def.
Hampton Wick - 155 all out
Sting, former frontman for The Police, called to "send out an SOS to the world" in the classic number "Message in a bottle". On Saturday, the 3s pencilled in a message on the side of a cricket bat and posted it to Matty Golbourn, saying: "how can we stay in the middle as long as you? We need someone to bat all day. I hope that you get this message...." The call was made during another shambolic run chase by the 3s, when it was easier to stay in and bat, than to throw one's wicket away. Time and time again it keeps on happening. The 3s paid for this dearly against East Molesey.
On a dry and, dare one say, almost sub-continental track, the Wick were sent in to bowl. Conditions were sunny and warm, and this was always going to be a test against a "top of the table" side. Tommy D and Lowns opened the bowling. Lownsy looked to be back at his best, charging down the hill with agression and a ferocity which, hitherto, had been missing from his game. Their opening bats looked decent, but it wasn't long until lowns tempted their opener, who cracked a lovely cut shot to Joey Hirsh at point, taking a ripping catch. One down.
From the other end Tommy D was looking to build on his impressive tally of wickets this season. After fours overs of bowling though, it didn't look like it would happen for him, until a half tracker was skied by their number two and caught by Sam Kemp. 2 down. 40 odd on the board. The next two bats looked just as good if not better than the openers though, and it was another terrific catch that ended a potentially big innings. This time it was Adam Selves taking a blinder at cover. 3 down.
Jimmy C then replaced Tommy D coming up the hill, producing a wicket in his first over. 4 down for 60-odd. Paddy McMullen then replaced Lowns coming down the hill and ripped into the next batsmen, crashing a beautiful delivery into the number 5's stumps. At 5 for 80 off 20 overs, the Wick seemed to be in good shape, however the tail order batsmen one might expect to see didn't materialise, and only seemed to get better as the innings progressed. Combining this with sloppiness in the field, and it was soon 5 for 100 odd after 28 overs.
Eddie Charlton came into the attack with Adam Selves, and Eddie produced a wicket with his first ball: A horrible half-tracker which caused the batsman to sky one to square leg, where Lloydy took a terrific catch, even doffing his cap to the fans in the process. 6-down. The number 7 batsman then lifted the tempo for EM by smacking a quickfire 45 runs, as Selves and Charlon toiled with some short stuff. The partnership was broken after Paddy rejoined the attack, again swinging a ball into the batsman's stumps. Too good from Simon Anstell. 8-down for 138.
Unfortunately, the last two batsmen ended up getting away from the 3s. Some smart strokeplay combined with ordinary fielding saw East Molesy reach 197 all out off 44 overs. A disappointing end to the innings, yet on such a quick outfield, surely not an insurmountable task in 56 overs.
After some choice words at half time, Lloydy and Risman led out the batting chase. With Dick Ewan absent with injury, Lloydy has manfully stepped up to take the opener's role for the third time, but again couldn't hand around long enough to put on some runs - bowled early doors, neck and crop. The opening partnership of Risman and Ewan, usually helps to see out the first 10 overs, but it is clearly an area which needs improving as all too often the openers can't hang around long enough. Risman and then Hirshy soon followed suit, leaving the 3s exposed at 3/33 off 10 overs.
With Zohaak back in the side and Sam Kemp at his side, the 3s then looked more assured. Zo has had 6 weeks out the game, and still looks as lethal as ever, and not much brighter it has to be said. After sam was caught, Zo took as swing at a loose one and was caught at short 3rd man. 5 for 90, and needing 100 odd off 33 overs. Again, someone just needed to bat the other team into submission and bore the oppo into tiredness. Tommy D and Jimmy C hoped to do this, and while Tommy can smacka ball as good as any, he threw his wicket away after flailing at one on middle stump. Gone. Painful to watch from the non-strikers end.
Paddy then joined Jimmy who was bottom-handing every 10th ball for a single, and played some delightful shots on the leg side. But again, with over 20 overs left and no pressure on the batsman, decided to go for the swing and give his wicket away. Once Jimmy departed at the 150 run mark, the tail collapsed again, the 3s fell 40 runs short with 15 overs still to bat.
Again, such a frustrating performance from the 3s this season so far. Getting in to good positions and finding ways to get out when it is easier to stay in. A golby - someone who can defend, attack and, more importantly, bat the innings out, is desperately needed if the 3s are going to achieve this season. Even half a Golby would do in fact. Cricket is a numbers game and, at the moment, the side is a batsman or two short. The skipper will be looking to make additions to the squad in the coming weeks, and perhaps a few changes will bring better success. A few players in the squad have coasted and need to refind their form. It's now the halfway point of the season, and the side must turn it around quickly to have any chance of promotion.
Wickman Junior
No comments:
Post a Comment