East Hanningfield & Great Burstead Away. A lovely ground, but also a place where the home side tend to show up. This was no exception.
The pitch looked good, no grass, no wear and tear and for no reason related to any of this we decided to bat first. We didn’t know that the home side had imported their pitch from the WACA. Cailean, In good form and promoted to the top of the order, was bowled with the 4th ball of the innings, which signalled an alarm in the visiting camp. Hemming from one end was bowling fast but erratic and Stevens at the other end was bowling slightly less fast but infinitely more accurate, and after 12 overs Totham were 32-5, and had also lost opener John Chadders retired hurt with a blow to the foot. Ominous. A partnership did establish, Nob and John knuckled down, wore a few on the body and gloves, and 86 runs were ground out for the 7th wicket with John finally perishing for 48 after a stubborn resistance. Nob continued briefly and made his way to 64 not out but those around him couldn’t hang around on a lively pitch and we were dismissed for 151.
Teas were a tad disappointing. What was there was great; lovely sandwiches, some good cake, but a cricket tea without crisps, or sausage rolls/cocktail sausages is not a cricket tea. Tea Rating - 6.5
Matt McDonald opened the bowling and what an opening over it was. First ball was an over head high no ball. Second ball drew captain Morgan in to a drive and induced a thick edge, gloved by Nob behind the stumps to Jonny at second slip who couldn’t hold on. Fourth ball was edged by the other opener Singh, caught by Nob, but Matt had over stepped and a no-ball was called. This was as close as we got to a wicket for the next 26 overs as a variety of bowlers, field settings and terrible field-chat were not enough to prize out the home sides openers. That was until the final over. Mr Singh, on 46, was furnished with the finest banter that Totham had to offer and his attempted sweep played all round a Harry Banyard delivery to leave him castled with the home side needing just 4 to win. A small prize for the visitors as we deserved much more, but reward nonetheless, as the hosts won by 9 wickets.
It sounds like a mauling, and on paper maybe it was. But once again the fight shown by the youngsters in the face of hostile bowling, the committed ground fielding, and 26 overs of unrewarded bowling showed what a great group of youngsters we have coming through. It was a tough test again today, but these lads will be better for it and their attitudes were spot on.
We go again next week, a few wins are due to give us a chance of beating relegation.
