On a lovely day for cricket, J Ridge and the merry crew made the journey to Theydon Bois for what was another good pre-season challenge against a strong Theydon batting lineup. However, disaster struck early, as Sam Hawes’ car gave up on him just 10 mins away from the ground, somewhere between the M11 and the M25. So with just 10 and short of a gloveman, we were up against it. Luckily the Bot keeps a spare pair of keeping gloves in his bag.
We won the toss and James Wheeler and Jess Pugh got us underway with the ball. Both bowling very nicely once they found their rhythm. The Theydon openers looked good, but it was Yeatesy who made the breakthrough, Tickle extending the go-go gadget arms to take a good catch at mid off (never in doubt…) to dismiss the destructive opener. After Jess had completed a tidy opening spell, unlucky not to get a reward in the W column, Hot Wheels came back on and picked up a wicket with a rank half tracker, pulled into the grateful hands of Clarkey at square leg. However, its fair to say he deserved it for all of his good work up to that point. Owen came on to turn his arm over, back at his old stomping ground. The old full and straight ploy worked well, picking up two wickets with plumb LBWs. Tommy Wheeler continued to impress with his tweakers, with the figures not telling the full story having had to bowl at two set batsmen for much of his spell. We paused briefly at 3pm with the opposition for a minute’s silence to pay our respects to HRH Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh before concluding the first innings. Jess and Yeatesy were back into the attack to finish the innings off. Both finished the innings well against two batsmen who had their eye in. The Theydon skipper carried his bat for a well made 94* to take the home side to 234-4 off their 40 overs on a good deck and fast outfield that provided value for shots. A great effort with the ball and in the field with just 10, and a target that was challenging but achievable in the conditions.
The Ridge brothers opened up and got us off to a solid start, bringing up the 50 partnership within 10 overs – the Bot playing his shots and J Ridge ticking along quietly in the background. With both looking relatively unphased, Totham continued moving forward and Theydon started getting a little twitchy. However, as the partnership neared 100 and the Bot his 50, disaster struck. Chasing a wide one the Bot nicked off for 45, leaving Totham 98-1 just before drinks. Tickle strode to the crease and got off the mark with a beautiful cut shot through cover-point for 4. With 9 wickets in hand and sitting on over 100 at drinks, the chase was well and truly on. However, the skipper departed not too many overs after the drinks break, beaten by a nipbacker (shock). Queue Owen’s eventful innings. On 0 recalled after being given out caught behind after being struck on the thigh pad, followed by a couple of drops, Tickle and Owen got a little partnership going taking us onto 147-2. Tickle found himself sold down the river when Owen called him through for a quick single that wasn’t there, going for a well played 16 with lots of positive signs. Poor old Clarkey was beaten by ye olde straight one first ball on what was a tough day for the lad (#BackStronger). Yeatesy came to join Owen at the crease at 147-4 for a crucial partnership. But the cricketing gods work in strange ways, and Owen himself was run out not long after, to make it 3 McCausland run outs in 2 games. Hot Wheels couldn’t get going and came and went, and a mix up in communication between Nick and Yeatesy led to Nick being short of his ground. At 154-7 the dream looked gone, but Tommy Wheeler and Jess Pugh began staking their claim to the best 10 and 11 in the league crown with a couple of nice shots. Jess particularly with a great square drive. Yeatesy had been making a go off it at the other end but ultimately it was not enough, and we were all out for 181, falling 53 short.
Despite a second L, it was a great effort all round in all three disciplines, especially with 10. We kept in the game for a long period and there were a lot of positives in the batting, taking it deep chasing a big total.
We go again next week against Hornchurch. Hopefully a W on the board before the start of the league season.
Player of the match: Ben Ridge (the Bot)
