MATCH REPORT - SAT 3RD XI VS THEALE & TILEHURST 3 (18TH JULY)

League position: unknown at time of press, but probably 4-5th. Still tight at the top…

Having played for the 3s at this venue last year, I knew what to expect, and on winning the toss, decided to endure the torture early by batting first!
It looks OK, but the ball has a tendency to pop off of length or shoot off a length. With myself and JB1 opening, we took our time getting used to the pitch, and made a leisurely 11 runs of the first 9 overs! We picked up the pace a bit but eventually I looped one pop-up delivery to gully for 28 after an opening stand of 67 leaving JB1 to continue driving the van forwards with Adam Carey. Adam fell to a nick behind, the returning JB2 (Josh Brown for those who have missed the sequence), got bowled for 9 and it was the stylish and charismatic Nige Rice who steadied the ship. JB1 fluked his way to another half century (J) but unfortunately he fell soon after for 59 bowled by the in-swinging ankle height delivery. In cam the other man in form in Ryan Funnell, who showed very little respect of the bowlers or the pitch as he carried on from last week, hitting fours around the ground making a quick 30 before pulling one high in the air to the keeper. Ben Horne knew we wanted quick runs and ran it and back out again without troubling the scorers, and in came the swashbuckling and bat waving Santosh. In an obvious hurry as he took one ball as preparation before trying to increase the tempo and gather as many runs as possible before the end of the innings. He was bowled for 3 unfortunately which left Nige and the returning Adam Passfield to finish up against some tight bowling. We closed on our 187 with Nige on a respectable 28*.

A pretty poor tea later, we took to the field. With plenty of bowling to choose from, the side were confident the pitch would aid them. T&T also batted sensibly as Chuckles and Adam P opened up and the pitch carries on as normal. However, the pitch did not seem to offer as much as in the first innings and try as we might, we could not break through.

No luck for Chuckles, Ben Horne and JB1 came into the attack. JB1 finally taking a wicket at a similar score to our first innings (71). Hopes still high as the run rate was climbing a bit. Iain and Santosh (his hands are definitely small than most peoples) missed a couple of catches which did not help the cause, but Iain made amends by coming on and finding his wicket taking length (a nice Del-like half tracker) clubbed to Adam Carey at mid on. Their skipper was in and scoring, mainly by improvisation as he chose to score most of his runs with the back of his bat rather than the front. JB1 showed he is mortal too by dropping a catch, but then promptly made up for it by running him out instead. JB2 bowled a few hostile overs and threatened a wicket, but the game slowly drifted away from us, as their skipper upped the tempo. It seemed the way to bat on the wicket was to slash a lot and play your shots as if you hit it you had a good chance of getting over slips or fielders.
Desperate times needed desperate action, so Growler brought himself on to stem the tide, and we soon after left the ground for an early beer back at the club…

So back at home next week to take on the young Finch 5’s next week. We need to get back on track or back on the motorway so to speak.
With the promise of a Mrs. JB1 tea (plenty of requests for the lemon drizzle cake Patricia!!), we hope for fine weather and victory.

This week’s van is Delboy’s Robin Reliant. We spluttered a bit and every bump proved painful, but this time next week JB1 could have a million runs…. And Ryan “Rodders” Funnell showing promise and learning from Del about driving the van.

MOM. JB1 for a fine 58 a wicket and a run out. Hope he hits some decent form next week.
Memorable Moments. Seeing Mr Passfield senior back at full pace and bowling….
Other memorable moments. Small hands Santosh giving me the shock of the day as he caught a ball…. In practice before the game….. but could not replicate it in the match and the batsmen seemingly targeting him wherever we put him in the field!

Thanks
Growler