Skipper Keith Dennis’s unbeaten CI team, who showed potential to go all the way to the ECB County Championship crown, were beaten by 78 runs at Grainville.In reply to Warwickshire’s 212 for 9 from 45 overs, the CI managed only 134 for 7 – opener Paul Robson top-scoring with 27.Playing for Warwickshire was legendary former Pakistan captain Mushtaq Mohammad – the youngest player in history to play Test cricket and still the youngest ever to score a Test century.The third of the Mohammad brethren to represent his country, Mushtaq – considered a cricket genius – was a mere 15 years and 124 days when he appeared for Pakistan against West Indies in 1959.
He was 17 years and 82 days when he scored 101 against India at Delhi in 1961.
He finished with a test average of 39.17, including ten centuries, and 79 wickets.Guernsey’s Yorkshire-born quickie Mike Kinder was the man who took the prize wicket of Mohammad, who fell for seven.However, in general – apart from Ralph Anthony – the CI attack was as poor as their batting and Dennis admitted the team had had a bad day at the office.’We played appallingly,’ he said.
‘They were a good side but they weren’t really better than us on our day.
We bowled badly and we batted badly.’The wicket had quite a bit of bounce on it, which suited their spinners, but we lost John Beasley and John Tall who were both injured.
John Beasley might have made a difference in our batting.’It was a great shame we didn’t perform to the standard we can and we didn’t cover ourselves with glory.
We had it there for the taking.’It was a good season up until yesterday but when you get to the quarter-finals you only get one chance.
There are some very sides but we are one of them and there’s a lot to be taken from that.”It was a shame he didn’t play a bit more but it was nice to talk to him afterwards.
He bowled well – I don’t know why they took him off to be honest.’Warwickshire were managed by Alan Oakman, who played in the side that beat Australia at the Oval in 1956 when Jim Laker famously took 19 wickets.
