defeated
Hampton Wick 188 all out. Joe Hirsh 46.
I start this match report off by saying we didn't have a ground as of 12.30pm on Friday. We received an email at 5.40 am on Friday morning explaining that the ground Old Tiffs had secured had been double-booked. The thought that we would have the third match of this season called off, almost resulted in a fist being put through the computer screen in front of me.
A ground was found in Woking at the 11th hour. All i'll say on the matter is that the league have been informed. Thank you to Dominic Lown, our ever-present fixtures secretary, club secretary Nick Clark and to all players for changing travel arrangements at the 11th hour. Well handled and well played.
The match.
Losing the toss again, Hampton Wick were handed the new ball (allegedly) and set about the task of dismantling Old Tiffs. If you needed any proof that this would be a lively encounter, the opening bat decided to charge Tommy D for the first ball. That wasn't the end of it. A few balls later Tommy bowled a high full toss which the batsman splayed at. The ball went flying down to fine leg to be caught by Eddie Charlton. While many would have thought it would be called a no-ball at the moment it reached the batsman, it did not. It did a few seconds later though, after the ball had been caught. Cue bedlam and remonstrating from both teams. While clearly the ball was high, the umpire did not signal a no-ball. The wicket did not stand, but at the request of Jimmy C, the square leg umpire was replaced.
The boys didn't let this get to them, to their credit. Tommy D and Eddie Charlton bowled magnificently, removing both openers in quick succession. Eddie's swing was a real handful for the batsmen, and Tommy's line and length produced some absolute jaffers. 2/19. One further wicket from Donnelly, a caught and bowled by Jimmy C, and another wicket from new boy Ali Salim put Tiffs on 5 for 53 at drinks. Surely The Wick would turn the screws and bowl them out quickly.
It didn't happen. Far from it. Batsmen 6,8,9 then took the game away from us. A mixture of rank full tosses, long hops, and all round ordinary fielding handed the match to Old Tiffs. Yes, Tiffs threw the bat and managed to find the gaps, but the bowling was ordinary to say the least. On what many Englishmen would consider a "scorcher" (read: sunny day, mild), the fitness of some of the boys was found wanting, and tired bowling and fielding resulted. Tiffs had reached 227/9 after 50.5 overs (allegedly).
Chasing the score was going to be a challenge, but two wiley pairs of soft hands began promisingly. Ewan and Risman both got terrific starts, making 20 runs each, before being caught. After Nathan Singh went out for four runs, Joe Hirsch and Phil Miles got going. Hirschy looks a far cry from the uncertain batsman he was a few years back, and at 17 years old is now looking like a terrific batsman with great awareness and ball striking ability. Supported by an improving Phil Miles, the guys took the Wick to drinks with less than a run a ball needed to secure an unlikely victory. 80-odd for 3.
Hirschy went on to make a gritty 46 runs, before being caught at short mid-on, while Phil got one that sat up on him before being caught behind. Our promising start had taken a hit. New boy Ali Salim, began to throw the bat a bit and hit a few decent shots, before having to retire hurt after twisting his knee. And with Donnelly out cheaply a few overs later, Sam Kemp and the skipper came to the crease. 6/141.
Kempy then went bish bosh bash and made 20 runs quickly to leave us needing around 60 runs from the last 9 overs. However, after Sam was bowled after trying to play a fuller delivery, the Wick tried to hold out for the losing draw. Adam Selves and Eddie Charlton couldn't survive the last 8 overs, and the Wick ended falling 39 runs short.
After such a promosing start to the match, it was a gutting way to end it and one looking back on we should have won. Tiffs shouldn't have gotten anywhere near that total, and a more decisive and hard-nosed Wick would have put them to the sword on another day, but we move forward to next week.
MOM - A toss up between Eddie Charlton and Hirshy. Two former colts who continue to impress, and will surely be giving Fudgy selection issues on a tuesday night. FACT.
Wickman Junior
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