Sunday 1s vs Nepotists
Author: Eamon
Match Report |
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Arriving at our glorious home ground on Sunday to face a team called the Nepotists. I thought that a win today would basically be guaranteed due to the fact that Nepotists according to the Oxford dictionary generally like to favour family members. Considering their team were mostly from Australia, why wouldn’t they help out a fellow homeboy? However, contrary to my beliefs, we were in for a battle of two giants, like Ali vs Frazier or England vs Australia (2005). Winning the toss on a hot overcast day with a bit of a northerly breeze which would have been perfect for a Jimmy Anderson, the skipper Ben ‘Beep Beep’ Brook sent us in to bat. Hannaford and debutant James strode out to the middle to the background music of the Channel Nine Cricket theme song (an elite cricket tune if you ask me!) and faced the Nepotists opening bowler who after a couple of balls was thought to be the next Brett Lee! However, after Hannaford had negated the first 6 balls carefully, umpire Ifan ‘Smoothio’ Jenkins smoothly decided that this were to be 7 ball over which worked well to our favour with the 7th ball going for 6 thanks to an overthrow! After the shackles were released in the first over James and Hannaford took their opening bowlers to the sword, punishing the bad balls and playing some divine strokes until Hannaford fell which brought Ross to the crease. He and James continued trotting along nicely with both batsmen reaching the 20’s before Ross was sadly bowled. Never to fear though! As Rob Cross strode to the crease with spirits high. Unfortunately, he fell for 1 and James was quick to follow. This left us in a bit of a pickle at 4/59. With Hendricks and Lye left to pick up the pieces. However, after consecutive boundaries due to some erratic bowling and a bit of a counterattack, Lye had to retire due to a migraine. This brought Kidson to the crease and together with Hendricks formed a Jos Buttler and Liam Livingston type partnership to bring us within striking distance of a very competitive total. Unfortunately, due to a Steve Smith one handed type of catch in the cordon Hendricks had to depart for 28. Kidson soon followed after finding the fielder on the boundary rope for 38. However, there were no worries as Ifan and the skipper Brooky picked up the pieces flaying the bowling to all parts of the ground until Brooky was dismissed. Feeling a bit like Scottie Pippen in game 7 in the 1990 NBA finals, Lye (hyped on pain killers) returned to combine with Ifan (28*) to help set a competitive total of 7/207. After claims from the other team that they were a batting team, not a bowling team. Our ever so reliable Captain Brooky decided to take new pill and channel the heroics of Freddie Flintoff in the 2005 ashes and open the bowling. This was a genius of a stroke as he bowled with serious heat which really got the cordon fired up. This was supported by Ifan who bowled like Stuart Broad with some serious swing and nip. Our opening bowlers were able to take early wickets to put them on the back foot. This was supported by Smith who bowled heat that could be compared to Jofra Archer! However, due to some very questionable umpiring decisions which would require some investigation into match fixing if this were an international match. The Nepotists started to rebuild and looked set on chasing down our total with ease until quick wickets to Smith, John, Kidson, Hendricks reduced the Nepotists to 8/176. Thoughts of celebrations were already creeping into my mind with the dab and cartwheels being the chosen go to celebrations. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be as the Nepotists pulled off a somewhat Ben Stokes and Jack Leach final partnership after we reduced them to 9/206 with another very controversial LBW decision not being given to James (which he made sure to let the umpire know). If only there were Hawkeye at our home ground! Nevertheless, it was a cracking game of cricket played in great spirit which we love to see! The Man in the Arena. |
Date | Time | Team | Opposition | Location | Putney | Opposition | Result | Scores | Points | Toss |
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19/06/2022 | 1pm | Sunday 1st | Nepotists | H | 207/7 | 210/9 | L | 0 |