Four Wickets for Charlie Leaves Everyone Smiling (South Woodford 22/8/04)
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I lost the toss, and we were invited to bat on a pitch which was very different from that of the week before. The rain during the week had made it slow with variable bounce, and although the ball was swinging their opening bowlers were wayward and we never scored at a fast enough rate. Rob A was promoted to open with Harvey and was out to a shot he will want to forget, other than to remember never to play it again! None of our big guns fired and it was left to Tim H to anchor the innings with a patient and well-deserved half century. Harvey went in the mid twenties and James stuck around supporting Tim for a while before he and Dom both fell cheaply. Nick played a responsible and at times fiery knock and he and Tim held the innings together with Nick finishing on 55 not out. The pace of the innings meant I had to bat through to 5.00 pm, and we finished on 197 for 9 off 54 overs.
Dom and Owen opened the bowling and I was wary of making sure I kept the opposition in the chase as, although their openers looked comfortable, they were not scoring many runs. Owen bowled 5 overs for only 8 runs! Owen was replaced by Hannah and Dom by Nick who finally achieved the breakthrough with a stumping by James. Hannah bowled 3 overs and was replaced by Charlie leaving the new spin twins leading the attack. Charlie bowled an excellent spell, deservedly taking a wicket - another stumping by James! They reached the last 20 overs needing 6 an over, but still with 8 wickets in hand. By this time the right-hander really had his eye in and Charlie had to be replaced after an expensive over. Nick's last over also proved costly and we needed to stem the flow of runs and take a couple of quick wickets in the fading light. Rob A replaced Charlie and Dom was brought back for Nick. We had a chance to dismiss the slogger when he mistimed one and there was a very poor misunderstanding between myself and Tim, for which I take full responsibility, as the ball fell harmlessly to earth between us - much to Rob's displeasure. The wicket just would not come until it was too late and as the fielding disintegrated they hit the winning runs with 3 overs or so to spare.
I would like to thank James for taking the gloves and doing a top job, it is never easy for anyone to keep to the dominatrix especially when very aggressive and in very poor light.
There was a clear run out that was not given early on and a run out missed when the ball went to the wrong end and James missed a difficult hat-trick stumping chance off Nick, if a couple of things had gone our way it could have been very different as I don't think they had that much batting to come and it would have been difficult for any new batsman coming in against Dom in that light, we might even have won. On such small margins can matches be won or lost.
We can bat and field a lot better, and there are many lessons to be learned from yesterday for future games particularly for the skipper!
Sincerely, Artie Fufkin.
Match report by Linda Wiskin...
Sorry about the delay! Whatever came over me: offering to do the Frenford match report? Brad did look dubious...perhaps he thinks I can't describe the field positions and perhaps he is right!!
Frenford put out their normal hot side and we were put into field in the midday heat. Suffice to say it was a long hot afternoon with Rallum leading the attack backed by Owen, Brad and Olly, who showed some interesting effects of the sun. Can't remember much else except I had a chat with Mark on the boundary, nice to see him back at last. Hannah did a good turn bowling and one of the most exciting moments was when Gra took a one handed catch from her bowling giving her a well deserved wicket. Good attempts from the next generation in fielding accuracy. It was good to see the addition of Luke Sutton, who unfortunately did not get much of a game this time, but I certainly hope we'll see him again.
It was remarkable that we achieved over 100 after tea. They looked very nippy and accurate, ( You notice I didn't say much about our bowling, fielding etc.) Our openers Mark and Rob, hit out when they could, Graham looked like he might still be able to beef it, but all went for a handful of runs.
Cometh the hour cometh the man! Phil Bannocks decided he was the man to turn the fortunes of the ailing Chigwell. Well done Phil, top scorer on 27, always a highly underrated batsman in my opinion and much improved from the Chris Barr days!!
Owen was also remarkable, mainly for his staying ability: his innings had an N.Allum 'of old' quality. Finally as Owen supported the 12 year olds...the ring moved in Hannah hit a couple of spectacular 4's, and Tom overcame his drastic groin strain( I'm cynical and I'm his mother!) to put in 7 not out. Never underestimate the kids.
Well, Frenford, despite retiring batsman who reached a ton, seemed to appreciate that we'd tried to give them a decent game with possibly the weakest side of the season. So the feeling was good. Well done Brad for the effort and enthusiasm holding it all together. Sorry guys for the lack of technical detail.
It is now too late for me to book a bouncy castle for Bank Holiday Monday, so I'll assume the sub committee has every thing sorted. (is this relevant?! - Ed.) Good luck for the rest of the season and next time Brad says do I want anything for scoring, somebody remind me my husband is unemployed and the answer is not 'Not interested...'.
This alternative entertainment for the ten players was only made possible by the generosity of spirit of Steve Meggs and Kate Brown who umpired and scored respectively. It was good to know that in a dispiriting situation such as we found ourselves everyone pulled together and made something of the day.
Before condemning the Librarians we need to get to the bottom of what presumably is a frightful mix up. I can't believe that they wouldn't have let us know they weren't coming if they had the fixture down correctly. Someone will have to look into it, possibly Nick on his return from foreign climes.
Better luck over the next couple of weeks guys, I'm off on my hols.