History repeats itself as batting collapse undoes all the good work of the bowlers!
For the third season running we enjoyed a very good natured match against a very good bunch, reminding us of the spirit of Sunday cricket- like minded people enjoying a hard fought game but sharing a pint & intelligent social intercourse afterwards. Unfortunately having trounced them in 2011, we repeated our awful performance of last year with a humiliating batting display.
In gorgeous sunny weather,and mindful of a very limited bowling attack, Jerry won the toss and asked the thespians to bat. Their top player, 'Shrek' star Dean Chisnall & their keeper/batsman opened up against a modest looking new ball combination of the writer and Nick Freeman, having lost both Nick W. & Toby to injury. Nick F. struggled to find his line and length conceding two or three lots of legside four byes and suffered a little at the hands of Dean Chisnall in particular. The writer started in more steady fashion and in the sixth over produced a well pitched up away swinger that enticed the edge but Paddy H. contrived to drop a routine catch at first slip- he said it was the complete lack of pace that prompted the error- something about the ball smacking into your hand being easier to catch! After 5 overs, Nick gave way to Matt Cliff who then embarked on a continuous spell of 18 overs that ultimately brought him the best bowling figures of the season.
The first breakthrough came at 67 when Dean Chisnall swept hard to short mid wicket where Chris Turvill took a great instinctive catch above his head. The no.3 started shakily, but hung around with a bit of luck, until at 108 the keeper/ batsman, who had survived a confident lbw shout by yours truly and a close run out appeal by H., was finally bowled by Matt with one that just squeezed under the bat. Jerry replaced me at the pavilion end and our dual spin attack began to control the game . At 133, Matt took his third wicket with a sharp return catch, then Jerry gained an lbw decision against the young no.4. A brief stand took it to 153-4 before the visitors suddenly lost 6 wickets in about 20 mins for 17 runs as it became apparent their offensive batting was all gone. Howard took two smart stumpings, the skipper took a sharp leaping one handed catch above his head at mid wicket, and when the number 11 was bowled by Matt we trudged off to tea very happy. Jerry returned figures of 3-47 off 12 overs, myself 0-33 off 11, Nick F. 0-37 off 5, but the performance of the day (and season) with the ball was from Matt Cliff with 7-40 off 18.2 overs- a great performance and the first time any bowler had taken more than 6 wkts for us for over 5 years. We dropped about three or four catches other than those mentioned above but it was a very decent show with a threadbare bowling line up.
Unfortunately, that was to be the end of the enjoyment for the day as far as we were concerned (apart from West Ham winning 3-0 at Tottenham on the telly). Chasing what looked to be very achievable target, Paddy H. played on third ball for a duck, jabbing at a low wide ball from their innocuous looking opening bowler, then the Chairman, elevated to No.3 while Rob Symondson went home to let the dog out (yes, he really did!) played one of his famous square cuts -unfortunately straight into the hands of point. Nick Freeman started like a train, hitting a long six and three fours in scoring 20 off seven balls before dollying a return catch to the innocuous looking opening bowler for no particular reason. Mark Turvill, who turned out to play at about 40 mins notice came in at No.4 but unluckily perished when a bit of surprise bounce from the tall opening bowler caught the glove and ballooned to slip.
22-4 in about 15 minutes, with the the skipper and Chris Turvill suddenly together, with the last recognised batsman still in Cranleigh with Fido! Crease occupation was now the order of the day, and Chris and Jerry looked to have steadied the ship when Chris was surprisingly bowled by a ball that just clipped the off bail to reduce us to 37-5. Stockers joined Jerry and we reminded ourselves that he used to be our opener for many years so there was still hope! The skipper had bowled well, then taken a good catch, so the scene was set for a match saving innings. Unfortunately he then went back instead of forward to the innocuous looking opening bowler and was done by a good off cutter, bowled for 14. 47-6! Rob had returned with the dog, to be told he was immediately needed in the middle so he strolled out thinking we had lost a couple of wickets before looking at the scoreboard.
Soon afterwards Stockers was adjudged lbw which brought wild applause and celebration in the opposition ranks as it turned out that the Ernie Gill, the innocuous looking bowler had just taken his 500th wicket for London Theatres in a 21 year career. I had thought I was the king of innocuous looking late middle aged bowlers who people surprisingly got out to, but this bloke put me in my place! Rob briefly showed some defiance with a couple of choice blows before umpire Freeman gave his second lbw decision, Matt Cliff came back to earth with a minor bump being bowled first ball playing back instead of forward, so with the score on 74-9, we saw that rare sight at Sendholme of Howard walking to the wicket. It was left to H. and me to survive 12 overs but next over, against the young off spinner I lofted one to the fielder on the boundary in front of the pavilion but then realised H. was in no mood to take singles so I stayed put. Having survived 23 balls I was duly bowled thought the gate by the next ball which shows you should never turn down an easy run!
A sad closing performance by us after we had done really well to restrict them to 170. Next year perhaps we'll make a game of it!