Match Report

OCCC v St Margaretsbury - 20th June 2009

A conference fixture this week away at a very pleasant little ground near Harlow, and as is sometimes the case with conference fixtures, the opposition were made up of Under 15's players with a token adult or 2 (in fact there were 4) to supervise.

Needing to leave early (for entirely unrelated and personal entertainment reasons) i was hoping the coin would come down tails side up - which it did, and i immediately decided to have a bowl (and yes, this was so i could potentially open the batting, and, once out for not very many, leave!).

So, with 2 kids at the crease, me and Mike Knight opened the bowling. we both bowled well and tight, and both found edges that went to the boundary in our first overs. But, it was Mike who struck first, bowling one of the openers. The No 3 was left handed and couldn't cope with Mike's away swing edging twice to the boundary - even with a slip in place. Then, one finally carried to me at slip low to my left but i dropped it (neither of those directions are good for me unless someone asks me how its hanging!).

We soon had 2 slips and a gully in, but Mike not trusting us he bowled the left hander himself! I took the next wicket - wide on the crease and angled in and the young lad played the wrong line, missed it and lost his middle stump. Mike then got in on the act again with a caught and bowled, and shortly after claimed another scalp caught at 2nd slip by Hasan at shoulder height. If the batsman was playing a team his own age, that would have flown over slip and to the boundary, but unluckily for him, Hasan is a freakishly tall 17 year old and he held on well.  

Jack came on to replace me after 5 overs and started off a little full and wide and soon saw the ball disappear to the boundary a few times after one of the adults in the team took a liking to it. After offering him 1 more, his line and length improved, earning him another one but couldn't find his way through. Mike on the other hand, with 4 wickets already was looking for his fifth. Twice i told him to take 1 more, and finally he did what we wanted him to and claimed No. 5. - another fine caught and bowled and we could taste the jug! So, 6 down and only 50 on the board and it was just past 3pm. 

I took Mike off after he finally got his 5-for and threw the ball to John Harris. he bowled very well and surprisingly with a good line! jack had another couple of overs and managed to claim a wicket when the batsman played on to his tricky left arm over bowling and we were starting to taste tea. Now, in situations such as this, i normally call on Junky to tidy up the tail and he ends up with figures of 3 for 1 off 5 overs or something ridiculous - but he has been absent all season and unavailable. So, when looking round my team, I saw Suleiman and threw him the ball. I originally chose Tony, but he suggested Sully and I agreed! Great team captaincy.

Anyway, Sully is a very slingy bowler who "kisses the surface" rather than bangs it in and he was immediately swinging it as well. John was bowling well and managed to get a bizarre stumping. The young lad charged down the track, missed it and we were waiting for the bails to be whipped off by Bill. But John bowls so slowly, that by the time it got to Bill behnd the stumps the batsman was home. But, then, there was a secondary and solitary appeal from Bill, who had noticed the batsman re-leave (?) his crease and he took out a stump and knocked the ball against it. With no other option, the umpire gave it out and they were 8 down. Now, I must mention (and ask for clarification if possible) - was that a stumping or a run out? Not one to take wickets away from John (he only gets 2 or 3 a season these days) who was adamant its his wicket, but i cant help thinking that although its got b Harris - st Barnes in the book, its got to be wrong.....????

Anyway - Sully was bowling well at the other end with a good line and touch of swing, and was rewarded with a wicket and then shortly after, he wrapped up the innings bowling the No. 11 as well. 88 all out and it wasn't quite 4pm yet. Keen to get on with things, i wanted to play on, but my lone voice was drowned out by everyone else who wanted tea and a sit down before we started our chase.