Even the rain failed
This
match was something of a disaster being brought on by a combination of
a shortage of manpower and the worst wicket we have seen in four years
at Sendholme.
We took the field with only 10 men due to holidays and unavailability
and I hope those participating will not be offended if I say that we were
not at our strongest. The opposition, on the other, having been soundly
thrashed last year, turned up with very much their best team including
a batsman who made over 700 runs last year.
Despite my pathetic attempts to convince the opposition that we were weak,
he won the toss and put us in saying 'that's what you said last year'.
Ian's continual conning of the opposition last year is coming home to
roost!
The captain came up with the cunning plan off sending in Jerry Stockbridge
and 'Yorkshire Grit' Smith to see off the opening attack whilst holding
back the front line batsmen to make hay when the second string bowlers
came on. This plan proved more than sensible (to those of us in the pavilion)
when the first ball reared off a length and almost pinned Jerry between
the eyes. Showing commendable courage however, Jerry and H toughed it
out for 5 or 6 overs until Jerry sashayed down the wicket and played a
firm drive which to his surprise was picked off his feet by the opening
bowler in his follow through. H meanwhile was proving an immovable object
until another lifter took a fine edge and he was caught behind.
I then joined Edgar who was looking solid until almost instantly, he followed
a wide one to be caught off a looping outside edge at slip. At 10/3 the
situation looked dire but there was the comforting sight of Redfern approaching
and he proceeded to deal with the bowling without much difficulty as did
yours truly although the prospect of a sharply rising ball was never far
from the mind. In truth the unreliable bounce and sudden deceleration
of the ball if it was at all short was more of a problem and after adding
35 or so, that was the cause of my demise. A ridiculously short ball invited
the pull and as I completed the shot looking in the direction of Guildford
for an earthquake as it hit the ground, the ball arrived very slowly to
hit middle stump.
In the very next over, Redders aimed a cut and got an edge to slip who
took the very slow looping catch above his head. At 45/5, we clearly were
in trouble and although Steve Reece put bat to ball to make top score
of 17, we subsided to 66 all out and a very early tea.
The opposition then paid us the ultimate insult by reversing the batting
order which evoked the right response from Matt Hallam who bowled fast
and straight. The captain and opening bat was caught at slip off a wicked
lifter by Ed and the next man pushed one to Jerry Stockbridge at silly
mid off. He doesn't miss them. Matt then spread the next man's stumps
all over the field and I got in on the act, reverting to my youth with
6 overs of pace (ish) picking up two wickets with good catches from Brian
Hallam and Steve Reece. At 30/5 we looked in it but with their crack batsman
coming to the wicket, we knew we had some work to do. This was confirmed
when he hit his second ball from me back over my head for six but thereafter,
he popped a few in the air and looked anything but comfortable. Edgar
replaced Matt and bowled a good first over but the score was mounting
inexorably until the crack batsman lost patience and aimed a big shot
at a leg break which turned, took the edge and Brian, giving a passable
impression of Jonty Rhodes (with hangover and bad knee) pouched the catch
at cover point. Being Brian, the moment was somewhat dramatic involving
several rolls over and over, a great deal of dust and flocks of birds
rising from the trees in alarm.
Then a moment of drama as the new batsman gloved his first ball to H behind
the wicket and despite a loud appeal from almost everyone near the wicket,
did not walk. The umpire, being unsighted, gave him not out and as he
then proceeded to hit the ball for a 6 and two 4's, the game was over
and lost by 3 wickets.
3 losses in 4 games is very disappointing but as of this week, our playing
strength is back to normal and I'm confident that we will be back to winning
ways.