Just once we dream of reporting on a match where the report does not start “After the usual grief putting together a side”; obviously this is not to be the report that fulfils that particular ambition.
Another fantastic evening was however the reward for those who could be bothered to turn out against the might of King Sturge whom by reputation could put out a fine side (including two lads with a striking resemblance to lads who had turned out for CW in previous weeks – sadly the concept of being cup tied does not apply).
Earl insisted on taking the toss and promptly lost and King Sturge decided to have a bat; great, fielding with the sun in our eyes and batting in the dark was the cry.
Burton and Ringer A opened the bowling (Burton remarkably asking to bowl up the hill) and whilst they sent down some fine deliveries (well Burton was) could not make that crucial breakthrough (mainly because Burton was swinging it too far).
Ringer A was quickly replaced by Webb (he would have opened but he did not turn up until 5 overs in). It was not an inspired bowling change. We have been accused in the past of making cheap jibes at the expense of the bowlers but we feel entitled to report without fear of such accusation that on this occasion Webb got carted.
Meanwhile Burton was getting it to hop and skip all over the place but to continuing nil effect.
Thomas (another late arrival) took over from Burton and found some similar movement and variable bounce before getting one through the defences and knocking over the stumps for the first wicket. The second followed quickly with Thomas sending down a thunderbolt that took the top edge and was caught at slip by Ringer B (via the batsman’s eye).
Thomas then snuck a third wicket with another ball snuck through the defences.
Notwithstanding this relatively good period signs were developing that the fielding was going to pot with Simmons dropping a couple and Williams catching the same disease (he ended up dropping four and missing a stumping) and the rest of the side seemed determined to concede overthrows (and the less said about Webb running away from a catch the better).
Earl replaced Webb and bowled some tidy stuff (mixed in with some rank dross) which should have brought more reward than just two wickets but Williams was having a shocker with the gloves.
Some rather frantic running and the only two decent throws of the evening picked up a couple of wickets run out (one an Earl/Williams combo the other all Webb’s own work) and finally McEvoy and Burton combined to complete the innings (with McEvoy bowling some tidy stuff and picking up a wicket).
A total of 136 was higher than it should have been but within reach.
Halden and Williams opened the batting and Halden showed his class. Williams just skied one up to mid-off. Ringer B and Halden then moved the score along nicely (and Earl who was called upon to run for Ringer B) and both reached 25 and retired. Earl hit his first ball for his customary 6, he then slowed down a little (6.1..6W) until given out LBW by Simmons much to Earl’s rather obvious disgust.
Ringer A struggled with the bat and barely troubled the scorers which gave Webb his chance to take some revenge and he promptly did (the flat 6 being a highlight) before falling in the increasing gloom to their one quick.
McEvoy nurdled (and needed a runner – Earl again) but was clearly hampered by his injury whilst Thomas got one away before falling cheaply. Burton sought a suicidal third run and was out by a distance.
Pestell (a welcome return to the team) obeyed team orders to the letter “hit out or get out” and hit out first ball and was out second whilst Simmons gave it some unexpected tap with two fine fours to open his account.
The match was finely balanced by this stage and, with the penultimate over being bowled by their one quick, 16 runs were needed for the victory. By this stage Halden was back in the fray and some fine scampering by him and Simmons saw 8 of that over leaving 8 runs needed of the last.
King Sturge and juggled their bowlers poorly and so a lad who had not bowled all evening was called upon to bowl the final over. Halden cracked the first ball for 2 (6 off 5) but fell to the next ball as he could not see it in the dark and that brought Ringer B back to the fray (6 off 4). Two singles (4 off 2) A dot ball (4 off 1). The tension was high could Ringer B add to his count of 3 boundaries? Could the bowler produce something special? Sadly for CW the answers were no and yes with just a leg bye coming and the match lost by 2 runs.
A fine match played in excellent weather and similar spirit and a heartbreaking loss.
Man of the match this week is a difficult one with some good performances from a number, Halden’s glorious batting, Thomas’s controlled bowling, Earl’s wickets and glorious 6s, Webb’s spirited response with the bat, Ringer B’s lusty blows or Williams’s fine glove work (spot the odd one out) but in the end has to go to Halden for the most sumptuous cover drive to have graced a CW game in a long time.
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