A couple of late changes this week threatened to de-rail the Totham train, but one lovely man with big ears replaced a let down, time waster with big ears. The chairman also helped out and the batting appeared stacked. We had eleven blokes who wanted to be there, that’s all I can ask.
Nob predicted he would win the toss and bowl, and so he did. The had been much overnight rain, a downpour before the toss and the wicket didn’t look to have been cut this month. Don’t get me started on the outfield. Matt and Snail (yes Snail!) opened the bowling and it became clear that bowling was the correct decision, the deck had plenty of spice and the overheads were moving the ball all over the place. Matt made the breakthrough after an excellent catch from Dan Allen behind the stumps and the hosts were content to score slowly and leave wickets in the hutch, 48-1 from the first 18. POTY Chadwick then took the next wicket, a strange looking dismissal where the left hander has attempted a sweep only to miss the ball on the initial shot and the ball redound off the back of his bat towards McVicar at gully who still had plenty of work to do, but showed us his athleticism and took a diving, rolling catch, much to everyone’s disbelief. Dicko then took an excellent catch at mid wicket to dismiss the dangerous Scott and they were 72-3 off 25. Nuttall, Wyatt and Woolf all played responsible knocks before being dismissed by Olly, Matt and McVicar respectively and some good late hitting got the home side up to 180 all out, which given our early position was at least 30 too many. Too many loose balls in the last 10 overs.
I had a dream that teas wouldn’t be the best and I was correct. That may be a little bit harsh as what teas there were, were nice. There just wasn’t very much, no second helpings. Whoever did them definitely didn’t spend the full budget. The sandwiches were cut in to fingers which I’ve not seen before so credit for artistry. But for me it was disappointing 5/10
Reasonable target on the board, plenty of batting, the deck had dried out and was more predictable - the recipe for a collapse. To begin with John and Nob couldn’t get the ball off the square given the accuracy and lack of pace in the bowling, leading to some frustration as John chipped one up and was shortly followed by Phipps (bowled) and Drew (caught) to leave us in a bit of bother. Nob and Banny rebuilt, raising the run rate with Banny particularly dismissive of the bad ball before Nob was dismissed, cutting one straight to point. Dan struggled with the bat and chipped one up before Banny did the same and we were in a world of trouble at 90-6. Thankfully our batting line up was long and Snail and Dicko were at the crease to rebuild yet again, and what a job they did. Dicko was remarkably spritely, calling Snail through for quick singles and often farming the strike and of course delivering a couple a couple of big sixes in the process. Snail was, naturally, more measured in his approach, and the pair chipped away at the runs remaining. The sniper in the trees took aim at both snails hamstrings and delivered him some cramp, he called for a runner but this didn’t last long as he chipped one up to mid-on, bringing Matt ‘The Finisher’ McDonald to the crease. Just a few runs later, Dicko was caught behind off a lifting delivery and the pendulum has swung. 11 runs needed and 2 wickets remaining. Matt made McVicar run 4 to deep cover which, as entertaining as it was, clearly had lasting affects, as in the next over McVicar was run out by half the pitch when going for a comfortable two. 3 to win, just Matt and Kendall left. There was to be so dramatic finish sadly, Olly took a single from the last ball of the over before swatting one through the covers for the remaining two runs we needed. We made it much more difficult than it needed to be, but job done.
Not our most polished performance but an effective one. We were very good with the ball for 30-odd overs, took a few good catches and a few individuals were good with the bat. Dicko’s innings was crucial and the tempo was spot on, defending where needed and punishing bad balls where possible and Matt was excellent with the ball and once again saw us home with the bat. Two star man this week, Matt & Dicko.
