Stonor 212-1
RUASCC 98-4
Match drawn
Such is the nature of timed cricket that this sort of match can end with neither side claiming victory. This was a match dominated by one team from the very first over right through to the last, and yet RUASCC never looked in danger of being bowled out and losing the game.
In three years RUASCC haven’t put out a full-strength side against Stonor and it didn’t look promising from the moment we arrived with only ten players. Notable absentees included Ward, Zia, Main, Jagesh, Dip and Dersh and this resulted in a depleted batting line-up, a depleted bowling line-up and a depleted umpiring line-up. It also meant Withers was promoted to open the batting, thus indirectly leading to a depleted scorers line-up.
All those who chose to miss the game would be kicking themselves if they’d known Tranter would, for the first time this season, call correctly at the toss - it was an oddly sentimental moment that will not be quickly forgotten by those who were there. Taking the only sensible option available to him, Trant chose to field first but from very early on it became apparent ten fielders wouldn’t be enough.
The Stonor openers cut and pulled anything marginally short of a length and several shots off Baker ended up in the hedge by the road. They made rapid progress until swirling wind and diagonal rain took the players off. Now, Stonor is a superb setting for cricket with its rolling hills and high vantage point, but once that wind and rain comes in you really get a taste of how exposed it is. In the rush to leave the pitch one of the batsmen put his foot in a rabbit hole and twisted his ankle, prematurely ending his innings. This trip down the rabbit hole earned him the nickname “Alice” for the rest of the day.
After ten minutes the rain petered out and the players returned to the field where bowlers Baker and Koslicki were again treated harshly by the Stonor clubbers. Withers replaced Baker from the running-into-the-gale-force-wind end and saw his first ball dispatched over square leg for four before wrestling a small amount of control and only going for six runs an over.
Koslicki was replaced by Ashman and the first wicket finally arrived when the Good Doctor unleashed a low full toss which was spooned straight to Koslicki at mid-off. This turned out to be RUASCC’s only success in 34 overs as Stonor hit hard and ran well to finish on 212-1 at tea.
RUASCC’s reply began badly as Withers and Eagle padded up. Then, once on the pitch, Withers got off the mark in the first over playing a very Eagle-esque edge for four through the vacant third slip region. It would be stretching the point somewhat to say the runs flowed after this as the opening pair put on 20 in about 14 overs before Eagle edged behind for his second successive single-figure score.
Carpenter came in at three and immediately punched the ball through mid-wicket for his first four but a few overs later, facing the same bowler, he didn’t quite get enough on the ball to clear mid-on and was caught. His brief but entertaining innings set about a pattern that was to be repeated by Baker and Young Sam later on.
Baker took 12 from one over and was getting ready to pummel us to victory when he pulled directly to mid-wicket. Young Sam took a similar approach hitting four fours and six (and surviving a raucous LBW appeal) on his way to 26 before missing a dipping full toss which crashed into his leg stump.
Meanwhile Withers concentrated on simply being there at the end of the game. Forward defensive followed elaborate leave which in turn followed forward defensive, prompting some barely-concealed aggression from the slip cordon and, in particular, one left-arm spinner who couldn’t draw the slightest hint of a stroke. Withers, displaying commendable levels of concentration and a dispiriting lack of confidence and talent, plodded on. Blocking and leaving, leaving and blocking, until just ten overs remained and he was joined by another obdurate little bugger, Ken Stewart.
At this point the match, which had previously been slowly expiring, simply curled up and died. Withers blocked one over; Stewart blocked the next. A few byes were taken, a couple of twos (Withers even hit a square cut for four when the Stonor skipper introduced his own off-side tempters) but neither batsman would budge. Stewart successfully saw out the final over to draw the match and leave Withers stranded heartbreakingly just 32 runs short of what would have been a second career half-century. RUASCC 98-4.
RUASCC Highlight: Sam putting the ball in the hedge for six during his cameo 26.
RUASCC Man of the Match: Genuinely struggling here... this week it’s a rollover.
RUASCC Team: Withers, Eagle, Carpenter, Baker, Griffiths (wkt), Stewart, Scar, Koslicki, Tranter (capt), Ashman
Monday 30 August 2010
Wednesday 25 August 2010
Frieth (A) - 22.8.10
RUASCC 112-9
Jagesh 21 not out, Stewart 20, Carpenter 18
Frieth 113-9
Jagesh 5-36, Stewart 2-28
Frieth won by 1 wicket
RUASCC’s first fixture in the mountainous, tribal village of Frieth was not one for the batsmen to remember. The two teams managed just 225 runs between them – ten fewer than RUASCC scored for the loss of only five wickets last Sunday at Hambleden – and it wasn’t that bad a pitch. The fact is RUASCC had the batting and the bowling to win this game comfortably, and despite only posting 112-9, probably still should have won as Frieth were wobbling at 93-9 in response.
The route to this lovely, remote cricket ground takes you via a sophisticated network of single lane tracks, past a group of territorial and competitive pigeons and into the middle of a large field atop a hill from which, on a clear day, you can see the arch of Wembley Stadium and, if you’re really lucky, the large, blue corrugated hell that is Ikea.
Following a quick warm-up in the nets the RUASCC team looked on as the two captains went through the charade of walking out to the middle, having a chat, flipping a coin and walking all the way back again. In future might I suggest Trant just asks the home skipper whether he’d like to bat or bowl? 14 consecutive tosses lost, and if you feel like unlearning something today, try this.
On this occasion Frieth opted to bowl first and that looked a decent call as RUASCC were 40-5 after 17 overs. Ward gloved behind for a duck, Eagle went LBW for 9 and Zia was cleaned up second ball, all by the same left-arm bowler (who finished with 3-2 from six overs). Then Dip hit two boundaries before he pulled straight to mid-wicket and Law was caught at short fine leg off a full toss which he will maintain to his very last breath should have been given a no-ball.
Fortunately for RUASCC the fall of the fifth wicket brought Ken Stewart to the crease and his partnership of 27 with Carpenter (18) turned out to be the biggest of the innings. But 67-5 soon became 67-7 as Carpenter was caught down the leg side and Tranter fed the ball straight to mid-off without scoring. Stewart (20) was then stumped after charging down the wicket to the young leg-spinner and realising he would struggle to get back to his crease the same day.
From 82-8 Jagesh and Withers pushed the score up past 100 but Withers (10) came unstuck as soon as he tried an attacking stroke and dragged a half volley onto his stumps so it was left to Ashman (4 not out) to see Jagesh (21 not out) through to tea. 112-9 from 48 overs.
Out came the carrot and kidney bean sandwiches for tea as RUASCC sought a plan that would secure an unlikely victory. The plan, as it turned out, was this: bowl Zia and Jagesh for as long as we possibly can. And it nearly worked too.
While Zia ripped through his overs economically from one end, Jagesh had the unenviable task of bowling a 13-over spell from the other. After a useful, if shaky, opening partnership of 28 Jagesh made the breakthrough by destroying the opener’s leg stump. What followed brought back memories of Jagesh’s spell against Greys Green last year (7-58) as wickets tumbled, two more clean bowled and a catch each from Stewart and Trant to give Jagesh his first five-wicket haul of the season. I dare say he was unlucky not to get a couple more as our wicketkeeper failed to cling onto his chances.
When Jagesh (5-36) was removed from the attack he was replaced by Dave Law who, after one ball, realised the shoulder injury sustained in unsuccessfully diving for an earlier catch would prevent him from contributing a meaningful spell. His over was completed by the evergrey Ken Stewart who took the important wicket of Williams (26) and another very sharp return catch on his way to collecting 2-28.
Although it was clear that Frieth, supremely confident of victory, had messed with their batting order, it wasn’t entirely clear when the good batsmen appeared. A panicked single saw the end of Clee as bowler Zia turned and threw down the stumps with the batsman about three miles from safety. Then the home captain, Fraser, marshalled the strike towards the end but he skied a leading edge off Zia to become the ninth wicket down. It was 93-9 and all three results were still possible.
Finally, at the end of a 19-over stint, Zia had to leave for work with six overs left of the game. With only eight more runs to defend, who else could Tranter turn to other than senior bowler and current Player of the Year Keith Withers, fresh from an afternoon chasing the ball to the backward point boundary?
There are two kinds of player in this world: there is the one who seizes this type of opportunity and, with one fast, swinging yorker, wins the match and the adulation of his teammates. Keith Withers is, this season at least, the other kind of player. Withers needed only four balls to give away the two boundaries required for defeat - one a fortunate edge down to third man, the other a glance to fine leg.
Frieth’s young leg-spinner (16-5-30-2) and number 11 batsman (18 not out) Alex McKenzie must be about the easiest pick for Man-of-the-Match they’ve had this season.
RUASCC Highlights: Ken’s instinctive catch off his own bowling and Zia’s tremendous direct-hit run out.
RUASCC Man of the Match: Not just for top-scoring with the bat (21), but for his remarkable spell of 13 overs taking 5-36 – it’s Jagesh. Oh, and he took a catch too.
RUASCC Team: Ward, Eagle, Carpenter, Zia, Dip (wkt), Law, Stewart, Tranter (capt), Jagesh, Withers, Ashman
Jagesh 21 not out, Stewart 20, Carpenter 18
Frieth 113-9
Jagesh 5-36, Stewart 2-28
Frieth won by 1 wicket
RUASCC’s first fixture in the mountainous, tribal village of Frieth was not one for the batsmen to remember. The two teams managed just 225 runs between them – ten fewer than RUASCC scored for the loss of only five wickets last Sunday at Hambleden – and it wasn’t that bad a pitch. The fact is RUASCC had the batting and the bowling to win this game comfortably, and despite only posting 112-9, probably still should have won as Frieth were wobbling at 93-9 in response.
The route to this lovely, remote cricket ground takes you via a sophisticated network of single lane tracks, past a group of territorial and competitive pigeons and into the middle of a large field atop a hill from which, on a clear day, you can see the arch of Wembley Stadium and, if you’re really lucky, the large, blue corrugated hell that is Ikea.
Following a quick warm-up in the nets the RUASCC team looked on as the two captains went through the charade of walking out to the middle, having a chat, flipping a coin and walking all the way back again. In future might I suggest Trant just asks the home skipper whether he’d like to bat or bowl? 14 consecutive tosses lost, and if you feel like unlearning something today, try this.
On this occasion Frieth opted to bowl first and that looked a decent call as RUASCC were 40-5 after 17 overs. Ward gloved behind for a duck, Eagle went LBW for 9 and Zia was cleaned up second ball, all by the same left-arm bowler (who finished with 3-2 from six overs). Then Dip hit two boundaries before he pulled straight to mid-wicket and Law was caught at short fine leg off a full toss which he will maintain to his very last breath should have been given a no-ball.
Fortunately for RUASCC the fall of the fifth wicket brought Ken Stewart to the crease and his partnership of 27 with Carpenter (18) turned out to be the biggest of the innings. But 67-5 soon became 67-7 as Carpenter was caught down the leg side and Tranter fed the ball straight to mid-off without scoring. Stewart (20) was then stumped after charging down the wicket to the young leg-spinner and realising he would struggle to get back to his crease the same day.
From 82-8 Jagesh and Withers pushed the score up past 100 but Withers (10) came unstuck as soon as he tried an attacking stroke and dragged a half volley onto his stumps so it was left to Ashman (4 not out) to see Jagesh (21 not out) through to tea. 112-9 from 48 overs.
Out came the carrot and kidney bean sandwiches for tea as RUASCC sought a plan that would secure an unlikely victory. The plan, as it turned out, was this: bowl Zia and Jagesh for as long as we possibly can. And it nearly worked too.
While Zia ripped through his overs economically from one end, Jagesh had the unenviable task of bowling a 13-over spell from the other. After a useful, if shaky, opening partnership of 28 Jagesh made the breakthrough by destroying the opener’s leg stump. What followed brought back memories of Jagesh’s spell against Greys Green last year (7-58) as wickets tumbled, two more clean bowled and a catch each from Stewart and Trant to give Jagesh his first five-wicket haul of the season. I dare say he was unlucky not to get a couple more as our wicketkeeper failed to cling onto his chances.
When Jagesh (5-36) was removed from the attack he was replaced by Dave Law who, after one ball, realised the shoulder injury sustained in unsuccessfully diving for an earlier catch would prevent him from contributing a meaningful spell. His over was completed by the evergrey Ken Stewart who took the important wicket of Williams (26) and another very sharp return catch on his way to collecting 2-28.
Although it was clear that Frieth, supremely confident of victory, had messed with their batting order, it wasn’t entirely clear when the good batsmen appeared. A panicked single saw the end of Clee as bowler Zia turned and threw down the stumps with the batsman about three miles from safety. Then the home captain, Fraser, marshalled the strike towards the end but he skied a leading edge off Zia to become the ninth wicket down. It was 93-9 and all three results were still possible.
Finally, at the end of a 19-over stint, Zia had to leave for work with six overs left of the game. With only eight more runs to defend, who else could Tranter turn to other than senior bowler and current Player of the Year Keith Withers, fresh from an afternoon chasing the ball to the backward point boundary?
There are two kinds of player in this world: there is the one who seizes this type of opportunity and, with one fast, swinging yorker, wins the match and the adulation of his teammates. Keith Withers is, this season at least, the other kind of player. Withers needed only four balls to give away the two boundaries required for defeat - one a fortunate edge down to third man, the other a glance to fine leg.
Frieth’s young leg-spinner (16-5-30-2) and number 11 batsman (18 not out) Alex McKenzie must be about the easiest pick for Man-of-the-Match they’ve had this season.
RUASCC Highlights: Ken’s instinctive catch off his own bowling and Zia’s tremendous direct-hit run out.
RUASCC Man of the Match: Not just for top-scoring with the bat (21), but for his remarkable spell of 13 overs taking 5-36 – it’s Jagesh. Oh, and he took a catch too.
RUASCC Team: Ward, Eagle, Carpenter, Zia, Dip (wkt), Law, Stewart, Tranter (capt), Jagesh, Withers, Ashman
Wednesday 18 August 2010
Hambleden (A) - 15.8.10
RUASCC 235-5
Zia 70, Eagle 51, Dersh 42 not out
Hambleden 188 all out
Stewart 3-34, Ashman 3-48
RUASCC won by 47 runs
The Hambleden pitch, with its two-tier bounce system and massive slope, can be a tricky one to score runs from so it’s really quite remarkable that over 400 were scored in Sunday’s game. It is even more remarkable that more than half of them were scored by RUASCC who have struggled on this ground in recent years.
With Tranter absent due to line-dancing commitments, Ian Carpenter took over the captaincy for the day and proceeded to lose RUASCC’s 13th consecutive toss. Asked to bat first in a 40-over match, Ward and Eagle laid the perfect foundation with an opening partnership of 77 as both batsmen showed commendable concentration against some tight bowling on the difficult surface.
Having seeing off the opening bowlers Ward was given LBW for 32 and Captain Carpenter joined Eagle who had crept into the thirties for the umpteenth time this season. Then just past the halfway point in the innings Carpenter chipped a slower ball to mid-on for 16 and Eagle, who had just reached another fifty, was caught trying to hit over the top. 106-3.
The second half of the innings was dominated by another fine partnership – this time between Zia and Dersh. Scoring at an excellent rate, Zia reached his second successive RUASCC fifty and pushed the score past 200 with several overs to spare. Dersh, showing some decent strokes himself, brought up the hundred partnership before Zia was eventually caught in the deep for 70. 221-4.
Dip joined his brother for the final overs and hit his first ball, a full toss, for six over fine leg to continue the fun. This was followed by a bizarre three that would have only been a single except the clearly aggrieved fielder didn’t move towards the ball to pick it up – one of a number of signs that the home side weren’t enjoying their afternoon game. Dip was caught at mid-on for nine, leaving Withers to occupy the non-striker’s end for two balls as Dersh added two more runs to finish on 42 not out. Withers, still yet to be dismissed for RUASCC this season, added another 0 not out to his burgeoning reputation as someone who’s clearly not in the team for his bowling. 235-5.
Ken Stewart, relegated to number nine for unspecified misdemeanours, was not called upon to bat.
Zia-time was once again limited so the batting legend was asked to open the bowling. Rattling through his overs at his usual speed, he barely gave anything away and barely gave Withers a chance to breathe. With eight overs, 1-14, he bid farewell and headed off for work while at the other end Withers, with eight overs and 0-47, sadly had to stay.
Replacing Zia down the hill, Ken Stewart finally made a meaningful contribution to the game as he took an early wicket, the first of his 3-34 – all clean bowled including a true ankle-biter. RUASCC were, at all times, being reminded of their responsibilities by the ever-vocal Carpenter, and at the other end Dr Ashman achieved similar success with the slow, straight one and finished his spell with 3-48 thanks to a catch each from Ward and Withers at mid-on and long-off respectively.
Hambleden’s run rate remained fairly consistent – at the twenty-over mark they had been marginally ahead – but with the regular fall of wickets they always looked unlikely to chase down the target. Guest Adam Seymour bowled two overs, one of which spanned an impressive twelve balls, and even Ward had a tweak taking 1-16 in three overs.
But the final say went to Captain Carpenter who brought himself on with four overs to go and ended with figures of 2-3 from just ten balls as he clean bowled the last man to win the match.
Upon first glance the Hambleden scorebook had them somewhere between 176 and 191 so, siding with the tick box, the total of 188 all out was settled upon. A win for RUASCC by 47 runs on a beautiful sunny day in the beautiful village of Hambleden.
RUASCC Highlight: Dip hooking a high full toss for six from his first ball. And Ward’s headband.
RUASCC Man of the Match: For scoring 70 runs and bowling eight overs with an economy rate less than two – Zia. Honourable mentions reserved for Eagle’s fifty and Stewart’s despicable daisy cutters.
RUASCC Team: Ward, Eagle, Carpenter (capt), Zia, Dersh, Dip (wkt), Withers, Seymour, Stewart, Koslicki, Ashman
Zia 70, Eagle 51, Dersh 42 not out
Hambleden 188 all out
Stewart 3-34, Ashman 3-48
RUASCC won by 47 runs
The Hambleden pitch, with its two-tier bounce system and massive slope, can be a tricky one to score runs from so it’s really quite remarkable that over 400 were scored in Sunday’s game. It is even more remarkable that more than half of them were scored by RUASCC who have struggled on this ground in recent years.
With Tranter absent due to line-dancing commitments, Ian Carpenter took over the captaincy for the day and proceeded to lose RUASCC’s 13th consecutive toss. Asked to bat first in a 40-over match, Ward and Eagle laid the perfect foundation with an opening partnership of 77 as both batsmen showed commendable concentration against some tight bowling on the difficult surface.
Having seeing off the opening bowlers Ward was given LBW for 32 and Captain Carpenter joined Eagle who had crept into the thirties for the umpteenth time this season. Then just past the halfway point in the innings Carpenter chipped a slower ball to mid-on for 16 and Eagle, who had just reached another fifty, was caught trying to hit over the top. 106-3.
The second half of the innings was dominated by another fine partnership – this time between Zia and Dersh. Scoring at an excellent rate, Zia reached his second successive RUASCC fifty and pushed the score past 200 with several overs to spare. Dersh, showing some decent strokes himself, brought up the hundred partnership before Zia was eventually caught in the deep for 70. 221-4.
Dip joined his brother for the final overs and hit his first ball, a full toss, for six over fine leg to continue the fun. This was followed by a bizarre three that would have only been a single except the clearly aggrieved fielder didn’t move towards the ball to pick it up – one of a number of signs that the home side weren’t enjoying their afternoon game. Dip was caught at mid-on for nine, leaving Withers to occupy the non-striker’s end for two balls as Dersh added two more runs to finish on 42 not out. Withers, still yet to be dismissed for RUASCC this season, added another 0 not out to his burgeoning reputation as someone who’s clearly not in the team for his bowling. 235-5.
Ken Stewart, relegated to number nine for unspecified misdemeanours, was not called upon to bat.
Zia-time was once again limited so the batting legend was asked to open the bowling. Rattling through his overs at his usual speed, he barely gave anything away and barely gave Withers a chance to breathe. With eight overs, 1-14, he bid farewell and headed off for work while at the other end Withers, with eight overs and 0-47, sadly had to stay.
Replacing Zia down the hill, Ken Stewart finally made a meaningful contribution to the game as he took an early wicket, the first of his 3-34 – all clean bowled including a true ankle-biter. RUASCC were, at all times, being reminded of their responsibilities by the ever-vocal Carpenter, and at the other end Dr Ashman achieved similar success with the slow, straight one and finished his spell with 3-48 thanks to a catch each from Ward and Withers at mid-on and long-off respectively.
Hambleden’s run rate remained fairly consistent – at the twenty-over mark they had been marginally ahead – but with the regular fall of wickets they always looked unlikely to chase down the target. Guest Adam Seymour bowled two overs, one of which spanned an impressive twelve balls, and even Ward had a tweak taking 1-16 in three overs.
But the final say went to Captain Carpenter who brought himself on with four overs to go and ended with figures of 2-3 from just ten balls as he clean bowled the last man to win the match.
Upon first glance the Hambleden scorebook had them somewhere between 176 and 191 so, siding with the tick box, the total of 188 all out was settled upon. A win for RUASCC by 47 runs on a beautiful sunny day in the beautiful village of Hambleden.
RUASCC Highlight: Dip hooking a high full toss for six from his first ball. And Ward’s headband.
RUASCC Man of the Match: For scoring 70 runs and bowling eight overs with an economy rate less than two – Zia. Honourable mentions reserved for Eagle’s fifty and Stewart’s despicable daisy cutters.
RUASCC Team: Ward, Eagle, Carpenter (capt), Zia, Dersh, Dip (wkt), Withers, Seymour, Stewart, Koslicki, Ashman
Saturday 14 August 2010
Portsmouth (A) – 8.8.10
Portsmouth 182-7
Main 4-36, Baker 1-12
RUASCC 157-7
Main 63, Baker 41
MATCH DRAWN
The only cricket match of the 2010 RUASCC Tour produced a performance that was, as you may have already noticed, dominated to a large extent by Bruce Main and Johnny Baker. In addition to their rather helpful batting and bowling they each also took a catch, just in case you were worried they didn’t get involved enough.
On Sunday morning a message came from Portsmouth to say they were putting out a weaker-than-expected side, mostly consisting of colts supported by a couple of 2nd team players. Similarly RUASCC were also putting out a weaker-than-expected side: RUASCC.
Due to the cancellation at Southampton on Friday the touring side approached this game fit and well-rested. Or at least they would have done had Chan not ruptured his Achilles tendon playing golf on Saturday; or if Eagle, Ward, Young Sam and Withers hadn’t been out entertaining the sailors on Gun Wharf Quay until 2am Sunday morning; or if Ken hadn’t over-exerted himself by staying awake in the hotel bar till almost 6pm. Fortunately, Bruce Main and Johnny Baker were fit and well-rested.
On arrival at the ground, directly next to the sea, RUASCC engaged in an intense and at times brutal net session with Main showing his intent to cause pain by aiming a bouncer at Ward’s sweatband-covered head. Young Sam managed to bowl the ball backwards and Ashman found some swing he didn’t know existed. This was followed by some intense catching practice with Ward and Chan belting cricket balls all over the field for Main to chase - and all this was achieved while trying to make sure the roaming black Labrador didn’t urinate on our vulnerable cricket bags.
It was something of a relief when the home side eventually arrived just before 2pm and it was of course no surprise that Trant lost the toss and was asked to field. Main and Baker opened the bowling on a decent pitch and Main bagged the first wicket when one of the few Portsmouth adults played onto his stumps. With a quick outfield the ball had to be bowled in the right place and Baker’s spell from the other end was especially frugal: seven overs cost only 12 runs and he picked up a wicket of his own thanks to a sharp catch by Young Sam standing up.
Main’s second wicket came off a leading edge that was caught safely by Withers at mid-wicket, then Baker was replaced by Withers and he helped out the new bowler with a tidy catch at point which absolutely nobody congratulated him for. Portsmouth Youth were 54-4 scoring fewer than three runs per over and there was a suggestion that perhaps we should ease off the gas a little to make a game of it. Then Portsmouth Youth stepped on the gas.
A partnership of 99 followed as Withers was hit for a straight six and several other boundaries while the fielders tried without much success to stem the flow of quick runs. Opening batsman Goddard passed fifty and had the greater share of the strike and not even Stewart’s accuracy and surprising bounce could dislodge the pair. It took The Good Dr Ashman to finally remove Goddard for 85 – Young Sam taking the catch despite the batsman’s attempt to block his run. 153-5.
Main returned for the final few overs and was involved in the game’s most fascinating incident: one delivery was slashed high into the air half way down the wicket and several calls were heard – Main shouted for it, Tranter called for Young Sam to take it, Young Sam then called. Eventually the ball fell and Main clung onto it above the dive of the wicketkeeper and everyone started shouting at each other again. Main shouted at Young Sam, Young Sam shouted at Tranter, Ward just giggled and Chan tried to wrap a five-iron round Ken’s head (although that might have been a different incident). No harm done in the end.
Portsmouth added several useful runs to their total thanks to a few fortunate edges and some very quick running and they had reached 182 before they tried another crazy run on the last ball of the innings and Young Sam was credited with a stumping off Main. 182-7 from 35 overs.
RUASCC have been scoring well at times this season and, on a good pitch against a team of youngsters, would have fancied chasing down the total. Things didn’t start well, however, and Ward was back in the hutch after only three balls having edged behind to the keeper for 0.
Eagle and Carpenter got the ball rolling and both had just reached double figures when they departed in near-identical fashion – each slapping a full toss straight to the big target at short leg. It quickly got worse as both Chan and Sam fell to the left-arm spinner Marston who finished with 4-29. Nothing to be ashamed of, getting out to Marston, who we were told is the leading wicket taker in the Hampshire under-14 league. RUASCC were 51-5 and struggling when Main joined Baker (already on 15) at the crease.
Main adopted a positive strategy from the start and employed his two shots to devastating effect. With the fielders in close, anything short was pummelled over mid-off or through the covers and anything over-pitched was met with the trusty long-arm sweep through mid-wicket. Suddenly the ball didn’t seem to be turning or swinging – it just seemed to sit up and get thrashed to the boundary by the flat track bully from New Zealand. With Baker providing able support the fifty stand came up in just a few overs, and as the run rate continued to accelerate there was still a chance for RUASCC to reach the target.
Main reached his fifty with another boundary through mid-wicket and had contributed 63 to the partnership of 103 when both batsmen were dismissed in successive balls, both caught off full tosses going for big hits. 157-7, still 26 runs short of victory and only a couple of overs left for Stewart and Tranter (with a combined batting age of 130) to see out. The final over, from the returning Marston, was a maiden that Tranter negotiated calmly and a draw was the result.
The game was somewhat reminiscent of last year’s Sunday game on tour, when Portsmouth & Southsea’s youngsters had hit 248 before restricting us to 192-9. Based on the evidence of these two games, the most successful policy when batting against young players with good technique is to leave the elegant strokes and quick singles behind; opt instead for sheer brutality and have them fetch the ball from the hedge a few times.
So, an unbeaten tour for the mighty RUASCC army. What heights are still to be reached I simply cannot say.
RUASCC Highlight: It really should be the exhilarating batting of Main, but from a neutral’s point of view you would have to say the shouting match the followed Main’s caught-and-bowled was the highlight.
RUASCC Man of the Match: Bruce Main
RUASCC Team: Ward, Eagle, Carpenter, Baker, Chan, Griffiths (wkt), Main, Stewart, Tranter (capt), Ashman, Withers
Main 4-36, Baker 1-12
RUASCC 157-7
Main 63, Baker 41
MATCH DRAWN
The only cricket match of the 2010 RUASCC Tour produced a performance that was, as you may have already noticed, dominated to a large extent by Bruce Main and Johnny Baker. In addition to their rather helpful batting and bowling they each also took a catch, just in case you were worried they didn’t get involved enough.
On Sunday morning a message came from Portsmouth to say they were putting out a weaker-than-expected side, mostly consisting of colts supported by a couple of 2nd team players. Similarly RUASCC were also putting out a weaker-than-expected side: RUASCC.
Due to the cancellation at Southampton on Friday the touring side approached this game fit and well-rested. Or at least they would have done had Chan not ruptured his Achilles tendon playing golf on Saturday; or if Eagle, Ward, Young Sam and Withers hadn’t been out entertaining the sailors on Gun Wharf Quay until 2am Sunday morning; or if Ken hadn’t over-exerted himself by staying awake in the hotel bar till almost 6pm. Fortunately, Bruce Main and Johnny Baker were fit and well-rested.
On arrival at the ground, directly next to the sea, RUASCC engaged in an intense and at times brutal net session with Main showing his intent to cause pain by aiming a bouncer at Ward’s sweatband-covered head. Young Sam managed to bowl the ball backwards and Ashman found some swing he didn’t know existed. This was followed by some intense catching practice with Ward and Chan belting cricket balls all over the field for Main to chase - and all this was achieved while trying to make sure the roaming black Labrador didn’t urinate on our vulnerable cricket bags.
It was something of a relief when the home side eventually arrived just before 2pm and it was of course no surprise that Trant lost the toss and was asked to field. Main and Baker opened the bowling on a decent pitch and Main bagged the first wicket when one of the few Portsmouth adults played onto his stumps. With a quick outfield the ball had to be bowled in the right place and Baker’s spell from the other end was especially frugal: seven overs cost only 12 runs and he picked up a wicket of his own thanks to a sharp catch by Young Sam standing up.
Main’s second wicket came off a leading edge that was caught safely by Withers at mid-wicket, then Baker was replaced by Withers and he helped out the new bowler with a tidy catch at point which absolutely nobody congratulated him for. Portsmouth Youth were 54-4 scoring fewer than three runs per over and there was a suggestion that perhaps we should ease off the gas a little to make a game of it. Then Portsmouth Youth stepped on the gas.
A partnership of 99 followed as Withers was hit for a straight six and several other boundaries while the fielders tried without much success to stem the flow of quick runs. Opening batsman Goddard passed fifty and had the greater share of the strike and not even Stewart’s accuracy and surprising bounce could dislodge the pair. It took The Good Dr Ashman to finally remove Goddard for 85 – Young Sam taking the catch despite the batsman’s attempt to block his run. 153-5.
Main returned for the final few overs and was involved in the game’s most fascinating incident: one delivery was slashed high into the air half way down the wicket and several calls were heard – Main shouted for it, Tranter called for Young Sam to take it, Young Sam then called. Eventually the ball fell and Main clung onto it above the dive of the wicketkeeper and everyone started shouting at each other again. Main shouted at Young Sam, Young Sam shouted at Tranter, Ward just giggled and Chan tried to wrap a five-iron round Ken’s head (although that might have been a different incident). No harm done in the end.
Portsmouth added several useful runs to their total thanks to a few fortunate edges and some very quick running and they had reached 182 before they tried another crazy run on the last ball of the innings and Young Sam was credited with a stumping off Main. 182-7 from 35 overs.
RUASCC have been scoring well at times this season and, on a good pitch against a team of youngsters, would have fancied chasing down the total. Things didn’t start well, however, and Ward was back in the hutch after only three balls having edged behind to the keeper for 0.
Eagle and Carpenter got the ball rolling and both had just reached double figures when they departed in near-identical fashion – each slapping a full toss straight to the big target at short leg. It quickly got worse as both Chan and Sam fell to the left-arm spinner Marston who finished with 4-29. Nothing to be ashamed of, getting out to Marston, who we were told is the leading wicket taker in the Hampshire under-14 league. RUASCC were 51-5 and struggling when Main joined Baker (already on 15) at the crease.
Main adopted a positive strategy from the start and employed his two shots to devastating effect. With the fielders in close, anything short was pummelled over mid-off or through the covers and anything over-pitched was met with the trusty long-arm sweep through mid-wicket. Suddenly the ball didn’t seem to be turning or swinging – it just seemed to sit up and get thrashed to the boundary by the flat track bully from New Zealand. With Baker providing able support the fifty stand came up in just a few overs, and as the run rate continued to accelerate there was still a chance for RUASCC to reach the target.
Main reached his fifty with another boundary through mid-wicket and had contributed 63 to the partnership of 103 when both batsmen were dismissed in successive balls, both caught off full tosses going for big hits. 157-7, still 26 runs short of victory and only a couple of overs left for Stewart and Tranter (with a combined batting age of 130) to see out. The final over, from the returning Marston, was a maiden that Tranter negotiated calmly and a draw was the result.
The game was somewhat reminiscent of last year’s Sunday game on tour, when Portsmouth & Southsea’s youngsters had hit 248 before restricting us to 192-9. Based on the evidence of these two games, the most successful policy when batting against young players with good technique is to leave the elegant strokes and quick singles behind; opt instead for sheer brutality and have them fetch the ball from the hedge a few times.
So, an unbeaten tour for the mighty RUASCC army. What heights are still to be reached I simply cannot say.
RUASCC Highlight: It really should be the exhilarating batting of Main, but from a neutral’s point of view you would have to say the shouting match the followed Main’s caught-and-bowled was the highlight.
RUASCC Man of the Match: Bruce Main
RUASCC Team: Ward, Eagle, Carpenter, Baker, Chan, Griffiths (wkt), Main, Stewart, Tranter (capt), Ashman, Withers
Tuesday 3 August 2010
Wargrave (at Leighton Park) – 1.8.10
Wargrave 192-8
Zia 2-42, Jagesh 2-44
RUASCC 183-8
Zia 82, Eagle 27
MATCH DRAWN
On the first Sunday in August RUASCC played their first “home” game of the season at Leighton Park School against the lesser-spotted Wargrave Cricket Club. In a pleasing show of hospitality Captain Eagle lost yet another toss (eleven in a row for the club) and in an equally welcome display of politeness Wargrave opted to bat first.
And they made a decent start, with three early boundaries, before Zia’s extra bounce found a leading edge and Young Sam took the catch almost on top of the stumps. From the other end Main was hitting the right areas (as usual) and the outside edge over the slips seemed to be the shot of choice. With nearly an hour played the score had just passed fifty when the batsmen attempted a suicidal run to Jagesh’s right arm and the second wicket fell. The third soon followed when a Zia bouncer was brilliantly taken by Young Sam having deflected off the batsman’s glove. Sadly the necessary forward dive crushed one of Sam’s fingers and Dip took over the gloves shortly afterwards.
As the innings continued many balls seemed to go high in the air only to land between fielders, but Main clung on to a steep one off his own bowling to leave Wargrave four wickets down for about a hundred runs. Jagesh replaced Zia from the Tennis Court End and picked up a wicket of his own, clean bowling the man with the bat made almost entirely of edge.
Withers came on to replace Main and, to everyone’s relief, bowled a maiden with his first over. While Withers imagined the ball was swinging a bit, Dr Ashman pointed out that he was now bowling so slowly the earth was rotating just a few inches before the ball reached the other end. Either way, success came in Withers’ third over courtesy of an edge to Zia at slip.
Robinson (Henley 2nds, don't you know) was going along nicely on 32 but he fell for Jagesh’s long-hop trap when his enormous pull shot went straight to Withers on the square leg boundary. Withers had been placed there only three balls earlier and he gratefully accepted the catch.
The visitors had passed 150 and with two young lads swinging the bat they carried on at a run a ball until the end. Ken Stewart took a wicket with his first ball then saw a catch dropped from his second in an eventful one-over spell as Wargrave finished on 192-8.
After two weeks away on holiday the pressure was on Withers to come through with an edible tea and as far as I know, 48 hours on, there have been no reports of any unpleasantness from either side. It is sad to report that several peanut butter sandwiches had to be discarded as their expected popularity was greatly over-estimated.
With Wardy absent, presumed drunk, a new opening pairing was needed and it was decided that Zia should accompany Eagle at the top of the order. Wargrave quickly realised they needed a man on the boundary at square leg for Zia but they couldn’t stop runs coming at a decent rate in the early stages. Eagle continues to play with the confidence of a wookie in an ewok basketball match and soon the gentler opening bowlers were replaced by more obvious pace. This brought about a couple of maidens but, once Zia decided to accelerate, 26 runs came from two exhilarating overs.
One ball into the 18th over umpire Dersh announced there were twenty overs remaining, however this was widely shouted down and it was agreed we would fit in one more. Almost immediately Eagle made his first mistake, chipping the ball to point for a handy 27. 72-1.
Carpenter was next in and the runs continued to flow. Zia, despite being severely hampered by a muscle injury in his leg, and Carpo, on the back of his 97 at Braywood, recorded our second half-century partnership of the innings before Carpo was run out for 21 going for a risky single. 139-2 with a run a ball needed for victory.
Wargrave fielded well throughout the innings and Carpenter, Dip and Stewart were all run out with direct hits. Dip was done for by a superb thrown from mid-on; he didn’t even wait for the umpire’s signal. Young Sam, in at number five, chipped the ball to mid-wicket for a duck and suddenly RUASCC were running out of batsmen.
Things got even worse when finally Zia was dismissed, caught going for another big hit for a magnificent 82. Stewart’s run out, the sixth wicket to fall, brought Main in and his partnership with Dersh, who found the gaps well for plenty of singles, was the last hope. Main then became the fourth RUASCC batsman to be run out and in the penultimate over Dersh holed out to mid-off with twelve runs still needed.
If you could pick two men to bash twelve runs from six balls it most definitely wouldn’t be Jagesh and Withers. In fact they picked up just a single run each from the final over and RUASCC finished ten runs short of victory.
RUASCC Highlight: The two overs that went for 26 runs as Zia and Eagle (mostly Zia!) accelerated.
RUASCC Man of the Match: Two wickets, one catch and 82 runs all achieved while apparently attempting to shake off a broken leg – Zia.
RUASCC Team: Eagle (capt), Zia, Carpenter, Dip (wkt), Griffiths (wkt), Dersh, Stewart, Main, Jagesh, Withers, Ashman
Zia 2-42, Jagesh 2-44
RUASCC 183-8
Zia 82, Eagle 27
MATCH DRAWN
On the first Sunday in August RUASCC played their first “home” game of the season at Leighton Park School against the lesser-spotted Wargrave Cricket Club. In a pleasing show of hospitality Captain Eagle lost yet another toss (eleven in a row for the club) and in an equally welcome display of politeness Wargrave opted to bat first.
And they made a decent start, with three early boundaries, before Zia’s extra bounce found a leading edge and Young Sam took the catch almost on top of the stumps. From the other end Main was hitting the right areas (as usual) and the outside edge over the slips seemed to be the shot of choice. With nearly an hour played the score had just passed fifty when the batsmen attempted a suicidal run to Jagesh’s right arm and the second wicket fell. The third soon followed when a Zia bouncer was brilliantly taken by Young Sam having deflected off the batsman’s glove. Sadly the necessary forward dive crushed one of Sam’s fingers and Dip took over the gloves shortly afterwards.
As the innings continued many balls seemed to go high in the air only to land between fielders, but Main clung on to a steep one off his own bowling to leave Wargrave four wickets down for about a hundred runs. Jagesh replaced Zia from the Tennis Court End and picked up a wicket of his own, clean bowling the man with the bat made almost entirely of edge.
Withers came on to replace Main and, to everyone’s relief, bowled a maiden with his first over. While Withers imagined the ball was swinging a bit, Dr Ashman pointed out that he was now bowling so slowly the earth was rotating just a few inches before the ball reached the other end. Either way, success came in Withers’ third over courtesy of an edge to Zia at slip.
Robinson (Henley 2nds, don't you know) was going along nicely on 32 but he fell for Jagesh’s long-hop trap when his enormous pull shot went straight to Withers on the square leg boundary. Withers had been placed there only three balls earlier and he gratefully accepted the catch.
The visitors had passed 150 and with two young lads swinging the bat they carried on at a run a ball until the end. Ken Stewart took a wicket with his first ball then saw a catch dropped from his second in an eventful one-over spell as Wargrave finished on 192-8.
After two weeks away on holiday the pressure was on Withers to come through with an edible tea and as far as I know, 48 hours on, there have been no reports of any unpleasantness from either side. It is sad to report that several peanut butter sandwiches had to be discarded as their expected popularity was greatly over-estimated.
With Wardy absent, presumed drunk, a new opening pairing was needed and it was decided that Zia should accompany Eagle at the top of the order. Wargrave quickly realised they needed a man on the boundary at square leg for Zia but they couldn’t stop runs coming at a decent rate in the early stages. Eagle continues to play with the confidence of a wookie in an ewok basketball match and soon the gentler opening bowlers were replaced by more obvious pace. This brought about a couple of maidens but, once Zia decided to accelerate, 26 runs came from two exhilarating overs.
One ball into the 18th over umpire Dersh announced there were twenty overs remaining, however this was widely shouted down and it was agreed we would fit in one more. Almost immediately Eagle made his first mistake, chipping the ball to point for a handy 27. 72-1.
Carpenter was next in and the runs continued to flow. Zia, despite being severely hampered by a muscle injury in his leg, and Carpo, on the back of his 97 at Braywood, recorded our second half-century partnership of the innings before Carpo was run out for 21 going for a risky single. 139-2 with a run a ball needed for victory.
Wargrave fielded well throughout the innings and Carpenter, Dip and Stewart were all run out with direct hits. Dip was done for by a superb thrown from mid-on; he didn’t even wait for the umpire’s signal. Young Sam, in at number five, chipped the ball to mid-wicket for a duck and suddenly RUASCC were running out of batsmen.
Things got even worse when finally Zia was dismissed, caught going for another big hit for a magnificent 82. Stewart’s run out, the sixth wicket to fall, brought Main in and his partnership with Dersh, who found the gaps well for plenty of singles, was the last hope. Main then became the fourth RUASCC batsman to be run out and in the penultimate over Dersh holed out to mid-off with twelve runs still needed.
If you could pick two men to bash twelve runs from six balls it most definitely wouldn’t be Jagesh and Withers. In fact they picked up just a single run each from the final over and RUASCC finished ten runs short of victory.
RUASCC Highlight: The two overs that went for 26 runs as Zia and Eagle (mostly Zia!) accelerated.
RUASCC Man of the Match: Two wickets, one catch and 82 runs all achieved while apparently attempting to shake off a broken leg – Zia.
RUASCC Team: Eagle (capt), Zia, Carpenter, Dip (wkt), Griffiths (wkt), Dersh, Stewart, Main, Jagesh, Withers, Ashman
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