Following a terror shout during the mid-Rona times that there wouldn’t be enough demand for there to be any 3rd XI fixtures, 247 club members made themselves available for the first weekend of post-Rona cricket. Queue a mad rush to find an oppo that aren’t signed up to a mini-league, and a ground given that ours got let out to another club, a mammoth effort culminated in a game against Great Baddow at a neutral venue in Billericay. The Rebel Alliance was born.
Yeatesy kicked off his first game as captain in true Great Totham fashion by losing the toss, and Totham were inserted. George Davis and Jack Ridge opened things up. Things were off to a flying start with George keen to feel bat on ball and Ridge-o looking to nick singles to hand things over to his more aggressive opening partner. Barring a couple of scares in the gully region and some honking play and misses outside off, things were looking positive for Totham. 4 shy of his 50 George Davis lost his swede and chipped one up in the infield, departing for a well earned 46. Egg, in his fresh full-Slaz kit that he had picked up from Sports Direct en route to the ground, came and soon went for 5. Unfortunately, DRS was not available at Lake Meadow to send that LBW upstairs. Queue the full-blown Totham collapse, as we slipped from 83-0 to 117-5. Stroker came in to biff 13 off 9 before chipping one to midwicket (shock). This was followed by Yeatesy and Owen both being unable to use their new shiny expensive bats – both back in the shed for 0, both a middle stump lighter courtesy of the 30mph Baddow left-arm seamer. Meanwhile, Ridge was ticking along at the other end, accumulating (find me in the Bull for walkthrough on my back foot punch through backward point, years of legs on that story). The return of Timbo Slice was entertaining, whacking three boundaries before clothing one to mid-on – a handy contribution from number 7 nonetheless. Tickle joined Ridge-o at the crease and showed his value as ‘Transition into Adult Cricket’ award winner last season. A well-disciplined little innings including a lovely boundary through the on side and dealing very well with the spin from both ends. Eventually, the unbearable happened, with Ridge-o bringing up 50 with a sweep to the square leg boundary – good things come to those who wait (block and leave relentlessly) fellas. Soon Tickle was dislodged for 13 by the tidy office from the top end, bringing Valenator to the crease. Something is going right in the colts section, some lovely technique on show. Ridge-o then departed by spooning an absolute grenade to the keeper, leaving for 66 off 110 – attritional. Ed Value soon went for 7, as the father-son combo of Nick and Jon Smith were left as the last men standing. Nick getting his ever reliable 1, leaving Jon stranded on 1* at the other end. The Rebel Alliance bowled out for 185 off 34 ish overs.
Rona times meant that it was BYOT (bring your own tea). Plenty of meal deals on show and a couple of retro lunch boxes from Tickle and Yeatesy. What we did learn is that meal deals don’t cope with the sun very well. Some rather warm sandwiches that had definitely seen better days.
We got back out there with the Runner Bean George Davis and Ed (great) Value opening up. GD took a while to get going before finding that madras heat. The Valenator hitting some serious areas at the other end (“I’ve seen the future, and it’s Ed Vale” – Owen McCausland, 2020). The cordon was looking glorious, with the floppy really setting off Tim’s village Alec Stewart vibe and Owen cutting the figure of a man with no interest in moving from slip all afternoon. The Baddow skipper punished anything short and was looking hard to get rid of, until the lesser Davis delivered an absolute seed that jagged back and crashed into the stumps – the Totham train was on its way. Ed Value bowled well before being unfortunate to get some tap in his final over to spoil the figures – an impressive start to the season for the young lad nonetheless. Yeatesy brought himself on to bowl at their two guns and got the treatment (rookie error. Top tip – always bring yourself on against the tail to boost your figures). Meanwhile, the Totham Plunkett was going about his business from the pavilion end, chucking down his cross seam half trackers. The game was looking like it was starting to get away from the Alliance before Owen made the breakthrough, a leg stump pie finding its way into Ridge’s grateful hands at short midwicket. Queue a carnage few overs with Owen not making use of the facilities whatsoever, but somehow taking wickets. The gun bat being unfortunate to smoke one to Ridge-o who used up his one stunning catch of the season in the first game, with the Valenator holding onto another ball that deserved the treatment but ended up picking out the man. Strokesy had been struggling to make an impact despite looking fairly tidy but eventually found a way through, one of the cross seam specials getting hit straight back at him. It looked like Baddow had caught a touch of the Tothams with a middle order collapse taking place. Owen toiling away at the top end looking like every ball would be a wicket or boundary with his liquorice allsorts. O found some magic, managing to get one to turn and finding the outside edge. Cymbals behind the stumps parrying it up before taking the catch to mark his return. Owen moved onto 4. (At this point Jon came onto bowl but the less said about that the better. Park it and move onto next week). Inbetween all the carnage there was some terror running from Baddow, Stroker capitalising and securing a straightforward runout. 7 down with 30 required the game looked in the balance. Owen decided to use the facilities and was rewarded with a wicket to bring up his maiden 5fer, GD hanging onto the catch. It was that man who looked to finish the job but some rearguard action from their 9 and 10 managed to see Baddow over the line as they eeked out the runs. The Rebel Alliance not able to get the final 2 wicket they needed.
Disappointing not to take the W after getting into a strong position, but a thoroughly enjoyable game and a cracking one to return to. Some great performances and the jugs were flowing back at The Bull. We sure have missed cricket!
MOTM: Pains me to give it to Owen McCausland
Jack Ridge One to Watch: Ed Val(u)e
Runs: Jack Ridge 66 (110)
George Davis 46 (43)
Wickets: Owen McCausland 5-38
George Davis 1-31
