The second promised match report

The by now traditional match against Bill Owen’s XI is one of the highlights of the season and so of course getting a side out is never a difficulty, or so one would think. With various pathetic excuses being offered on Monday there were only 2 names on the team sheet but thanks to some vigorous arm twisting by those two come Friday the team sheet was full with no small thanks to the ringer community (although on the basis that this is technically Owen Williams’s XI as opposed to CW it could be argued they are not ringers).

In light of the awful weather that has beset Bristol these last few days it appeared for some time that worrying about the lack of a team was rather pointless but to everyone’s relief the weather cleared enough for the match to go ahead (although with a very damp pitch and verdant outfield).

Williams lost yet another toss and with Bill deciding to have a bat and with the Lathams just haring into view in their Elise the team took the field.
Burton opened the bowling down the hill and opened with some very tight stuff swinging into the right handed batsmen whilst from the other end Ringer A (Latham R) opened up the hill and also kept matters very tight. Burton picked up their opener with a lovely swinging delivery that clipped the batsman’s leg stump when he stepped too far across but apart from that despite their effort the rewards were thin.

However so was the run rate and after 10 overs only 28 runs had been scored (Burton going for 5 in his 4 overs and Ringer A going for 12 in his 6 overs). Thanks to the pressure some brave running led to a run out thanks to Earl, Ringer B (Burgess) and Ringer C (Murray) who kept their nerve to tack the dangerous wicket of Sara who has punished this team before with his batting.

Ringer C replaced Burton down the hill and generated some fearsome pace (much like the pace he produced in the dark when playing for King Sturge) and also kept it tight whilst Ringer D (Latham C) followed his brother up the hill and also bowled a tidy(ish) line. At drinks the score was 64 for 2 (Ringer C having conceded only 21 in 6 overs and Ringer D 16 in 4 overs).

After drinks McEvoy took over down the hill and Earl started twirling it coming up the hill and both maintained the very tight stuff. The break as usual brought wickets and two fell quickly with McEvoy sneaking one through for a bowled and Earl causing enough confusion to generate another run out.

Ringer E (Denton) was given an over and quickly pulled off and Ringer C and Ringer D bowled the closing overs without getting too badly carted and Ringer C picked up a wicked with Williams hanging onto one behind the sticks, a first time for everything we suppose.

A final total of 166 for 6 was disappointingly high in light of the start but likely to be gettable.

Williams was too knackered after ‘keeping to open and so a very unusual opening partnership of Ringer F (Garbett) and Ringer B. Both opening bowlers got good starts with a maiden apiece before Ringer B clipped the ball down midwicket’s throat. Williams decided he was recovered enough to have a bat and displayed exactly how not to bat with some utter garbage shot selection before, to the relief of all, falling bowled to a very ugly hoik across the line and with Ringer E falling first ball hearts were very much in mouths when Earl faced a good LBW shout facing his first ball.

Ringer F got a little bit of luck before finally putting a top edge down long leg’s throat. Meanwhile Earl was looking to open the taps and smashed a couple of deliveries far and long into the crops growing beyond the boundary ropes before falling rather tamely chipping a return catch.

Ringer C settled in whilst wicket clattered with Ringer D (who got a shocking LBW decision) and McEvoy both falling cheaply. With the score then 74 for 7 in the 19th over the writing appeared on the wall and another embarrassing defeat appeared on the cards. Fortunately Ringer C and Ringer A dug in and after a few overs of getting used to the ball started to open up the taps. Ringer A soon then found his range and smashed three 6s far into the crops before getting a ball that popped on him and dropping it down mid-on’s throat.

With another 35 to go and 8 wickets down the pressure was really on Ringer C and Burton to keep things together. Ringer C decided to get amongst it and smashed four 6s (3 in a row to take him to his fifty) to take the run rate out of the equation and the two of them crept the score up to a fine victory by two wickets (Burton scoring the winning runs) with 5 overs to spare.

A fine game of cricket despite the freezing temperatures and the result now levels the score in the Owen Williams -v- Bill Owen challenge to 2 a piece.

Man of the match is very difficult decision this match, realistically the best performances came from the Ringers (C and A in particular) but Burton with some fine figures and the winning runs gets the nod this week.