lost to Old Emanual
146-7 - Ewan 4 for 31 off 11 overs.
They say a week is a long time in cricket circles (they don't really - i've never ACTUALLY heard anyone say that...but it is certainly something someone might say if prompted). This week has been no exception. Availability was so GOOD for the match against Oxted and Limpsfield that even the skipper couldn't get a match. However, for this week's match against Old Emanual, it was uncertain whether the 3s would even get a side out on the field, let alone 11 players.
After some 11th hour phone calls, 11 players were sourced for this game against league leaders old emanuel. A few colts were drafted in and golfing great Adam Crane even managed to sneak into the side. It was a mismash team if ever this writer had seen one, but could they pull off a surprise victory? No, as it happens, they couldn't....
After winning his first toss of the season, Skipper Jimmy C opted to bat on a relatively slow and flat deck. Conditions were muggy, but with just 10 players at the ground at this point, the intention was to bat Old Emmanuel out of the game. This strategy appeared to be working well when Risso and Dick started the innings. The Wick's most charismatic men got off to a fantastic start. Risman and Ewan took their openers by storm, flashing some beautiful off-side cuts and drives, taking the Wick to 70-odd for no loss after 23 overs. The perfect platform for Nathan, Crane and Kemp to build on for a strong score. 200+ was looking a very real possibility.
The opening partnership was soon brought to an end after Adam Selves decided he'd seen enough of Rizzo at the crease. Raising his finger for LBW for one that Risso came well forward to, did little to endear himself to Old Soft Hands, who seemed set for a big innings. Jimmy C will need to put more thought into who does the umpiring in future perhaps.
However, with Nathan and Dick now at the crease, the scoreboard ticked over nicely. At 90-odd for 1, a tiring Ewan managed to cut one to the fielder at point, who took a splendid catch. 90-2. Bilal "billy boy" and colt Robbie Oliver then fell in quick succession and suddenly the 200+ figure seemed to be a little far fetched. 110-4.
Jimmy C and Nathan started to get the runs going again, until Nathan splayed at a wide one he sould have left well alone. His score of 36 runs could so easily have been 80-odd, but again a rash shot when it wasn't needed got the better of him. This commentator feels that Nathan is one innings away from becoming a really good batsman again, but just needs that little bit of temperament when out in the middle.
Nathan's dismissal then brought about a ridiculous batting collapse. Kemp and Crane both were dismissed after the bowler exploited a damp patch on the wicket, forcing the ball to keep low, knocking the stumps over. While the skipper try to stay in a bat the overs out and creep up to a defendable score, he ran out of partners as Selves, Smith and Smith were all dismissed cheaply. 145 all out was such a disappointing score given that the 3s were 90-odd for 1.
145 runs would surely never be enough on such a pitch to defend, and when Emanuel had reached 60-odd for 1 after 20 overs, it seemed a formality that they would go on to win easily. To the Wick's credit, this did not happen. Far from it. After Graham (i need to be wrapped in cotton wool) smith went off the field with a bad back, Dick Ewan grabbed the ball. His first delivery produced a wicket. Caught and bowled. 3-70.
With Jimmy at the other end keeping the runs to a minimum, Dick set about destroying the oppo. Old Emmanual's batsmen appeared to be very unsure with the bat, and as Dick applied the verbal pressure on them, they lost another 4 wickets. Old Emmanual now seemed set to lose the match at 100-7. Surely it would be a formality.
The game possibly turned on one umpiring decision. An appeal for LBW was turned down after the batsman offered no shot to Ewan's bowling, striking him on the pad in front of off stump. To say that Dick couldn't believe the decision was an understatement...and he wasn't best pleased. Dick's outbursts have been great to watch over the last few years, and this was no exception. It's why he's so loved in the team. FACT.
Sadly, despite Ewan's heroics, Old Emmanual's skipper batted with too much sensibility from then on in. With 30-odd not out, he helped squeeze them over the line to take the points in the end. It was a disappointing end to the match, after coming back to positively into the game.
Looking back, an extra 50-odd runs from the Wick's innings should have been enough to win the match, but the batting collapse cost the match. Like the game against Old Tiffs, the 3s have been in very strong positions and have let these opportunities slide again to lose from the jaws of victory. For a side that is more than good enough for promotion, this will have to be rectified if there is to be any change of fortune, but the belief remains.
Wickman Junior
1 comment:
Never give your own team out LBW!! Especially not Ol'Soft Hands...
A Nelson as a fine perhaps?
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