This Saturday Park Hill Cricket Club played away against a Cobham Avorians 3rd XI side and continued our rich vein of form with another resounding win.
After losing the toss, we were put into bat on a rock solid pancake of a wicket on a scorching day. The decision somewhat reminiscent of Nasser Hussain’s decision for England in the opening ashes test down under a few years back…..
Whilst our opening pair of andy C and Prem were not quite Hayden and Langer, they did do enough to give us a great start to the game, putting on 50 for the first wicket. Prem’s fluent stroke play guided him to a very well made 43 however the loss of three quick wickets led us to a position where we needed to bat properly. Enter Williams A to the fold. A man so out of form he didn’t know what was going on. Rumours were that he couldn’t even run a bath….however this day was the day that this changed. With some brilliant stroke play and destroying of shocking bowling, Adam brutalised his way to a very fast 56 before dishing up a dolly. Further knocks of 38 from me and a number of 15’s from Woodcock, Major and Andy C took us to 230-6 from 35 overs.
Following our rather over priced tea, Lawny and Symo took the “new” ball for the Hill. Both lashed the ball down with exceptionally rapid (steady) pace and managed a break through early on. Newcomer Ben taking a simple catch off of Lawnmans bowling. A partnership of around fifty took them to a solid start, raising a few eyebrows and creating a few sweaty foreheads. This was until Symo made their teenage opener leave the square in tears following a beaut of a Yorker and then to cap it all off decided to launch a run out attempt at the other batsman only to hit him square in the back of the head with the ball! Thankfully he had a helmet on!
At about 60-2, we turned to the spin twins, Ransom E and Woodcock. The spin off would prove a battle of the ages. A slightly paunchy Ransom, reminiscent of a young Shane Warne (pre diet controlling drug test), ripped it a mile and after tossing up a few pancakes early on, he soon found his line and length. At the other end, Adam Woodcock, resembling a slightly thinner version of Ajantha Mendis/Anil Kumble, began to rip the ball like Major wearing an extra small T-shirt. His first few deliveries, bar the triple bouncer, turned an absolute mile. The spinning war ended up 3-2 to Woodcock following on from a brilliant set of spells from both bowlers and given Major showing that he can keep well, I think it wont be the last that we see of these two bowling in tandem.
Closing in on the end of the game, post fielding acrobatics from Woodcock, taking a stunning rebounded catch, he capped his performance with a simple take off of the bowling of newcomer Ben.
The catch completed a top win, with the Hill winning by circa 150 runs….
Another positive being that they have asked for a Sunday game next year too!
Nick
Park Hill Cricket Club 