Greys Green (H) – 8.9.12

RUASCC 67 all out
Zia 19, Stewart 14

Greys Green 68-6
Withers 4-30, Zia 2-31

RUASCC lost by 4 wickets

On a hot, sunny Saturday afternoon at the university RUASCC will feel they let this game slip away after a sensational batting performance was criminally wasted by wayward and sloppy bowling.

Eagle could hardly believe his luck when Greys won the toss and asked him to bat, and together with Mike Ward he got the innings off to the perfect start by scoring runs in the very first over. And several more runs followed before Ward was caught at slip for a magnificent three, ending a very useful opening partnership that nevertheless set the perfect foundation for what was to follow.

Zia joined Eagle and set off in his usual style hitting countless boundaries as the pair pushed the score first past 20, then past 30 as the bowlers melted and the fielders cried and cried. For Zia this was one of his very best knocks for RUASCC, a colossal performance that was only ended when a momentary lapse of concentration saw him bowled by Rooke. Meanwhile Dr Eagle was looking to convert his double-figure score into a so-called “Daddy Teen” but tiredness crept in and a lazy swing at an Ahmed straight ball saw him clean bowled for 13.

Any joy on the bowler’s part at taking the wicket would have turned to despair when he saw Loader stride to the crease, and sure enough the new batsman teased and toyed with the bowling for the best part of an over before he graciously allowed himself to retire LBW for 0. Tranter, batting up the order at number six, demonstrated all his tactical nous and experience by being caught at mid-off for 0, and Russell Turley demonstrated that he’s not overawed at this level by being bowled first ball for 0.

Through all this excitement Dip had weighed anchor and was playing the sort of mature, responsible innings we’ve come to expect – not without its fair share of aggression (he found the boundary on no less than one occasion) his guiding hand led RUASCC to the brink of scoring 50 runs before he succumbed LBW to one of the very best deliveries in the history of cricket. The honour of pushing us beyond the 50 milestone went to Alan Ward who scored just enough runs to take us there before he was bowled by Ahmed for one.

With the pressure off, the gleeful tailenders tore into the bowling and Stewart peppered all parts of the square with his monstrous pat-downs while Withers played so beautifully straight that Greys could have dispensed with at least seven fielders. A huge, free-scoring partnership ensued with a run being added in almost every one of the 14 overs the pair stayed together. Eventually Stewart got a little too ambitious and actually tried to hit one but by then the damage was done – RUASCC had amassed 66-9 and there were still 10 overs to go before the scheduled tea time.

Dr Ashman, sensing the mood perfectly, attempted a reverse-ramp-switch-scoop-drive from his third ball but he didn’t quite nail the execution and was caught at leg-gully for a tremendous 0.

With such a grand total on the board Dr Eagle knew that a win was a nigh-on certainty as long as his bowlers kept their nerve, but over the next couple of hours the captain was badly let down. Withers, usually capable of at least imitating respectability, descended to the level of a safari park chimp flinging faeces at passers-by. Zia tried hard, bless him, but it might be time to own up to the fact that he’s simply not good enough at this level.

Runs were scored from the majority of overs that the two hapless chancers threw down – sometimes as many as one or two at a time. And even when they did manage to fluke a maiden they didn’t get many wickets. But as the saying goes, even a pissed up tramp vomiting up his special brew sometimes hits a dustbin, and Withers eventually trapped Cross LBW with his first straight delivery of the day.

In the next over Zia’s absurd slower ball made Holroyd feel so miserable that he voluntarily gave up his wicket, but opener Butler continued to treat the “attack” with the contempt it deserved as Greys coasted towards victory. Not even a five over spell where three wickets fell for no runs could halt the miserable bowling collapse, and Withers, who wasted 14 overs with this filth, was replaced by Loader who kept it tight for one ball before conceding the run that lost the game. Not his fault. Not even Dennis Lillee could have rescued the sorry mess our bowlers created for us.

RUASCC Highlight: So difficult to choose one individual highlight from a batting performance so utterly, relentlessly compelling as this one, but if forced into a corner I would say that our second leg bye was as close to perfection as I’ve seen in a long time.

RUASCC Man of the Match: Dr Ashman.

RUASCC Team: M Ward, Eagle (capt), Zia, Loader, Dip (wkt), Tranter, Turley, Stewart, A Ward, Withers, Ashman