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