It was a toss that neither captain particularly wanted to win; it would be far easier to break the news to unruly teammates that they would need to toil in the sun if choice was removed from the matter. Having won the toss, Chipperton elected to insert the opposition with the hope of making early inroads and leaving a modest total to chase in the late afternoon sun. Time would tell if this was a good decision or not…
Jones Jnr and Subramanium were charged with delivering early breakthroughs with the new ball and bowled tidy lines that challenged both openers.
At one stage, three slips and a gully watched on agonisingly as the ball continued to beat the edge. Subramanium, in between his overs, lauded the ‘test match’ cricket on offer as the visitors seemed content merely surviving the early barrage. Jones Jnr finally had his endeavours rewarded as he nicked off one opener for a stoic 2 from 31, with Mackay snaffling the catch at first slip. Subramanium toiled away at the other end and was unfortunately not to pick up a wicket in his opening spell. The captain replaced him and Hill soon had their second wicket, as Rolfe took the catch behind the stumps and the batsman fortunately walked off having clearly punched the ball. Ransom claimed the third wicket in what would prove to be a common theme: Mackay at the heart of the action. The leggy dismissed the remaining open with another conventional dismissal in the slip cordon, as Hill maintained the aggressive field placements and continued to turn the screws.
Mackay replaced Jones Jnr after his impressive spell came to an end and the former soon reaped the rewards of the former’s efforts! Mackay dug in a short one after testing the edge and gleefully took an easy caught and bowled chance as the batsman attempted to pull the ball into the Aldi car park. His next wicket was another excellent advert for Hill’s cricket on the day: a late bit of away swing finding the edge and Chipperton taking a sharp catch to his right in the slips. His third wicket came courtesy of a looping catch to mid-wicket that was held on to expertly by Hopkins Jnr – hours of garden cricket paying dividends! Clearly a fan of the Josh Tongue ‘rabbit pie’ (or insert suitable vegan alternative) Mackay helped himself to a fourth victim by comprehensively bowling the new man. Hill’s final wicket of the afternoon came as the visitors were reduced to 8 down for 64 as Mackay took his fourth catch at point from the captain. Staring down the barrel somewhat, Horsley did manage to survive the final 10 or so overs and inch themselves to 109 in what was comfortably their largest partnership of the day.
Afternoon another enjoyable spread laid on by Radcox, who split his time between the kitchen and the outfield, Hill started their run chase as the afternoon sun started to shine through the clouds. Srivastava, fresh from bullying some Sunday runs, was promoted to fill the opening berth and partner Chipperton. Much to his disgust, the captain forced him to stretch his legs and even managed to get a three out of him, much to the surprise of all involved! Srivastava took the attack to the Horsley bowlers and played some lovely drives back down the ground. Clearly exhausted by his increased workload between the wickets, he fell shy of a half-century and put his back out in the process as he looked to launch the slow bowler back over his head for a maximum, as the ball had just enough velocity to dislodge the bail.
Hopkins kept his place at three as Mackay looked to put his feet up after his bowling dominance, and possibly with one eye on the Mackay-less future on Saturdays ahead of his relocation. His hopes of watching Hill cruise to victory without his involvement in the second innings vanished as Hopkins was bowled and Hill were reduced to 78-2. Mackay strode to the crease and clearly wanted to get a move on, 17 from 10 deliveries a clear signal of intent. One of his two lusty sixes drew jubilant celebrations that left the batsmen at the crease slightly bemused, until it was established that it was his denial of the captain’s fifty that was the source of the mirth and merriment!
With 20 overs and 8 wickets in the bank, Hill had certainly cantered to victory and the only slight blemish was not securing the full 30 points for bowling out the opposition. With neither Hill nor Sutton seemingly ready to blink, it could well come down to the finest of margins at the end of the season with both sides unbeaten in their opening 7 games.
Player of the match – Sponsored by Nicholls Residential = Alex Mackay
Park Hill Cricket Club 