Another tame batting performance
I am sad to report another defeat on Sunday, partly because of another tame batting performance for the second week running, but mainly because I was very eager to get one over on my old club after our defeat at their ground last year. We only managed 145-9, and lost by 6 wkts with nearly 5 overs to spare.
We went into the match without Dave Frampton, Ashley Westen, and Jerry Stockbridge which again put great pressure on our remaining 'run getters' so losing the toss and being asked to bat was not the ideal start. Edgar F. seemed to have put last weeks duck behind him hitting the first ball for four but fell in the third over and when guest Keith Green was bowled for a duck, we were 7-2. Jerry W. then realised he would have to get his head down whilst Alex C. decided the best form of defence was attack. After a brisk 25 with 5 fours Alex. was bowled, followed soon after by Doug M. for 12. When Jerry W. was bowled for 11, we were in terrible trouble at 58-5. The fact that we were able to make any sort of game of it was then due to a very welcome 50plus partnership between Mick Reeve and Nick Wright. Both lacking confidence after recent results, they both applied themselves as the situation demanded, scoring 32 & 26 respectively. A few blows from Brian H. and Mike Stockbridge got us up to 145-9 at tea and Toby managed to avoid taking the outright lead in the 'Mallard' by stroking his first and only ball for a single.
Our total looked about 30-40 runs short unless we bowled very well
or they batted poorly. We started well with Alex having the opener well
caught behind for 1, by a diving 'rejuvenated' Mick R. Alex, whilst
still someway short of his best, bowled better this week and had two
sharp catches dropped in 3 balls with the number three on 4. By the
time he had the opener caught at slip by Jerry W., Hambleden were 50-2.
We kept ourselves in the match with Jerry W. and Edgar F. keeping it
tight and a brilliant running catch on the cover boundary by Mike Stockbridge
made it 79-3. We probably needed 2 more quick wickets to make it interesting
but instead Hambleden stepped up a gear with two of their Saturday league
players together and they quickly closed in on their target although
Edgar managed to separate them just before the end. Bowling figures
were :
Alex C. 11-0-39-2, Edgar F. 11-1-43-2, Jerry Wright 5-0-23-0, Toby C.
1.4-0-16-0, and myself 6-2-15-0.
On the plus side, Mick and Nick batted very well in a difficult situation,
which bodes well for when they can come in after our best batters have
all performed at the same time- somebody is going to get a hammering.
Shall we make it 'The Bourne' on 14th?