MATCH REPORT - SAT 3RD XI VS FINCHAMPSTEAD 5S (25TH JULY)

League Position: 3rd

We welcomed back Finch, with a number of players away, but good to see some of the colts come into the side who had been travelling, on holiday or working. A good contingent of U16's!

I have to start with................ SANTOSH HELD A CATCH
Yes, many of you may think this is a minor miracle. I say it was a MASSIVE one! Maybe it was Barrie giving him more practice before the game, maybe there was divine intervention. Either way, congratulations Santosh. No excuses from here on in, as you know how to do it now!

Anyway, the game..
Having had a reasonable amount of overnight rain, the covers had done a reasonable job, but there was plenty which had seeped underneath, and having won the toss, decided if anything was going to happen, it might happen while it was wet. No Chuckles (working in Hungary), no Levers Farrant, no Andy P, or Mighty White and JB2 was a late call up to the two's as Mikey Fingerbob Davis decided to slice the top of his finger off and have it mummified so missed the 1st team game.
We opened with Ben Horne and Iain Hedley, and got a steady start. Iain got the ball to swing and got the early wicket of the skipper caught by JB3
Ryan Blake took over from Ben and JB3 (major minor Balcombe) who came into the team with an hour to go and came on to replace Iain at the thistle motorway end. He got it to turn and kept the run rate down, but twas not his day as the remaining opener and no. 3 worked the bad ball well and just ground down the bowling. JB1 had a go after Ryan, and then season debutante Rex Henderson followed JB3. All bowled well, but we struggled to make any breakthrough. So on came Matthew Funnell and he just carried on where he left off the previous week as the "miracle" moment occured as the no.3 decided to launch him high into the air with you know who (SANTOSH) standing underneath. There was a hush, and what seemed like a slow motion as it came down. The whole team watched and held their breath. And he caught the thing! I have to say whilst there was much celebration, I was still in a state of shock...
Matthew then bowled the next batsman for nought and things were looking up.
However a stand of 80+ ensued before JB1 dropped a catch and then ran out the batsman in the same motion. Iain nicked another wicket and Matthew F got the prize opener for a very nice 94. Ryan Blake got two late wickets as well as the innings closed on 254-8.

Having seen the pitch, we knew what to expect. JB1 and I opened up again, and we got off to a steady start putting on over 70 for the opening wicket. However just as things were looking rosy, I decided to cut again in the air and got caught. Ryan Blake came in and looked positive, playing some lovely cover drives. JB1 was the next to fall however as he was caught at mid on for 71. Harry Kearsley, on seasons debut as well, came in at 4 and the young men played very patiently and accumulated runs. Things were looking on target. However Ryan, then Harry, and Ryan F went first ball and then we were on the back foot. Ben Horne batted very well, but eventually succumbed as well and it was young Matthew Funnell who was instructed to give up on the win and aimed to get to 200. Josh B got caught and it was then down to Santosh and Matthew to try to get us over the line, however Santosh could not quite back for the second as we fell one run short.

MOM: Difficult as all played well but no-one shone apart from the customary run machine JB1.
Memorable moments. You know what that was. I am still seeing it in my dreams 4 nights later.

So, disappointing not to get the win against a very good Finch side (only 3 names the same from the first fixture).
However other results actually meant we went up a spot and lie in 3rd, just behind second placed Windsor. So still all to play for and JB1 takes the side this weekend to Cove as I go off to rest my aching calf in Lake Garda. Plenty of pasta and vino will probably fix it.

This weeks van, back to the Renault traffic, as we encounter a slow down in point accumulation as does the other vans in the leadership race, however there is plenty of space to overtake.

Thanks. JB1 will eiher be doing or delegating the match report next week!

Growler