Almost, but not quite
Alex strikes a classic pose, but Ed finds the
edge
What
a difference a week makes!
A good game against really good quality opposition on a good track that
gave a fair crack to both batsman and bowler which though ultimately drawn,
was very enjoyable.
Chiddingfold's arrival sent a shiver of foreboding down the spine as it
was quickly noticed that the average age appeared to be about 23. This
was compounded when having won the toss, I asked the opposition captain
if he had any objection to batting and he said that he had a number of
1st team players in his ranks and had no worries either way.
We saw why when their opening batsman set off at a rate of knots smashing
the ball to all parts while his opening partner nurdled it around quite
effectively. Matt Hallam soon developed shin splint trouble and had to
come off after 4 overs and his replacement, Toby, finding his radar adrift
had to be taken off after bowling only 3 overs. Alex meanwhile was having
a good duel with Gleave the more aggressive of the two openers and although
he beat him outside off stump a number of times, the wicket just would
not come. The advent of Edgar to the attack however posed new questions
for the batsmen and fortunately, Ed managed to turn one past the bat to
hit Gleave on the back foot in front. 87/1.
The new batsman however was equally aggressive and although Robin Linnecar
had settled into an excellent spell, the score continued to mount. Then
the new batsman lofted a gentle one into the covers off Robin and horror
of horrors, Ashley dropped it! A few balls later, I sorely misjudged a
skier and then what seemed a clear edge behind was given not out after
the Umpire had asked the batsman whether he touched it. Surprisingly,
the batsman said no! (Editor's note Neither the wicket keeper or slip
thought it was anywhere near the bat!). When I came on to relieve Edgar,
off the first ball of my second over, the batsman pulled it straight to
Ashley who, amazingly, dropped it again. With their score at 140 things
looked bad. However, redemption was at hand. As they tried to pick up
the pace of scoring, wickets began to fall. First I took one at long off
off Robin who then Toby took a good one at long on. At the other end,
I picked up 3 quite quickly and a declaration followed on 214/7
Edgar and Ashley opened and in the face of some quite quick and accurate
bowling played really well. Ashley looked a little rusty but Edgar looked
in cracking form and the 50 came up in good time. The opening batsman,
Tom, then came on to bowl and off his first ball, Ashley leant back and
cracked it straight to cover point. Alex also looked in fantastic touch
hitting one through extra cover on one knee like a Nasser Hussein at his
best. Edgar then followed one to be caught at slip for a fine 36 (78/2)
to be replaced by Doug Michael making his season's debut. However, Doug
then tried to hook a fast short ball and caught it on the chin instead
and decided to take some time out to recover.
I never enjoy walking to bat on a wicket that still has blood on it but
the fast bowler gave me a friendly full toss outside off stump to get
me away although it was followed by a snorter which forced me to smell
leather as it went by. Alex and I were looking quite comfortable until
he played back to one and was absolutely plum LBW for 34. Doug then returned
and was just settling in with a couple of well struck blows when I called
him for a rather unwise single and he was run out.
Toby replaced him and after stroking a single off the first ball, called
me for a second run forgetting for a moment that we were playing against
good league players and the perfect return from the boundary found him
short of his ground. Two run outs within a few balls! What a disaster!
I was however seeing the ball rather well all be it in a very indifferent
light and with 20 overs to go we needed 114.
We got off to a good start in the run chase and looked up with it but
the run outs rather took the wind out of our sails and with 5 overs to
go we still needed 42. With the quicker bowlers coming back on, Jerry
Stockbridge and I decided it was no longer on and simply batted out time
to leave us on 187/5 with me undefeated on 58.
Good to stop the run of defeats and with a really strong line up next
week, I am hopeful that we can predict a sound thrashing for Claygate.