Saturday 2s vs Old Pauline
Author: Saad Hannan
Match Report |
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There is a recurrent theme to success in timed cricket – batting first even on a good day, you are at the mercy of the opposition’s batting form, the close chances that come your way and perhaps most important of all, the number of double-decker buses parked in front of the stumps that you can get through. Therefore unsurprisingly, after winning the toss, the stand-in skipper invited Old Pauline, a club with decent pedigree in our league, to bat first in order to inflict all of the above on them if need be. The plan like in all other matches was set - to bowl with discipline and to get them out for cheap and to dictate the chase from the start. Easier done than said this time for a change and boy did the 2nd XI carry out the simple matter of executing the plan well! Rolf and Macca opened proceedings and were sometimes unplayable on an otherwise labile pitch that held true. Their batsmen played some brilliant shots intermittently and as soon as we felt the ominous siren of something brilliant was sounding, our bowlers found their edges or the timber to send them on their way. The bowing changes built on the pressure created by the openers and Brian and Parsham both ended with 2 wickets each – Old Pauline 107 all out. In the field, Chip had a great day behind the stumps taking three catches while showing no signs of rust in his first glovework assignment of the season and Conor took a fast dipping catch at slip, a position that has promised a lot this season without delivering a lot. Admittedly the opposition scored a good 20 runs more than they should have because of lapses in the field in the mid-overs: another recurrent theme that requires addressing for the twos. With dark clouds building in the horizon, Putney decided to bat before tea for half-an-hour and after losing their skipper in the second over finished at 61/1 at tea. Chip and Nathan scored freely making the most of some average new-ball bowling. After tea, to our delight, the day was suddenly looking much brighter and it wasn’t long before a relaxed Putney lost the set pair cheaply. Chip and Nathan were looking good but gave their wickets away too easily and must still be kicking themselves. Lapse of concentration after the restart? To be true to our style, we lost two more quick wickets but Wibbs at one end played a fine innings and stabilized the ship finishing the game with a six over cover where we were seated - appreciating the shot. There are positives in the fact that most of our batters spent some time in the middle and there were glimpses of form for the ones who have missed out so far this season. Ignoring the minor blips, we were largely clinical in our performance and we will have to maintain this winning attitude in the games to come. We have a good depth in our squad and availability is where we have struggled in the past going into July. When we are playing so well it will be a shame to give the run away – an incentive perhaps all in the club should be mindful of. MOTM – Close call with Chip but Rolf (Ralf) Merchant for his four-wicket haul |
Date | Time | Team | Opposition | Location | Putney | Opposition | Result | Scores | Points | Toss |
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20/06/2015 | 1pm | Saturday 2nd | Old Pauline | A | 111/5 | 107/10 | W | 20 |