It’s good to be back…
The first pre season game seems to have come upon us at a rapid rate of knots. It seems like only yesterday that we were down in Southampton, the rain coming down in buckets, talk of league defeats by the narrowest of margins and people's individual moments of mupperty ringing in our ears. I almost fell off my seat when the announcement of forthcoming net sessions was announced. “But it’s still dark at 5pm and the Corona doesn’t taste right yet. It can’t be cricket time already.” Was my retort. In the preceding week the highs and lows of selection began to become apparent though despite having 30 odd players MIA we managed to select 3 sides for our first warm up game. (Well done lads).
The ground was a pleasant backwater public park beside Ham House for this 40 over a side encounter, where the trimmed out field was married up nicely with a nice flat but very green batting road. Monkey Boy and our SA overseas player began eyeing up the short boundary and I went off to win the toss, which I subsequently won and elected to bat.
We got off to a flying start as Forrest (SA) and Tom B-W (both hockey recruits for 08) set a ferocious pace of 10 an over until Forry fell LBW, (triggered by Kirky- sorry) for 18 to be replaced by Monkey who did what Monkey and kept the pace up nicely. At 100 odd of 10 over’s Jimmy C at square leg shouted “Is it 40 over’s each?” and our entire team grinned and nodded.
Tom fell having provided the stability for the big hitters to bring Doddy to the crease who started well and played with good composure. Monkey then fell going for 1 smash too many and brought Jimmy C to the crease with the words “Slow Down, Play yourself in and you have 28 over’s still to bat”. Doddy and Jimmy put on an excellent, composed partnership of 80 odd runs with both looking like they had been netting for months. 5 to go and Doddy was squared up in front with the ball staying low and LBW was correctly asked for and awarded to bring your scribe and skipper to the crease. A Flurry of quick singles and doubles ensued to see Jimmy C to his maiden Wick 50 before falling for 55 in the penultimate over. I managed to pick out the smallest player on their team to hit over his head for a big 6 over mid off, as part of a quick fire 16 and Harry smashed a nice 4 off his second ball before running himself out. 215-5 off 40 over’s… first game of the season… That’ll do nicely.
Teas were an interesting mix of biscuits and crisps out of the packet with a melee of home made sarnies. Slightly larger than we are accustomed to meant less gluttony all round but a nice BLT made up for it. Rating 5.
Our fielding was a little on the rusty side as you would expect and we were thankful for a slow outfield for once. That said, Kirky produced a lovely economical spell and was unlucky not to be rewarded with a wicket. Likewise Robbo produced the goods after an initial wobble and was equally as miserly on the runs. The oppo scored at about 5 an over and apart from punishing our bad stuff seemed to offer little in scoring shots. New recruit Nick Parkes came onto replace Tommy for a full 8 overs and was rewarded with a good 4-for and bowled a nice line and length. He was ably assisted by Jimmy c who kept the runs down and had their high scoring number 2 dropped twice before Tom B-W taking over from Nick at the tennis court end bowled him as part of his own 4 wicket haul. Dave Ashmore had little chance to shine but did get to briefly turn his arm over in the cause. All in all an encouraging start to the new league campaign with some excellent individual performances. Fielding and bowling practice all round and some consistency throughout the club and this will be a great season.
P.S Corona just tastes better at the wick after a Wickwash!
P.P.S Here's a cavalier as driven in Cheam
Hampton Wick Royal Cricket Club * 1863 - 2013 * 150 Glorious Seasons
Monday, 28 April 2008
Match Report - 3rd xi vs Cheam Cavaliers - by Lloydy
It’s good to be back…
The first pre season game seems to have come upon us at a rapid rate of knots. It seems like only yesterday that we were down in Southampton, the rain coming down in buckets, talk of league defeats by the narrowest of margins and people's individual moments of mupperty ringing in our ears. I almost fell off my seat when the announcement of forthcoming net sessions was announced. “But it’s still dark at 5pm and the Corona doesn’t taste right yet. It can’t be cricket time already.” Was my retort. In the preceding week the highs and lows of selection began to become apparent though despite having 30 odd players MIA we managed to select 3 sides for our first warm up game. (Well done lads).
The ground was a pleasant backwater public park beside Ham House for this 40 over a side encounter, where the trimmed out field was married up nicely with a nice flat but very green batting road. Monkey Boy and our SA overseas player began eyeing up the short boundary and I went off to win the toss, which I subsequently won and elected to bat.
We got off to a flying start as Forrest (SA) and Tom B-W (both hockey recruits for 08) set a ferocious pace of 10 an over until Forry fell LBW, (triggered by Kirky- sorry) for 18 to be replaced by Monkey who did what Monkey and kept the pace up nicely. At 100 odd of 10 over’s Jimmy C at square leg shouted “Is it 40 over’s each?” and our entire team grinned and nodded.
Tom fell having provided the stability for the big hitters to bring Doddy to the crease who started well and played with good composure. Monkey then fell going for 1 smash too many and brought Jimmy C to the crease with the words “Slow Down, Play yourself in and you have 28 over’s still to bat”. Doddy and Jimmy put on an excellent, composed partnership of 80 odd runs with both looking like they had been netting for months. 5 to go and Doddy was squared up in front with the ball staying low and LBW was correctly asked for and awarded to bring your scribe and skipper to the crease. A Flurry of quick singles and doubles ensued to see Jimmy C to his maiden Wick 50 before falling for 55 in the penultimate over. I managed to pick out the smallest player on their team to hit over his head for a big 6 over mid off, as part of a quick fire 16 and Harry smashed a nice 4 off his second ball before running himself out. 215-5 off 40 over’s… first game of the season… That’ll do nicely.
Teas were an interesting mix of biscuits and crisps out of the packet with a melee of home made sarnies. Slightly larger than we are accustomed to meant less gluttony all round but a nice BLT made up for it. Rating 5.
Our fielding was a little on the rusty side as you would expect and we were thankful for a slow outfield for once. That said, Kirky produced a lovely economical spell and was unlucky not to be rewarded with a wicket. Likewise Robbo produced the goods after an initial wobble and was equally as miserly on the runs. The oppo scored at about 5 an over and apart from punishing our bad stuff seemed to offer little in scoring shots. New recruit Nick Parkes came onto replace Tommy for a full 8 overs and was rewarded with a good 4-for and bowled a nice line and length. He was ably assisted by Jimmy c who kept the runs down and had their high scoring number 2 dropped twice before Tom B-W taking over from Nick at the tennis court end bowled him as part of his own 4 wicket haul. Dave Ashmore had little chance to shine but did get to briefly turn his arm over in the cause. All in all an encouraging start to the new league campaign with some excellent individual performances. Fielding and bowling practice all round and some consistency throughout the club and this will be a great season.
P.S Corona just tastes better at the wick after a Wickwash!
P.P.S Here's a cavalier as driven in Cheam
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10 an over. ats
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