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Last updated 09-Jun-2009.
Match Report
It's 90-1 off 19 overs. Its hot. We've been bowling to 2 proper batsman. Robbo's calf and Senior's ankle are hurting. We're regretting only having 4 bowlers and the only good thing to look forward to is a drinks break.
And then Rob Carpenter steps up and knocks back the off stump of their number 3. 90-2 doesn't look so bad and the grizzled thirds begin to shuffle back into the game.
Olly comes on and gets their opener LBW and Robbo bowls their number 4 in a fine second spell. West Moors middle order graft away but what was a 300 score begins to disappear in the distant summer haze. Robbie takes a good catch at deep mid on off Olly, Senior picks up a wicket, Olly gets another and Fras gets 2 in the last over as West Moors end on 200-9. In truth the best openers we may face this year were followed by some ordinary batting and we were left to reflect on 3 tough dops in the early exchanges.
We tried to remember when the 3rds had last chased down 200 to win a game...no, no one could remebr that.
West Moors had a quickish slinger and a steady old boy and despite scoring freely we were soon 45-4 with Farls, Fras, Olly and Robbie out.
Tosders and Greg then saw off the openers and then Tosders played the innings that he often threatens. Booming off drives for one bounce 4s and violent pulls; Greg's clips off his toes for 4 and stumbling running. Gradully the bonus points racked up as Olly, Senior and Robbo pottered round the boundary occasionally telling Tosders to calm down and generally putting the world to rights. West Moors went from thinking about a celelebratory drink to ratty anxiety in an hour as Tosders clubbed 4 after 4 and we dashed along at 7 an over.
80-4 became 100-4 as another circuit was completed. Robbie ticked the scoreboard over, Swish twitched in his baggy green cap and Benny Hill specs and Fras and Rob C knocked up for more than an hour.
Another circuit and we were 140-4 and then 2 overs later 160-4 as Tosders hit a straight six. Almost unseen we needed 40 off 15 overs with 6 wickets left. It was only when the realisation that we might win seeped in that there was ever doubt. but Tosders rumbed on into the 90s and we were nearly there when a top edge form Greg meant he went for 44 and ended a 149 run partnership. 5 mins later and Tosders had his ton. Sadly he then sliced a wide to gully and ambled back with the widest grin to a standing ovation. A great monent for Tosders and for those of us who saw him hunched and gloomy in the corner of the changing room for much of last season.
3 wins out of 3. 2 big run chases for victory. We're waiting for the bubble to burst but its not happened yet as the 3rds go top.
