HWRCC 3rd XI vs WEST END ESHER

Clinical 3rd XI defeat West End Esher as AJ proves his quality

West End Esher - 144 all out of 48.2 overs

lost to

Hampton Wick - 145 for 2 off 26.2 overs

On a muggy and warm afternoon on the hallowed turf of Kingsfield, the 3rd XI took on a West End Esher side that some commentators had described earlier in the week as "doin' a bit" (don't ask me who they were....but i heard wispers on the grapvine). The boys were looking for a second successive win on the bounce in a final attempt to make a charge for promotion.

Making his debut as captain for a league match, Skipper Jimmy C lost the toss and was forced to bowl on the driest Kingsfield track of the season. The pace and bounce on the wicket were something else, and as Lownsy (a hung over Lownsy as well) and Johnny Hill starting ripping into the openers, it was clear that this pitch would do a bit for the bowlers.

Despite a fantastic opening spell from both bowlers, the boys couldn't get a break through. The batsmen played and missed at everything and edged everything over slips. The game of hit and miss actually got to the point whereby Jimmy C had only one fielder on the legside, 4 slips and a gully and a fly slip to cater for this. It still didn't work and somehow West End managed to reach 50 for none of 20 odd overs.

In a bid to shake things up a bit, Jimmy C brought himself and tun up into the attack. While they perhaps didn't bowl as well as the aforementioned pair, they managed to take 6 wickets between them for less than 30 runs to put the home side on the front foot. Jimmy, whose shouts of "come on" were apparently audible from the 1st team across the wall, took 3 for 8 (including a great caught and bowled). Tun Up, on the other hand, also took a cracking catch off his own bowling to get figures of 3 for 20 odd.

Despite the wickets, West End had managed to edge over 100 runs and, with a lack of bowling options, Hilly and Lownsy were brought back into the attack. Lowns had his best spell of bowling all season i reckon, and deservedly took two wickets after a marathon 16-over spell. Hilly, who bowled 17 overs, couldn't manage to get a breakthrough however, so it was time to throw the dice to get the tailenders out.

Enter AJ.

After advice from Clowns, Jimmy C threw AJ the ball. Bowling lively in-swingers, AJ picked up 2 for 8 to end West End's innings! It was apparently his first ever league wickets and thoroughly well deserved (despite ribbing from other players at the club).

Tea - ats. (Allegedly DBW was furious with Jimmy C for not taking the time to leave the outfield 4 overs before West End's innings had finished, because he needed to know when to put the potatoes in the oven for lunch. Jimmy C extends his apologies Dave....but there was a game of cricket on)

Chasing 145 for a win, the Wick never looked troubled. AJ, who opened the batting with Risso, added a huge amount of quality to the batting. In previous run chases, the 3rd XI have often been found wanting as the opening 5 or 6 often seem to lose their heads. AJ, on the other hand, never looked like getting out. Blocking the good balls and hitting the bad balls, he made a massive 85 + not out to see the boys cruise to victory in just 26 overs. Ably supported by Nathan and James MJ, who chipped in with the runs, it was game over and into the bar.

So, a good team performance all around and the 3's second win on the bounce. Hopefully this will continue as Lloydy comes back into the team and the boys make a final charge for promotion.

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WICKMAN JUNIOR