The indoor team took on the mighty Springfield this week. They don't even play in the T Rippon league! The selectors' axe fell & Pooky returned for Drew. John won the toss & we were fielding.
Jamie & Pooky opend the bowling, with Joe & John saved for their ability as death bowlers. Jamie, however, managed to pull a muscle & struggle to get through 2 overs. John proved that he was more like a bowler who had died than a death bowler & was hammered by the opposition (namely, the young lad who opened the batting). Due to injury & a lack of talent by the bowlers, Joshua bowled & took the first wicket, c & b.
3 batsmen retired & the score slowly rose. Joe bowled, alongside Pooky to finish the innings & we tightened up somewhat, Joe taking a c & b. Nick gave the gloves to Jamie & showed fleet of foot to run out a batsman. Springfield had a go at the end of the innings to reach 145, a formidable total.
Nick & Joe looked good, until Nick gave the bowler a return catch 3rd ball. Not the start that we wanted. Pooky joined Joe & the run chase began. Both were superb. Running hard for 3s, hitting boundaries & toying with the fielders were all on show. Pooky played one wonderful over, hitting the boundaries & forcing the bowler around the wicket, which brought even more runs for us. We also benefitted from Jordan's umpiring decision to award us an overthrow when the ball hit the wall to Springfield's annoyance.
Joe & Pooky both retired to bring the Chadwicks together. Nornally this results in John getting out quickly & wondering if he'll ever bat with Joshua again. But, in a change of form, John managed to score a few runs. At the other end Joshua blasted loads of runs & retired. Jamie had a runner. As Nick was out he did the honours & with Nick running we might have been in a better place!
With 3 batsmen to return chances were taken & John was run out, soon followed by Jamie sacrificing his wicket. Pooky returned, only to be stumped. Joe & Joshua were at the crease with not many needed from the final 2 overs. A 6 from the final ball of the 11th over meant that 12 runs were needed in the final over. This was done with ease, sensible cricket & use of the walls saw us home with one ball to spare.
A very satisfying victory. over one of the best teams in the league.
Next week, Writtle, hoping for the double over these old rivals.
