Orientals 256 – 6 off 35 overs.
SJFCC 131 – all out off 21 overs. RO won by 125 runs.
Sunday 20th June – Rothampstead (lower pitch) – match reporter Simon
As usual the sun was shining on the fishermen as they descended towards the lower pitch at Rothampstead park. Everybody was mostly on time ready to go, fielding warms-ups completed, boots tied, dressed mostly correctly etc
But then it was discovered we only had 3 stumps in the kit bag – so Reevo was dispatched to his school to get a complete set so we could start the game, which was reduced to 35 overs (no bad thing as it turns out) – but we all blamed Anil anyway.
The ‘O’s began in a brisk manner at almost 10 runs a over for the first 3 before Dave took an astonishing Caught and bowled – diving full length, one handed, with pike and double dismount to land – the oppo even managed a ripple of applause. Good start for Fishers, and after that the ‘O’s calmed down a little, the pitch although looking the usual a-bit-shabby-unkempt-grass-patched-mown-outfield-look was actually quite good, the ball coming through nicely before it disappeared over the ropes…
Anyway 2nd change brought up Ross, who started slowly but then produced the best bowling performance of the day 3 for 39 off 7 (I was actually fielding down the slope about a mile lower than the square, so it was hard to tell what was really going on with the cricket). Reevo used all his years of experience producing a good over cleverly mixed with a crap one, which kept the run rate down a little. I was then brought on and with the end of the match looming and was dispatched to most parts of the ground (help yourself/takeaway bowling), although our skip did actually manage to catch one behind the stumps (on 2nd attempt). Watsons Snr was brought on for a quick spell on 1 over for 17 – but then rested. Vimel then came out and flayed everybody mostly over the ropes until his non-running centurion-bat-changing friend didn’t go for a run and ran him out, prompting a bit of a prams-and-toys moment as he flounced off the pitch. Their innings finished on Hardik getting a 100 with a hooked six (we wont mention him being dropped on about 30 will we dave and andrew?!)
So tea and Fishers fortified by a good tea and fine cakes we confident that on this pitch with short boundaries and a fast outfield we could get near (ish) to 256.
Things started not to well with the Skip edging one to slip – no doubt the pressure of the match or jet-lag was his undoing, Nick and Andy then steadied the ship, Nick producing two nice boundaries, until he was triggered, sorry given out LBW Mr Carpenter. Then followed a steady progression of wickets, Andrew hung around a bit until he edged a wide one. The Reevonator hit a six into the next county before going. Dave top scored with 29 taking some revenge back to the guy who had hit him for a couple of 6’s. But in the end we were well short and really needed someone in the top 4 to hang around a bit. But a good friendly game of cricket and we play the Orientals again in a months time.
Man of the match – Ross Watson for a great spell of bowling
Champagne moment – Dave for his C&B effort
