It's Wednesday, which means I've just about got over the weekends result & I can try to put some words on paper.
An unchanged Indoor VI faced Tendring at the Northern Gateway last Sunday, looking to build on the victory from a month ago. Tendring tossed up with just 3 players there, but did manage to ge to a full quota before the game commenced (mostly thanks to the prior game overrunning). Tendring won the toss & elected to bat, so we got our bowling boots on. T-Slice proudly showing off his new non-slip trainers.
First ball from Value was an away swinging delivery was batted into the off side. There was a chance of a run out and the ball was returned quickly to the Tim, who stumbled up to the stumps. He collected the ball, and quickly broke the bails, but the batsman was safely home. Why is this blog-worthy? Tim's new shoe had dislodged itself from his foot & was resting halfway down the wicket. Queue widespread laughter amongst the team & umpire!
Tendring proved a much strong opening partnership than Chelmsford Tuskers as the first pair put on 52 in their 4 overs. Each bowler used going at over 10s. Drew did manage to drag it back against the new pair, including a beautiful away swinging Yorker to take out first wicket. But again, the middle pair were more than capable of accumulating runs & pushed the score along.
The final pair took it one step further and again scored at over 10s in their four overs. Really our spin heavy (JFH and Bowser) attack isnt quite suited to the swing friendly surface & ball at the Northern gateway. JFH tried a round the wicket tactic that didn't pay off, and in general our bowling was average. We did manage a run-out to peg them back while Values last over went for only 4 beating the bat numerous times. Drew ended up statistically the best bowler, having been the only one to take a wicket, but he did also concede the most runs.
That being said with 125/2 being lower than the score we posted last week, we were in with a chance.
Bowser & RK opened the batting, but some aggressive (read suicidal) running and a caught and bowled meant we lost 3 wickets in the opening two overs. RK remembered how to score at a strike rate of over 100 this week, with two big sixes down the ground and we were about par after their efforts.
Tim & Value came in next, again, some questionable running led to more wickets lost, and it was at this point our chase got really pegged down. We struggled to get the metronomic old timer from Tendring away & every time we got a foot back in the game (from one of Tim's 2 sixes) we lost a wicket shortly after.
All this meant that Drew and Jonny needed 77 from their 4 overs. And my words didn't they give it a go! Drew blasted his first ball for six and was particularly aggressive against one bowler. Looking every bit like a stick cricketer as he wandered down the wicket and slapped the ball around the hall in his baggy blue. They were assisted by some sneaky runs off wide balls too. Eventually the Tendring skipper had enough of Drew walking at him and sent down a viscous bouncer that Drew only narrowly ducked under - so much for a friendly. Choice words were uttered, but disappointingly no handbags thrown.
The equation off the final over was 34 needed. Almost impossible, but again a few more sixes from Drew & clever running from JFH meant we took 23 from the over to fall 11 short. Drew 32 from 12 & Jonny 18 from 12. Rapid.
When you look at the gross score for our innings however, we posted a massive 154/8, far exceeding the Tendring effort. It is just a shame you lose 5 runs for each wicket.
In the end, a good effort against probably the strongest side in the division. We go again in two weeks time against West Mersea.
MoM - Drew Whiting
