Shedfield (A) – 20.5.12

RUASCC 153 all out
Eagle 34, Abbas 25

Shedfield 83 all out
Waqar 3-5, Zia 3-29

RUASCC won by 70 runs

After three weeks of rain and cancellations the weather finally improved just enough for us to complete our first game of the season, a new fixture down in Shedfield (near Marwell Zoo, for reference). On inspection of the square it became apparent we would be playing on the astroturf strip, and RUASCC were asked to make first use of it when Eagle lost the toss.

Despite some comedy calling early on (Carpenter should have been run out first ball) runs came steadily in the first few overs as Eagle used the full width of his bat to “steer” the ball through the slip and gully region. Wides also made a significant contribution before Carpenter eventually gloved behind to bring the 49-run opening partnership to an end; two overs later Eagle, having hit six boundaries, was bowled by a quicker one for a confident 34.

But RUASCC soon recovered from this encouraging start and began to collapse in style. 76-2 became 107-7 as Dip (LBW for 1), Zia (run out by the wicketkeeper for 8) and debutant Turley (caught behind for 1) all departed quickly. Chan Malde (14) showed he’s been watching too much IPL when his attempted reverse-sweep spooned high in the air and practically landed on gully. Then Waqar (2) middled a pull straight to the man at mid-on and the innings looked all but over.

What happened next was quite disgraceful: Waseem Abbas, another young man playing his first game for the club, showed a complete lack of regard for self-destruction protocol and walloped a six over mid-on for his first RUASCC runs. Two fours and another six followed in a 36-run stand with Tranter, who contributed four singles, and we suddenly had a target to bowl at. Abbas was caught for 25 and Tranter bowled for seven leaving last pair Withers and Pensioner Ken Stewart at the crease.

It was all over too quickly, alas, as Withers tipped a ball into the leg side and, apparently forgetting who his partner was, confidently and decisively called for a quick single. Halfway down the track, realising he was the only one moving, he uttered an oath in the general direction of the non-striker and was hopelessly and embarrassingly run out for 0. 153 all out.

After tea (delivered from the pub across the road) the home side’s response stuttered as Withers, enjoying the extra bounce provided by the plastic pitch, took a wicket in his first over and Zia bowled the other opener to make it 16-2. A useful partnership of 31 followed but Zia regained control and removed both batsmen in the space of three overs, the latter thanks to a catch by Eagle protecting the long-on boundary after several shots aimed in that direction.

With 20 overs remaining Shedfield (one man short) needed 100 to win with five wickets in hand but were subsequently unable to put together another meaningful partnership. Waseem replaced Withers and bowled a useful spell down the hill but it was Waqar at the other end who bamboozled the middle order to finish with incredible figures of 3-5 from three overs (one bowled, one LBW, one caught & bowled).

Eager to finish off the match Eagle turned to the senior citizens. Ken Stewart (1-1) needed only one over to remove the last recognised batsman despite seeing two chances dropped (one by a very apologetic Waqar, one by entirely unapologetic run out victim Withers) and Tranter (1-0) needed only two balls to seal the win.

And thus RUASCC’s unbeaten start to the season extends until at least May 25th.

RUASCC Highlight: Waseem Abbas scoring his first runs for RUASCC with an enormous six over mid-on.

RUASCC Man of the Match: For top-scoring with 34 and holding on to a couple of important catches, it’s Dr Eagle.

RUASCC Team: Eagle (capt), Carpenter, Malde, Dip (wkt), Zia, Turley, Abbas, Waqar, Tranter, Stewart, Withers