The Capel openers settled into an early rhythm and challenged the outside edges of both batsmen. Chances went down at gully as the bowlers continued to nibble away outside off-stump and offer up little in the way of loose deliveries. Martinez enjoyed the lion’s share of the strike and helped Hill tick along at 6 an over with imperious drives down the ground. Meanwhile, the captain rotated the strike and mainly dealt in singles, happy to luxuriate in extravagant strokes deployed by his partner. A fleeting over from the first change bowler (16 runs) helped Martinez bring up a swift 50 and put Hill in a commanding position at the 15 over mark.
After some mild ribbing from the onlooking batting line up and virtual sledging from Rolfe Snr, Chipperton played the Roman fool and fell upon his sword (or bat) the very next ball following the drinks break, squirting the ball to point. Mackay came to the crease with Hill well-positioned to kick on at 81-1. The new pairing looked to force the opposition to spread the field, before rotating the strike and finding the boundary at regular intervals. Martinesz continued in his role as the aggressor until he started to flag in the balmy conditions – with a succession of twos beginning to take their toll! In looking to prevent the necessity of running, he eventually fell for a stylish 88.
Ransom joined Mackay in the middle and the latter soon passed 50 at better than a run-a-ball. The pair continued to manipulate the field and find the rope in equal measure until Ransom was bowled for a 23 from 25. ‘Boom boom Mackay’ lived up his billing and took a shining to the new spinner. After launching successive sixes to cow and long on respectively, he proudly declared that he would “bat sensibly and cash an easy 100.” Right on cue, the voice in his head convinced him to dance down the track and glide past a wide delivery, falling for 84 from 62. Nevertheless, at 232-4, much of the damage had been done. Srivastava came and went in the unfortunate position of being denied the luxury of time, leaving it to Stupples and Rolfe to close out the innings on Hill’s largest total of the season to date – 253-5.
Both sides’ were well-sated at tea as ‘Tea Wars’ between the Jones and Radcox clan; the enticing cornucopia proving the maxim that competition breeds excellence. Both providers deserve credit as not a leftover noodle has been in sight to date this season! Exempt from washing up duties, Jones Jnr bowled the first over and didn’t take long to bowl a beamer and refuse to apologise…the follies of youth! The surviving batsman used this as fuel for his stoic innings (which scored over half of Capel’s runs and lasted 30 overs). Luckily for Hill, the wily Smith operated at the other end to pose a different challenge. He drew first blood as Martinez took the first of two catches to dismiss the other opener.
Ransom replaced Jones as Hill deployed spin at both ends with the required rate rising steeply. Despite troubling the batsmen, he was unable to replicate last week’s heroics. Chipperton replaced Smith following the conclusion of the latter’s spell. The two combined shortly after as Smith took a sprawling catch at short fine leg, reducing the visitors to 65-2 after a resolute start to the chase. Rolfe claimed a catch at point to help Hill to a third wickets and strengthen their grip on the innings.
Jacobs replaced Ransom and immediately found his groove; he helped himself to 3 wickets during a tidy spell and all three victims ended up being comprehensively bowled! Chipperton ended the resistance of the Capel opener – who made 69 as one of only two players to make double figures – before picking up another wicket thanks to assured catches at cow (Martinesz) and slip (Rolfe). Having dismissed the key man, a young Capel side capitulated and lost their final 5 wickets for 12 runs. An added bonus was provided as Gorman picked up his first and second league scalps to help Hill seal an emphatic victory, although Capel were certainly game competitors and made them work for victory.
Player of the match – Sponsored by Nicholls Residential = Alywn Martinez
Park Hill Cricket Club 