Saturday 1s vs Economicals
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Match Report |
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"Where the hell has Owen gone?" On a day that felt more like Autumn than mid-Summer we journeyed down the A3 to the great facilities at the Economicals home ground. Batting first with a new look opening pairing of James and Owen ('Little and Large' or 'The Two Ronnies' sprang to mind) we were off to a good solid start at about 5 ½ an over until JP holed out in the deep with the score on 25. Gareth joined Owen in the middle and built a good partnership taking the score on to 74 and when 2 wickets fell in quick succession the initial momentum had been taken away. Bails joined Brad at the crease and started re-building the innings but when Bails was bowled on with the score at 121-4 some consolidation was required. Adam Taylor walked out to the middle having not played for a while (knee surgery) and got the innings on track again and put on a great 85 run partnership with Brad. Brad was eventually caught having scored 70 from 78 deliveries which included some great straight hitting down the ground. GP then added a good 42 run partnership with Adam until GP was out with the score on 248-6 in the 44th over. Wibbs failed to trouble the scorers and shortly afterwards Adam was out after scoring a fine 63 off only 43 deliveries. Paul and Des faced a few balls between them to take the score onto 253-8. JJ did not bat. Lunch was then taken and the feeling was that a defendable total was on the board. (Even GP managed a smile!) Owen at this stage was so happy that he must have been on his 4th or even 5th cup of tea! Gary and Brad shared the new ball and needed to bowl tightly with Chris Cooper at the crease. We knew it would be a massive bonus to get rid of him early and Brad was unfortunately no-balled when Cooper edged into the keepers gloves. GP however got him to repeat the shot an over later and the catch was gleefully taken behind. Brad, in particular was starting to cause the batsmen some real trouble with the shorter pitched delivery, and in the 8th over when Owen mysteriously disappeared from the field, Brad bowled 2 balls in succession which were both dolly catching chances to the point region, though being one short in the field the point fielder was now at square leg covering for Owen's dissapearance. (Mental note: Must remember some Pampers Pull-ups. Anyone know Owen's size?) The Economical's started building useful but slow partnerships and were always fairly well behind the required run rate of 5.62, and with around 5 overs to go the rate was up at about 9 runs required per over with 4 wickets in hand, very interestingly poised. Their No.4 batsmen started striking some big big blows and finding the boundary with ease and managed to bring the equation down to 6 required from the last over. The first ball from GP went for a single followed by a couple of dot balls and a single until 3 runs were required off the last 2 balls. Their No. 10 batsmen swung at a ball outside the off stump and edged down to the third man boundary for to give Economicals the win by 2 wickets with 1 ball remaining. From where I stand 2 disappointing aspects come to mind, being Owen's 8th over disappearance and field placing and changes not being directed through the skipper. Overall though a great game of cricket played in good spirit by both teams. Man of the match selection was between Adam and Brad but I give it to Brad Hallett for his 70 runs with the bat and bowling figures of 8 overs for 29 runs. Wibbs |
Date | Time | Team | Opposition | Location | Putney | Opposition | Result | Scores | Points | Toss |
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21/06/2008 | 1pm | Saturday 1st | Economicals | A | 253/8 | 255/8 | L | 9 |