Bank Holiday weekends are usually difficult weeks for fielding cricket teams, however this week the selection gods smiled upon as and there were around 40 available players in the club. This is a real testament not only to the commitment of the players so far this year, but the youth set up and the players we are bringing through.
We lost the toss and were surprisingly asked to bat on the hottest day of the year. The opposition were, in truth, missing 4 of their best players but Nick and John didn’t mind, feeding on some loose bowling and we raced to 73-0 off 10. John (28) tried one pull shot too many and lobbed one up in the air which made for a few quiet overs, until Foxy joined the party after Nick had avoided his jug (46). He helped himself to a pair of 6’s thanks to a couple of beamers and was beginning to enjoy himself until triggered on 48, leg before. I have a feeling that would have been overturned with the aid of DRS. Josh was beginning to settle until his eyes lit up at the sight of a full toss, only for him to plant it straight down long-on’s throat for 12. This brought about the most enjoyable part of the innings, with DQ joining Pooky. Pooky, who almost ran himself out on 0, then was dropped on 1, finally got in to his groove and then stroked the ball around the park whilst DQ opted for a different approach, drilling a straight drive over the bowlers head and over the fence for 6, before smearing one over deep square for an enormous maximum. This partnership was worth 74 and took us out of reach of the opposition and secured us maximum batting points along the way. DQ tried one big shot too many and was bowled for 21 but Pooky carried on manipulating the field and finding gaps to work his way to 70, before being caught in the last over. Matt got us past 300 in the last over, for the first time in a long time and we were satisfied with our afternoons work.
Teas - OK, 6/10, move on.
We came out full of enthusiasm and confident of rolling over Wakering in time for Nick to get home for Britain’s Got Talent, but this was not to be the case. The Wakering openers made batting look easy on a flat deck and after 15 overs they had reached 90-0. We had bowled too many loose balls and not fielding well enough, we needed to change that in the next 15 overs. The breakthrough finally came in the 20th over, Nob finally contributed to the game with a sharp run-out to dismiss opener Cooper for 59. As the saying in poor cricket chat goes, one brings three, however in this case one brought six in twelve overs, going from 115-0 to 201-6, Kendall taking 4 of those despite throwing a tantrum that the original ball had been lost, smashed in to the farmers field. DQ (1-40) continued his fine game, bowling with control and maturity, he’s developing in to a very good player. Kendall wrapped up his 5fer with his godson Pook taking his third catch on the boundary, and with the visitors having just ten batsmen, we needed just one wicket. The last Wakering pair were adamant we would not get the last bowling point and so blocked out the remaining overs, even Nob’s teasing, buffet leg spin couldn’t remove them from their bunkers and we finished with just 25points, a great return from our trip to the end of the earth.
An excellent win, albeit against a depleted Wakering side. The fielding and bowling were hit and miss but the batting was again very good. We take the points and return to Bull Meadow second in the table.
Star Man - Olly Kendall. His last two outings have returned 8-61. This could be down to his new hearings aids, it could be down to going to nets on a Wednesday nights, it could be down to not having to bat 3 weeks in a row which usually results in a pulled groin/hamstring/calf. Mentions for Pook for his 70 and 3 catches, who will now return to the 1’s for the rest of the season and DQ (21 and a wicket) who has made huge strides from last year.
