Sonning 2s v Baggies 2nd XI
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- Last Updated on Monday, 25 July 2011 12:27
- Written by Geoff Young
Back in the early days of the TVL, divisions were split between first & second XI's, so while you were playing a particular team it was likely your 2s would be entertaining 'their' 2s. Forty years on & with 17 separate divisions a 'double header' is a pretty rare occurence these days.
So when we arrived early at Sonning (despite the closure of the A322) I had a chance to talk to a couple of their 2nd team regulars to see how their availabilty & selection had panned out. It turned out that three of the side that played us in the game at the BCC in late May had been promoted to the 1s. The reason...? To give their first team the best chance of securing their place in Div 2b. And so it proved as our boys lost by 20 runs leaving them firmly at the foot of the table & the visitors safely placed in 4th spot.
As for Sonnings 2s, those three fellas were sorely missed & might need to return sooner rather than later as the home sides defeat leaves them struggling in the relegation zone. It didn't look like that for the first 40odd overs of the game mind you, thanks to some fine swing bowling from Jackson whose first 16 overs went for a paltry 21 runs.
After Young, Dawson, Bushy & Medlock had all gone in the teens and Rawle & Skilton had lasted 3 balls between them it looked as though 150 was but a distant dream. Thankfully Taz 'Pepperami Man' Ishtak grabbed the innings by the proverbials & played both beautifully & circumspectly for a game changing 84 not out.
So instead of chasing around 125, Sonning now needed 170 & at the interval there were a few concerned faces hiding behind Mr Kiplings French Fondants & large mugs of tea.
The Sonning openers survived a couple of close calls but took advantage of some loose stuff to put on 60 for the first wicket (It feels like i've 'cut & pasted' that bit from every match report so far!). The introduction of Whatling paid immediate dividends & both openers were back in the hutch within an over of each other.
Jonny A (our first team 'swap' with Farrant) was now bowling with confidence after a few weeks in the wilderness. Maybe the big fella was in the 1s for his batting..? or fielding...? Either way it worked out nicely for us thank you very much. Within 10 overs Sonnings middle & lower order had collapsed quicker than BSkyBs share price & numbers 8 & 9 played shots that would have been reckless in a beer match.
Whatling dropped a horribly easy chance at 9 down that my dead grandmother would have snaffled, but he saved his own blushes shortly after when he bowled the last man with just 3 overs to spare. Jonny finished with an impressive 3-58 off 23 overs, DJ picked up 3 & George got a well deserved '4-for' to give us our 3rd much needed win of the campaign & a giant leap up to 5th spot.
As the first XI availability continues to frustrate who knows who we'll have in the team next week when we entertain Kidmore End (who also picked up a vital win over Princes Risborough). And yes... it's another big game... Lets hope our upcoming 'cricket week' doesn't claim too many victims...
