Here's what happened:
RUASCC 197-3
Baker 48 not out, Zia 46 not out
Birdlip & Brimpsfield 172-5
Zia 3-19, Holder 2-24
RUASCC won by 25 runs
We arrived in Birdlip on a glorious sunny evening and maybe the change of air was just what the RUASCC top order needed. Chan Malde struck some of the most powerful boundaries of the year, a six and seven fours in his 37, before Baker and Zia added an unbroken 69 stand for the fourth wicket. The total of 197-3 was higher than we often manage in a 40-over game.
Needing ten an over Birdlip were behind the run rate at the halfway stage (65-2) and a lethal delivery from Pensioner Ken Stewart (Dr Kilmore) sent one of their batsmen to hospital with a split lip - a piece of tooth was also found on the wicket. Parsons and Green both passed fifty (the latter hitting plenty of sixes) but the home side still needed 75 from the last five before Zia returned and took three quick wickets to quell the fightback.
Special thanks to Birdlip for generously donating two guest players in the absence of Carpenter and Griffiths. James Buse (34) and Trevor Holder (2-24) both proved to be of great assistance.
RUASCC Highlight: The batting, and Chan’s in particular, was pleasingly vigorous.
RUASCC Man of the Match: Zia.
Bristol 4th XI 126 all out
Zia 2-12, Ashman 2-16
RUASCC 127-6
Carpenter 38, Malde 31 not out
RUASCC won by 4 wickets
On Saturday we travelled down to Bristol and watched in awe as their 1st team played proper cricket on the main pitch. Fortunately we were scheduled to meet the 4ths so we snuck through a gap in the hedge to play in a neighbouring field.
Against a very young side two wickets apiece from Baker, Zia and Ashman proved enough to keep the total down. Pensioner Ken eventually removed the opening batsman for 43 thanks to a smart stumping from Young Sam and Captain Tranter took a stinging return catch to end the innings on 126. The other wicket, it should be noted, came courtesy of a run out by “Good Arm” Withers.
The RUASCC reply saw Weeks (3), Griffiths (10) and Stewart (2) all clean bowled while Carpenter added the bulk of the runs, hitting a six and five fours in his 38. When he was caught at square leg it was 73-4 but a 39 run stand between Zia and Malde took us to within touching distance of the target. That partnership was ended by another hilarious run out with Zia 20 yards out of his ground, and Baker was bowled by a jaffa before Eagle (1 not out) and Malde eventually saw RUASCC home with a few overs to spare, despite the best efforts of sub fielder Withers.
RUASCC Highlight: Eagle coming in at number eight, facing one ball and playing it behind square for a single.
RUASCC Man of the Match: Carpenter for setting up the successful chase and Malde for finishing the job.
RUASCC 208-3
Baker 65 retired hurt, Carpenter 62
Aldsworth 134 all out
Withers 5-27, Zia 2-18
RUASCC won by 74 runs
We arrived in the pleasant village of Aldsworth for the final game of the weekend and found a proper little cricket ground: huge slope from leg to off (or off to leg depending on which way you were facing) and a very grassy wicket that was part trampoline and part rice pudding.
Carpenter made light of the unpredictable bounce belting fours to all parts of the ground and the opening pair put on 60 before Eagle was caught behind for 12. Runs continued to flow and the hundred came up in 20 overs just as Carpenter was celebrating the first RUASCC fifty of tour. Baker’s soon followed and we looked to be heading for a healthy total even once Carpenter (62) and Zia (16) were dismissed by well-taken catches.
A short rain shower prompted an early tea and Captain Eagle chose to bat on for a few more overs after the break to try to reach 200. Baker’s match was ended when he caught a nasty top-edge and was rushed to hospital with a bleeding head wound but Malde and Griffiths piled on the runs in the last few minutes before Eagle declared on 208-3.
Any fears that our total might not have been quite enough were allayed when Zia and Withers shared four early wickets with just ten runs on the board. A couple of the Aldsworth batsmen provided spirited resistance slogging everything they could to the boundary, but further wickets from Ashman, Tranter and Stewart put RUASCC firmly in control. Withers returned and picked up the last three wickets to seal the third consecutive victory and also his first five-wicket haul in more than two years.
RUASCC Highlight: Withers’ reaction catch at short leg from a full-blooded pull shot.
RUASCC Man of the Match: Three-way split this time - great knocks from Carpenter and Baker to continue their good form over the weekend, and Withers for taking five wickets and four catches in the innings.
So after failing to bowl out any opposition side in a dozen matches, we achieved it twice in consecutive days this weekend. Having only won twice all season, we've now won five games. Here ends a successful and hugely enjoyable tour.
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