This was going on down here:
A team resembling normality in personnel if not in personality met at Braywood on a day that always threatened rain which never came. Trant lost the toss, which hardly needs any comment nowadays but that’s ten in a row for the club this season. We fielded, so all’s well… Koslicki and Main opened well enough but the openers dispatched any loose balls over the fast outfield.
The first wicket fell at 58 courtesy of Main, followed by Ken beguiling their good opener to pat one to Ward at point. That was about it as highlights went as their third wicket put on 99 runs until Trant took one at deep gully from Koslicki. Eagle took a good running catch also from Koslicki whilst Baker bowled tightly at the other end to stem further runs and take two wickets but, having faced 45 overs, Braywood set 233 as a target.
The tea was gargantuan and would have covered three fixtures. Ward and Eagle opened against two spinners; Eagle was looking on form until he smacked a full toss straight into their leaping skipper’s hands at short cover for 4. Ward followed soon for 1 and Dip’s lack of recent form continued as RUASCC slumped to 37-3. Chan was unlucky to be caught and bowled for 7, and now we were 45-4!
But Carpenter was there and his trademark backfoot lifted pulls to leg were ominously building up runs. He was joined by Baker who played second fiddle for much of their 114 run partnership. Carpo was in scintillating form as he pulled and cut his way to a quick fifty and higher. Then the day took a turn for the worse as Carpo, as last week, called for a quick one and Baker selflessly ran himself out for 41.
Sam took his place and we still looked on for the win, needing a run a ball. But again a poor call ended in a needless run out, alas of Carpo on 97 (including 15 fours and one six); what an innings, it deserved a century! Sam continued to hit hard with Bruce employing his sweep but a top edge ended his innings. The win now looked unlikely especially when Ken, struggling with an injured hip, took a wander up the track thinking the keeper had missed the ball only to find he hadn’t and was run out!
Despair was replacing joy on the bench as now even the draw looked shaky, not helped as Koslicki went first ball to their skipper who had decided some pace might now be a good idea. Main and Tranter are normally a safe pair of blockers but the tragedy was completed as Bruce was bowled off his legs with two balls remaining and staff lost by 21 runs. Another day of “Ifs and Buts”, and really disappointing not to have won let alone drawn this game.
Highlight and Man of the Match: Carpo and his 97.
Team: Ward, Eagle, Carpenter, Dip (wkt), Chan, Baker, Griffiths, Main, Stewart, Koslicki, Tranter (capt)
Report Writer With Merit: Dr Eagle
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