Hill looked to build on the early season optimism after securing two resounding victories in the first few weeks of the season. Last season they reserved two of their most ignominious outings for Tadworth; twice conspiring to steal defeat from the jaws of victory. After agonising all week on what to do, the visiting skipper duly took away the need for a decision at the toss, electing to bat despite being skittled for 50 last time out. Perhaps a Palace or City fan with one eye on the 4.30 KO? Time would tell.
After his bruising encounter running into a dual-headed cyclone last week, Jones Jnr looked far more at home trundling in down the gentle slope at Ruxley Lane and was unfortunate not to claim a victim in his opening spell – where he beat the edge countless times. At the other end Subramanium’s first ball was guided through a Hopkins sized hole at slip, with the later clearly not waking up and putting on the correct labelled socks; he later cited the Sunday timings as the cause of his tardiness (coincidently his excuse was underwhelming and he would have also missed the meet time on Sunday!) …
The bowler’s anguished cries (“get angry, Prem”) were short-lived and Hopkins’ redemption arc was complete when the pair combined shortly after in a carbon copy – this time leading to the departure of the opening batsman for a slow and lingering naught. The captain elected to take the pace off the ball and went for spin at both ends, although it was a Ransom run out that reduced the visitors to two-down after some comical calling. Chipperton’s first ball sent the new man packing and Tadworth were precariously positioned at 19-3 and going nowhere particularly quickly.
Credit where it due, Tadworth managed to rally and put together a partnership that frustrated Hill in the preceding 15 overs. The ball seemed to drop into every conceivable gap as the run rate began creeping up. The partnership edged towards the 100 mark before the breakthrough eventually came; Jones Snr was launched over his head but Chipperton held on the catch at long on.
The old adage proved true as one very much became two in quick succession as Rolfe dutifully snaffled the ball after Jones Snr drew the edge of the inbound batsman. It wasn’t long before he was in on the act once more, this time comprehensively bowling the captain. Jones Jnr held on to a catch at mid-off as Chipperton claimed what proved to be Hill’s final wicket. Hill failed to go for the throat and allowed Tadworth to post another 50 runs after passing up some chances, most notably in the form of a dropped catch from Jones Jnr, sponsored by Klarna’s 3 installments in his attempts to get down to a low catch. One bright spark came in the form of Hill’s ‘Fox in the field’ – who rummaged around and saved runs in the deep.
In what has been a pleasing feature of the season to date, Hill’s batting line up featured an embarrassment of riches and should have been well-placed to navigate a fairly modest chase. Ransom and Chipperton looked to set the tone for the innings and build pressure on the visitors. They rattled along briskly and looked relatively untroubled until Ransom was dismissed for 20 after guiding the ball to gully.
Mackay – evidently on a promise – wasted no time in taking it to the Tadworth attack and unleashed a customary flurry of boundaries on his way to a quick fifty. The two batsman entered a six hitting competition with Mackay unsurprisingly edging that contest out 3-2. Several bruising spells later, the return of the opening led to inroads being made for the visitors. Ransom’s entreaties to end the game in time to catch the second half resulted in Mackay flailing the ball into the air and into the hands of the fielder.
Hill’s middle order, fresh from a confirmed bout of pad-rash last week, were thus afforded an opportunity to grace the middle as Hill closed upon the victory target. Matthews entered the fray to the customary groans that befall left-handers up and down the country! With the bowler firmly in his rhythm, he was dismissed LBW and Srivastava strode to the middle with 30 runs required. He played the supporting role as Chipperton brought up his half-century shortly after and steered Hill across the finishing line. Another emphatic win and last season’s horror shows averted!
Player of the match – Sponsored by Nicholls Residential = Will Chipperton
Park Hill Cricket Club 