After last week’s availability crisis, a relatively straightforward pathway to 11 players made for a migraine free build up. Headaches of a different sort were served up by the plethora of options with bat and ball and the prospect of keeping all egos suitably massaged; that’s why the captain earns the big bucks! After winning the toss, Chipperton elected to field – here’s to hoping it didn’t yield another 330 plus score!
Brockham Green struggled to build momentum from the outset. An early wicket from Jones inside the opening over continued the parallel from the previous weekend. In fending off a vicious delivery, the batsman patted the ball up for Rolfe to claim a simple catch. Chipperton replaced Subramanium – who toiled away gamely up the slope and in the heat – and he reduced the hosts to 19 for 2 after trapping the remaining opener LBW. Bowling in tandem with Ransom, who also picked up a solitary wicket, the pair really stifled the run rate and arguably deserved a bit more fortune.
The defining spell of the innings came from Smith, as the visitors looked to accelerate and pose a total of sorts. Smith’s first victim deflected the ball to Jeavons at slip, before he claimed a second victim after holding a looping catch from his own bowling. Having let the previous ball squirm through his ‘long barrier’, a sheepish Jones looked relieved to have held on to a catch at mid off shortly afterwards! His fourth wicket was emphatic enough as another batsman got in and swiftly departed without overly troubling the scorer. His fifth wicket was saved for the final delivery of his spell, as Chipperton made up the ground from long-on to hold a sprawling grab.
Bawn bowled a controlled spell and claimed a deserved scalp in the penultimate over, with the batsman picking out the captain at mid-off. Jones closed out the final over of the innings with some gentle spin to a debuting youngster, and Chipperton gladly fulfilled the role of pantomime villain by holding a catch at gully to prematurely end the 11 year old’s first taste of adult cricket.
After nearly 40 overs in the uncharacteristically hot May weather, Hill’s batsmen helped themselves to a splendid tea that featured a selection of homemade cakes and ‘DIY’ French baguette station. Jeavons – perhaps dreaming of a second slice of carrot cake – departed early on in the chase to leave Foong and Goldsbrough with the job of steering the chase.
Goldsbrough looked in good touch in the early 20s and made use of Ransom’s bat, but departed after being caught in the ring. Foong had also made a promising start and looked untroubled until he slapped a rank long hop down the throat of the man patrolling the long off boundary to leave Hill 60-3 off 13. From that point onwards, Chipperton and Ransom played with fluency and authority. Their partnership grew steadily, absorbing the early pressure before accelerating with confidence. Ransom’s unbeaten 53 was the standout innings of the match, full of controlled strokeplay, whilst he was ably supported by Chipperton’s unbeaten 35. The pair knocked off the 80 runs in 12 overs, sealing a comfortable and emphatic victory with 18 overs to spare. The result reflected a complete performance: incisive bowling, sharp fielding, and a composed, efficient chase. In putting down a sharp chance at first slip, Ransom was guilty of the only drop of the first innings, which was testament to how well the Hill fielders did in challenging conditions.
Player of the match – Sponsored by Nicholls Residential = Barry Smith
Park Hill Cricket Club 