Just a quick report from Saturdays game.
We found ourselves at home again, this time faced with the newly named Sutton Challengers (previous Bec Old Boys I believe).
I won the toss and with big Charlie in my mind saying bowl first, bowl first, I decided to bat!. Note I have now won 3 in a row!
Opening up once again was Adam and Bhups and they started solidly as usual, both looking in good form. With the score at 45 we lost our first wicket when Bhups (22) nicked one behind and ALMOST WALKED! Note almost as he started to and then realised he is Bhupesh and he don’t walk! Little did we know but this began the start of the top order getting in and then getting out. Adam for 21, me for 20 and David ‘dig in’ Stupples for 27. We all felt we left plenty of runs out there. Elliot came and went for 1 which left the ever reliable Will to once again steady the ship. Clearly Els and Will must have met at ‘steadying the ship school’ as Els has almost now officially handed over the mantle. With the score at 110 for 4 Chirag came to the crease to join Will and they started to build a steady and impressive partnership. Both ran well and hit the bad ball. Their partnership managed to creep us up to 200-6 off the 45 overs. Chirag took one for the team (pretty sure Will would have protected his fine average) and ran himself out off the last ball. Will made a well-made 40 n.o (starting to flirt with the idea of batting higher up the order) and Chirag made a solid 35.
At tea we felt 20-30 short but knowing we had a strong team we still very much fancied our chances.
We went out to defend our total on a full stomach (or at least those who got in there first did – sorry Charlie).
Charlie back in the side opened up alongside Bhups and they both bowled excellent spells and gave the batsman very little to hit. In Bhups’ second over the opener nicked a big drive and somehow I managed to hang on and the second attempt at first slip! At this point Adam and I were both trying to get out of slip! Charlie then picked up a wicket with a superb catch by Elliot as short mid-wicket. With the dark clouds gathering overhead myself and Elliot came on to bowl some quick overs to try and ensure we got 20 in to ensure there would at least be a result on the day and avoid the dramas of the previous year! I picked up a couple of wickets but not before feeding the biggest bloke in the game a couple of half trackers which he enjoyed hitting into next week. They went that far even Phil Nac piped up!! J. Els also picked up a wicket when Lush clung onto one at point. Speaking of Phil he then came on to bowl in partnership with Bav. Both bowled solid spells and picked up a couple of wickets each. Worth noting Will’s great catch in the deep in the swirling wind. Also to everyone’s surprise Bav held onto a catch (no surprise it was off his own bowling – surely some jugs in order for that). Seriously though another fine spell from Bav who is fast becoming a solid and consistent performer!
With wickets tumbling we eventually bowled them out for 109 and another victory in the bank. Our bowling and fielding certainly came good when we needed it. Catches held and consistent bowling will always win matches, especially with our consistent batting performances. Really good performance all round!
Next we travel to Kingstonian with a few regulars out so once again time to show our strength in depth !
Match scorecard can be found here http://parkhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/3024884
Cheers
Alex
Park Hill Cricket Club 