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Last updated 18-May-2008.
Match Report
Under Matt McKeever the 2nds travelled to just inside Wiltshire to play Redlych and Hale. Matt won the toss on a soft wicket in grey skies and chose to bowl.
Les opened from one end with Ian Clark making his debut for the 2nds. Both bowled well with Ian getting the first wicket LBW. He then followed up with a good caught and bowled to get the second wicket 20 odd for 2. Their number 4 and opener then put on a very good partnership of nearly 100 One bat getting 68 the other 48. Les was dropping the odd ball short [ including a six that hit my car!]. After a steady spell I replaced Ian. Lets say I had an off day as I struggled for rhythm being too short. Les was still bowling and Matt replaced me after three poor overs. This was where the game changed. After a good spell from Les, Jake came on also making his 2nd team debut. This started a collapse as between them Matt and Jake reduced Redlych from 125/ 2 to 160 odd for 9. They both moved the ball and apart from one bad slower ball from Jake bowled very well. One wicket from Jake I would have been proud of, a slower ball that pitched middle hit off. At one point Matt got 2 in 2. They both got us in to a position to win the game. When Jake finished a great spell 3-16 off 7 I came back on with 3 better overs. After Matt, Ian came back for 2 balls to get the last wicket clean bowled with a good yorker. Redlych had put on a very important 20 odd for last wicket. The fielding was good I think 3 difficult catches were dropped and Graham Flower's ground fielding was worth watching.
After tea Ossy and PJ opened. PJ got dropped early [much to the bowler disslike who told everyone]. PJ was soon LBW and got told where to go. Clinchy then came in and with Oss set us on the way to winning the match. They put on 80 odd together. Ossy was very disciplined playing second fiddle to Clinchy. Clinchy had some luck but also hit 2 big sixes. After the 2 pace bowlers had finished their spells another pace came on and a left arm spinner. The spinner bowled very well getting turn and bounce and Ossy had to work to keep him out. Clinchy then went for big hit and was caught at deep square off the spinner for 48. Matt was in next. He hit 3 or 4 great shots before miscuing and got caught. Ossy was still there with Graham in next. After working so hard Ossy was soon to go unluckly LBW for 48. Well batted Oss. Mr cool Oliphant was in next to help us home. Graham, 2 balls after a great 4, was caught and short cover and Dan fell quickly. This brought Les in. Now the spinner was nearing the end of his spell so we should play him off which Les did despite missing more than he hit. With it getting very tense and Les' slog for 4 and we were nearly home. Then Olly got out LBW with about 10 to win. Ian was in with Les and slowly got us home. A typical Les shot got us home. A hard working win with great perfomances from skipper, Ossy and the 2 debutants.
