2ND XI MATCH REPORT - FARNCOMBE (AWAY)

Result: Hampton Wick Royal CC - 2nd XI win 100 overs by 112 runs

Date: Sat 24th Jul 2010 @ 13:00

Ground: Farncombe CC - Broadwater Park

Type: League : Division 5 - 2nd XI

Toss: Farncombe CC - 2nd XI won the toss and decided to bowl

Highlights: Mackie 92 Marfleet 70 Webster 4/39

"Mackies Runs leave Farncome with a sick feeling inside"

The Wick second Xi travelled to Farncombe with one of the strongest sides this correspondent has seen. With a strong batting line up and a bowling quartet boasting many a first team wicket amongst them, confidence was high. Having witnessed the home side smashing over 300 runs last season, it was assumed that the wicket would be a road. However, the Farncombe bowlers obviously knew their wicket well and bowling just short of a length, made the early going hard.

Having lost the toss and been put in, Coley and Goldy looked comfortable before both perishing trying the push the ball into the leg side, Coley bowled and Goldy caught and bowled excellently. Fudgey tried to steady the ship before also losing his wicket bowled playing a leg sided shot whilst AJ soon followed having looked ridiculously comfortable, bowled trying to play a cover drive off a yorker on middle stump!

At 40-4 it wasn’t looking great for the Wick. A stroke of luck followed for the wick when Farncombe best bowled pulled his hammy and had to be removed from the attack – still three top order scalps in six overs is a pretty good return.

Mackie and Del Boy settled for a while, playing cautiously whilst putting away the bad ball which appeared each over. Del Boy played well for his 18 before controversially being caught behind – Del maintains he didn’t hit it but there was a sound – it’s not easy. Richie and Mackie carried on the solid if unspectacular batting taking the score into three figures and with the bowlers tiring, the batsmen were now top. Richie was bowled trying to pull a ball that didn’t quite get up but all that succeeded in doing was bring Jack Marfleet to the crease.

An amazing feat of big hitting and good running saw Marfleet hit 70 runs in next to no time, and Marfleet and Mackie managed to put on 120 runs for the 7th wicket. Epic stuff and it fully demoralised the Farncombe players. Marfleet finally fell stumped and was soon followed by Goodwin, trying to work the ball to get Mackie on strike as he closed in on his maiden league hundred (well, since we joined the surrey leagues anyway!) Alas, it wasn’t to be, Mackie caught by the keeper from a skier on 92. Webbo smashed a couple of fours to take the Wick over 250 before JB was run out, despite the textbook dive.

It really was a super effort from the Wick to recover from 40-4 to post over 250 and it was plain to see at tea that Farncombe were not too confident on reaching the total.

Teas are hard to rate as this reporter had ‘an upset stomach’ so was unable to eat more that a quarter of a sandwich. However it looked very nice and had a good selection so I’ll plumb for a 7.5.

Opening up for the Wick were Webbo and Tid who both bowled with pace and accuracy. The first wicket to fall was a fantastic, one handed, caught and bowled by Webbo – so impressive that the batsmen had turned around assuming it was a four! Tid then got in on the act with a textbook fast bowlers wicket – bouncer followed by yorker, bowled, thank you very much. It seemed you couldn’t keep Tid out the game as an over later he managed to adjust his hat before firing in a 30yard direct hit as the batsmen tried a tight second run. 30 odd for 3, Farncombe were in the same boat as the Wick.

Unfortunately for Farncombe, the Wick never let their foot off the pedal. Tid snared another one, again a bouncer followed by one pitched up, LBW, perfect. Webbo got two more, JB came into the attack and took a couple both bowled and Marfleet got his first wicket of the season with Webbo showing much safer hands than last time he was on the Farncombe outfield. Number 10 and 11 showed the rest of Farncombe how to get runs – Bray was even batting on one leg! They managed to put on 60 odd to before Webbo finally ended it, bowling Wylde for 52.

A fantastic Wick performance, from a dogged batting display through to an excellent fielding display via some fiery bowling, not one chance was shelled and there wasn’t even one misfiled – and no extras either!

The win keeps the 2s right in the hunt for promotion and if we can continue to perform like this, there is every chance that we will achieve it.

BELIEVE

MOM - MARK "MELMAN" MACKIE (ABOVE)