Warborough (A) – 11.5.14

Warborough 142-7 dec.

Withers 3-35, Asim 2-17

RUASCC 114-9

Eagle 31, Dip 17, Ward 13

Match drawn

After the frequent torrential rain of the previous day the weather stayed considerably more settled on Sunday afternoon, a fact which allowed us to complete a tense, hard-fought and ultimately unsuccessful game of cricket.

Upon winning the toss with only 8 players present, Eagle naturally decided to field.  Realising this would leave us rather exposed the skipper did at least manage to delay the start for 15 minutes by repeatedly looking over at the car park and muttering to himself, and it was only when this proved unsustainable that we eventually got underway.  It was a further 20 minutes before the rest of the team arrived and we soon learned there had been a postcode problem: they couldn’t work out why Eagle had given them a postcode that took them to Benson, while Eagle couldn’t work out why they went to Benson looking for Warborough Cricket Club.

The combination of Withers and Asim managed figures of 5-52 from 25 overs, but even with a full team we hardly distinguished ourselves in the field.  One of Warborough’s opening batsmen later admitted he had finished “46 for 5” having been dropped twice by Ward and once by Withers, then seen an edge fly off Ashman’s knee at slip before he was finally bowled by Asim.  Eagle had already dropped the other opener, and later Weeks and Withers both dropped the guy who finished on 34 not out - Withers opting on this occasion to stop the ball with his throat.  I can’t make sense of it; some days we genuinely look like we know what we’re doing, other days we look like a team born without hands.

Worse was to come, however, because we still had to bat.  If our fielding was a headache, our batting was a pounding migraine complete with dizziness, swirling lights and dry, uncontrollable vomiting.  We certainly weren’t helped by a wet pitch and a slow outfield, but while we’re scooping full tosses straight to fielders or getting ourselves run out it makes it hard to blame it all on the condition of the grass.  I must confess a significant amount of self-interest here, but I’d really rather prefer it if no one got out at all.  As most of you are aware, my ideal day is just bowling a few overs, taking a few wickets and then sitting in the sun with my scorebook while you guys go and win the game.  I don’t want to have to bat, it makes me confused and frightened.

Once Salman, Asim and Daman had all been bowled by Tilley (on his way to taking 5-27) it was left to Ashman and Withers to block out the last couple of overs, which Ashman attempted to do by edging cheerfully through short extra cover.  Despite his best efforts the match was saved and gives RUASCC a season record of three cancellations, two losing draws and one demoralising defeat.

Only one point worth adding is that if I’d known how much the home side were going to charge us for tea I would have eaten a hell of a lot more of it.

RUASCC Highlight:  No, not really.

RUASCC Man of the Match:  For bowling a productive 16-over spell and then having the final say in saving the draw, it’s Keith Withers.

RUASCC Team:  Ward, Eagle (capt), Fawaz, Acres, Dip (wkt), Weeks, Salman, Asim, D. Singh, Ashman, Withers