Games like today's are few and far between.
Zeeeshan takes an early wicket, bowling one of the openers through the gate.Smudger also bowling tight at the other end meant that they were about 25 for 1 off the first 8. The runs than started to flow more freely, which considering the size and speed of the outfield was not a surprise. The Smellies 2, 3, 4 and 5 all making some runs - notably the no4 who made 94. However, all the bowlers and fielders stuck with it, and we kept working hard. Catches were taken - well most - Smudger's being the pick, and we restricted them to 232 for 8, which, in my view, was about 20 runs light. Andy Killey taking his 2nd 5 for in 8 days and Nick Jones on debut kept very well - particularly as this was his first game in about 8 years!
Zeeshan 7 - 2 - 24 - 1
Smudger 7 - 1 - 40 - 0
Andy K 9 - 1 - 49 - 5
Ian Astley 5 - 0 - 28 - 0
Norrie 7 - 0 - 27 - 0
Gerry 7 - 0 - 45 - 1
JB 3 - 0 - 15 - 1
Catches by Zeeshan, Smudger, Norrie 'bucket hands' Webb (not a typo), Nipun and Andy K.
We too got off to a slow but steady start. 24 for 1 off 10. However, JB was just getting his eye in so that by 20 overs we were 90 for 1 and by 25 136 for 2. Unfortunately we then went through a bad spell where we lost a few wickets and momentum from one end - JB was still feasting on the bowling, eventually going for 91 trying to get us home. 5 for 189 after 37.
Thankfully our lower order came to our rescue once again, notably Andy K who managed to keep the tail together. Chasing 233 to win, we were 202 for 7 after 41, 209 for 7 after 42, 214 for 8 after 43 and 221 for 8 after 44. It wasn't looking great at this point and when Smudger was run out with 2 balls left we still needed 5 to win with 1 wicket left. Putting down his G and T and heard to mutter 'bugger', having found his box out strolled a statesman-like figure wearing cravat, jumper (it was still scorcio!) and cap. Thankfully this man is the best no11 in our division. Having decided to 'just hit it' he managed to middle his first delivery, but with loft, straight down the throat of long on. Both teams looked on, Smellies in hope, HX in dread. As I said, this is the best no11 in the division, we should have realised that although appearing to sleep through most of our innings, he had already sussed out the capabilities of each Smellies fielder, so we should not have not been surprised that the long on got to it, and then managed to let the ball through his hands for 4. Scores tied.
Unfortunately Gerry wasn't able to repeat his effort and was run out off the last ball. Game tied. Both sides walked off happy and frustrated as this game really could have gone either way at various points in the day. Condsidering that we needed 12 off the last to win, it was a great effort to even tie the game. Thankfully we are a team that has shown on several occasions this year it is one that plays for each other, rather than a team of selfish individuals who strop when things aren't going well.
PVB 26
Nipun 5
JB 91
Astley 17
Skip 3
Nick Jones 2
Norrie 5
Andy K 18 not out
Zeeshan 5
Smudger 7
Gerry 4
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Classic!
ReplyDeletetop report..but was there really a need to have a swipe at the 1st XI:
ReplyDelete'Thankfully we are a team that has shown on several occasions this year is one that plays for each other, rather than a team of selfish individuals who strop when things aren't going well.
btw, who is 'Sugers'
my commments are reserved to the 2nd eleven and some opposition players/teams that we have come across over the past few years, oh, and obviously yourself! :-).
ReplyDeletecan't we have more stuff about dodgy pizzas/ dodgy kebabs/ dodgy birds?
ReplyDeleteAs well as Brown's brutal innings at 4, worth mentioning some very fine bowling from SMRH's young opener, Will James, and a stuffy spell from Nick Hay who took some tap but persevered to claim three wickets. Too hot, but a good game.
ReplyDelete