Grey skies met the side at Bull Meadow this week, but with nets and Drews sail up, and the pitch taking a roll from the roller older than Olly, we were ready to play. Nob back as skipper, winning the toss and batting first for the first time this year, with Nick and Drew also returning for Pidge, Sam Bowen and FGA.
Henge and Nobby opening up and started well, Nobby edging a full toss first ball past slip for 4, but from there both played nicely, blocking the good and dispatching anything loose to take us on at around a run a ball. Henge who had a life, was eventually bowled, and Tommy joined Nob, who started his day of admiring from the non-strikers end. Tommy dominated the second wicket partnership, playing some classy shots, and he, along with Nobby passing 50, took us safely to drinks and lining up a good score.
Drinks came and went, and soon saw the back of Tommy for a well played 35. Pooky didn't last long, dismissed twice of the same ball (given LBW, the moaning proceeded that he hit it, only to be informed he was therefore caught by the keeper) but Melmans innings soon shut him up. From ball 2 which disappeared towards the nets for 6 he was brilliant, clearing the ropes (and most of the houses surrounding the ground) with clean hitting. His partnership of 128 with the skipper came off just 70 balls, with Josh contributing 98 and extras adding 11 (you can tell Nobby just wanted singles to watch the show up close). Nobby then fell for 77, Josh up next got his 100 with his 12th six from just 48 balls, one of the most brutal innings I've seen at Totham, before falling next ball. At 268 for 5 with 10 overs to go, in all honesty we hoped for more than the 304 we got, but no one got going, but a really good innings from the batters (bar the self proclaimed batter Pook himself) and surely an incoming win if we bowled well.
Tea Rating: Plenty of Sandwiches, including the treat of fish finger ones! Also a giant chocolate cake, very well enjoyed. Good job Rk! 8.5/10
Game hogger Henge and Baron took the new ball, Baron trundling up the Hill and showing his worth, Nicking of the opener to Nick behind the stumps to get us off to a good start. Henge bowled well down the Hill without reward (blame skip putting down a sharp chance at slip) shaping the ball both ways, while Baron toiled up the Hill, anything slightly loose dispatched but grabbed a second later on, the same combination as the first.
Both openers done, Cheesey as so often before started his 9 up the Hill, while RK got the pleasure of taking coming in first change, and although his second ball disappeared to the car park of the pub, responded well and took 2 in his first spell. Cheesey got his wicket, dismissing the Rettendon number 4 caught at deep cover by RK (who had technically dropped 3 in the day but all were very difficult!). RK removed, JFH coming on, struggling at first but slowly settling down, chances were coming more regularly and 2 taken by Tommy and Nobby, plus a bowled, left JFH with 3 wickets but RK, returning after Cheeseys end, grabbed the remaining wickets, catches taken by Nobby again (could have been another jug had seen clung on earlier) and Pook to finish the innings and grab us a maximum point win.
Better from all, MOM clearly Josh's innings which was brutal, and in reality took hope away from Rettendon and gave us comfort in the field, someone will do well to beat it for performance of the year.
A brief mention also to the following morning, walking past the ground a little past 9am to see the ground covered and coaches, parents and children learning and enjoying the game. Seeing two former first XI captains and severel current players involved was great to see and long may it continue!
