipline, they made up for in sheer family grit. The field was bolstered by an extraordinary trio from the Karsten family. Most heroically, Father Karsten fielded the full 40 while actively battling painful bouts of gout, offering a masterclass in stoicism. Meanwhile, Brother Ivan was a vision of athleticism, resplendent with an elite rig, magnificent wheels, and a general setup that belonged in professional sport, bowling with superb control. Original Karsten, Finn, picked up three wickets, mostly from the worse balls of his spell.
Seven bowlers were rotated into the attack as the heat took its toll. Campbell, upon his eventual arrival, bowled with his usual mid-tempo average output. However, the defining story of the field - and perhaps the future of the club itself - belonged to young Tama Pearson. Nephew to skipper Ed and mid-week legend Charlie, and grandson to grandee George Pearson (watching on from the side), 11-year-old Tama made his senior Philanderers debut with remarkable poise. Delivering three exquisitely tidy overs of medium pace, Tama ensured the bat’s passage to the next generation. The Philanderers perhaps has another few years in it yet…
CamCeylon eventually closed their 40 overs on a formidable 260-6.
The interval brought the long-awaited highlight of the day: an extraordinary, fiery Sri Lankan curry tea provided by our hosts. True to authentic CamCeylon style, it was a gloriously spicy culinary onslaught that tested the digestive fortitude of the XI before they ventured back out into the heat.
Chasing 261, any lingering CamCeylon optimism was utterly dismantled by Rob Gill. In a mood of unadulterated savagery, Gill unleashed an onslaught of such terrifying speed that he brought up a magnificent century in just the 16th over. Having flattened the bowling attack and reached 130, skipper Ed Pearson performed a merciful act of intervention, retiring Gill to allow others a turn at the trough.
Finn Karsten then capped off a stellar family outing by striding out to smash a brilliant, unbeaten 77, putting the match completely out of reach. The day was further brightened by the seasonal debut of Tom Barnard, who provided a calm, assured 14 not out at the death.
The Philanderers lost just four wickets as they coasted past the target reaching 261 in the 32nd over with time to spare.
It was an afternoon defined by family ties, both the Karstens and the Pearsons, all coming together under a beating sun. With over 520 runs scored, immaculate curry consumed, and the next generation inaugurated, cricket was the bloody winner.
George Dain
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