On a beautiful English cricketing day where only 6 games across 11 divisions were played, the super 3s were in action against Rankins 3s. With the 1s and 2s both being off, the customary Saturday morning dropouts were not the end of the world – DQ and Bad Bloke Pooky were welcomed back into the 3s with open arms. And with Rankins miraculous drainage system, the game was on.
Ridge-o’s sensational toss win record continued (Tails for Totham is a real thing) and the 3s had a bowl first. DQ (1-30)bowled in some beautiful areas and with some real heat up top, keeping things tight and looking dangerous. Dockney (0-33) struggled a little but bowled some seeds in amongst his early overs. It was DQ who made the breakthrough, yorkingone of the openers and getting a well deserved wicket. Pookydecided not to utilise the gloves he had on his hands and added to DQ’s very long list of drops off his bowling, as cymbals put a nick down behind the stumps. Super Sam (2-32) replaced Dockney and gave very little away. After a couple of shouts in his first over, Sam got his man LBW in his second over, sending the opener back to the shed. Bad Bloke Pooky added a second drop of the day, this time off Sam.Ridge (2-41) replaced DQ, bowling his trademark liquorice allsorts and very undeservedly picked up two wickets thanks to Ethan’s safe pair of hands. Ian Dockney impressed in the field, throwing himself in front of everything and saving valuable runs. The Rankins number 5 and 6 came in and batted very well, punishing anything that is too short and sending it to the boundary. Ethan (0-33) was brought on to bowl his leg breaks and bowled very nicely for his first few overs, before things started to go a bit awry and it was back to the pumphouse. Jon Smith (0-11) joined the party towards the back end of the innings and created chances. Clearly there had been an argument at home in the morning. Nick, who had fielded well all afternoon, decided to drop one hit straight to him as soon as his son came on to bowl. Pooky whipped the bails off to get rid of the sticky number 6. Some say the debate about whether it was a stumping or a run out is still continuing. DQ and Super Sam came back on to finish things off and contained Rankins well in the last 8 overs, with the oppo finshing 187-5 off their 40.
Tea was a very nice spread, strong ham and cheese sandwiches alongside a nice coronation chicken number. Savoury game was strong indeed, with pizza, sausage rolls and chicken nuggets all on offer. Some grapes and strawberries were out for those health-minded. The cake was shop bought, but the game was fairly strong, jam and chocolate swirls on offer alongside some cupcakes. Decent effort and very tasty – 7.5/10
After a short rain delay, it was Ridge and Pooky to open up. Rankins Mark Wood showed up to bowl some erratic 65mph all over the shop stuff off of 2 steps, but Pooky was quick onto anything too short or full. The opening pair was broken just shy of the 50 partnership, in which it’s fair to say the skipper played a supporting role, being dismissed LBW for 7. Jon was called into work so found himself batting at 3. Looking for maximum efficiency and wanting to be there asap, Jon was cleaned up first ball, his 4th duck of the season. Nice. Steve joined Pooky at the crease who was ticking along nicely, but Steve was soon gone for 3 after chipping one up to midwicket. DQ arrived in the middle having had limited opportunities with the bat so far this season in the 2s. Pookyplayed some fluent strokes which looked far too good for division 9 and quickly got to 50. DQ got going quickly and Totham started picking up runs and we began to close in on the target. As we got closer to the target all of the shots came out, Pooky playing some lovely strokes and DQ hitting three big 6s. With only 10 more to get Bad Bloke Pook unbearably brought up his ton. At the other end DQ reached his first adult 50 after a superb knock. The pair saw us over the line (Pooky104*, DQ 56*) to secure our third W of the season. Hopefully we can replicate that performance at home to top-of-the-league Hornchurch.
Worst bloke – Pooky
Jack Ridge One to Watch – DQ (in the 2s)
