SJFCC vs Lower Red Lion
2005-07-21. Win by 6 wickets By Dave Boxer
Result: Lower Red Lion, 117 for 9 from 20 overs; The Mighty Fishers, 118 for 4 from 18.3 overs.
Fishers are back to winning ways thanks to a vastly improved performance against Lower Red Lion, and will hopefully continue this form through until the end of the season.
Dave won the toss and decided to field. Jules opened up the bowling and enjoyed immediate success, removing both openers in a cracking 2-over spell, the first thanks to yet another catch by Bungle and the second from a catch by Adam Hounslow.
The oppo were 3 down in the 4th over when Ethan, opening from the other end, tempted the no.3 into a lofted off-drive that fell straight to Edwards at mid-off.
The success continued when Hounslow, who was moving the ball a mile, bowled the no.4 with a beauty, and Fishers were well and truly in the ascendancy.
However, a good stand followed from Lower Red, between their no.5 and no.6, who put on almost 40 runs together. The partnership was finally broken by Rosson, who, with his first ball, had the latter caught behind by Bullet for 17.
The very next ball, Rosson bowled the no.8 with a beauty, and then, with fielders gathered round the new bat for the hatrick ball, bowled the no.9 with an outstanding off-stump yorker to achieve the hatrick and go down in Fishers history. A truly brilliant spell of bowling.
Boxer got in on the act as well, removing the no.7 thanks to an edge that was acrobatically taken one-handed by Jacobs in the slips. Tight overs then followed from Sandsy and Jacobs, but they couldn’t prevent a flurry of late runs by the no.10, who scored an impressive 34. Jacobs managed to wrap him up though with his final ball, bowling him for 34.
So, with 118 the target, Fishers opened up with Hounslow and Edwards. The pair made a great start, putting on 38 before the former departed for 12 after being caught at slip from a top-edge. Hatrick hero Rosson strode to the crease, and his confidence was there for all to see when he made a cracking unbeaten 28, including three fours and a cheeky chip over the eeper’s head.
Edwards was still going strong as well, and displayed his power through the leg side, smacking four almighty 4s, but just as he was about to retire he was caught at gully for 28. Great innings nonetheless, which gave us a good start.
Jacobs departed disappointingly for 1, after he trod on his wicket after dispatching a bouncer for four and King went for 6 after lofting a well-disguised slower ball to mid-on, but Bungle and Dave saw the innings out by putting on an unbeaten 32, comprising 5 fours, to see the game out with an over-an-a-half to spare.
A really good all-round performance and hopefully a sign of things to come for the remainder of the season.
Man of the match: Several contenders – Jules bowled brilliantly and set the tone with her early two wickets, Ethan also bowled well, as did Matt and Sandsy. Mark showed powerful batting, as did Bungle, whilst Adam played some delightful shots, but the winner has to be James, who took a magnificent hatrick and scored an unbeaten 26.
