Eight Ash Green vs Great Totham
A mere 18hrs before Totham were due to play Eight Ash Green, Captain Fantastic Chadwick faced only having seven players! However, come Sunday morning Totham had 11, this 11 included 2 players who have never played cricket before (Pete Tompkins and Will Sims), absolute heroes for helping out the club!
On a boiling hot day Eight Ash Green were thrilled to lose the toss and bowl first! Captain Chadwick opened up with his mate (P. Tompkins), the first over saw a good start for Totham, the second however not so good, Tompkins getting out after his first and probably last three balls he will face. After the captain’s mate got out, in came his dad. Totham went well for the next 10 overs, maintaining a high run rate, until Chadwick Sr lazily miscued a drive which went to point. In comes Harry Banyard, plays a lovely cut shot for four, only to get out the next ball. Rob Hewer comes in a five, advice from his captain was to stick round for a while now as we didn’t want to lose anymore wickets, the next over Captain Fantastic swung at one outside off stump and got caught behind. Colin Davis made his Sunday return next, this was short lived as Hewer ran him out (what an awful person). Will Simpson found himself slightly higher up the order than usual next, batting well for his 33, this was until Simpson tried to think tactically by standing out of his crease, ended up yorking himself and getting bowled. Kennedy managed to get a few, whilst Archibald and Clark both fell for nothing, and our number 11 Will Sims who didn’t face a ball but earned himself a not out! Totham were bowled out for 147 with 11 overs still go.
Without a big total to defend, Totham knew they had to be sharp in the field and with the ball. Simpson and Chadwick Sr opened the bowling and Totham got off to a very good start, 9 overs in EAG were 18-2 (two wickets for Simpson). Thinking it was time to change, on came the captain to bowl his first spell of the whole season, there is a reason this was his first spell of the whole season! But Captain Chadwick did end up with two wickets, one of them was a brilliantly taken catch on the boundary by Colin Davis. Harry Banyard bowled his nine at the other end, having batsmen in all sorts of trouble with his spin (9-2-22-2). Four overs needed to be bowled by Hewer, this ranged from building pressure with dot balls, get warned for a head high no ball and taking an amazing one handed caught and bowled. To finish up the innings Simpson and Chadwick Sr were brought back on, Simpson from one end building the pressure with dot balls for his last three overs! Last over, Chadwick Senior to bowl, 12 to win for EAG. Of course Chadwick Sr gets three wickets in the over and Totham win by 12! EAG all out for 135.
A brilliant game of cricket that went to the last over! Next week Totham are at home to Chappel where they look to continue their winning ways!
Star Players – Pete Tompkins and Will Sims!
