Produced by Cricket Statz - www.cricketstatz.com
Last updated 20-May-2009.
Match Report
I really thought the first game curse would occur yet again for the 2nds. Despite some real squeeky bum moments however we got the win.
On a nice day for Cricket I lost the toss for first time that I can recently remember allowing Amport first use of a great pitch.
They started rapidly using the pace of Tooley to hit quite a few early boundaries, in all fairness he was too quick for them and they just dangled the bat more in hope than anything else (my fault for not having 3rd man early enough). Les broke through as I was about to rest him for some spin and again returned tidy figures despite not bowling as well as he had pre-season.
Their number three I have played against a few times (G.White) and knew he was the best bat they had, however Dulux got him early and thanks to a great spell of 1-25 off 10 overs put us on top. Both Dulux and Ag's bowled really well together and really slowed up Amport. At one stage we were hopefull of only chasing 140~150. I made another error by asking Tooley to replace Ag's at end of his spell (3-39) and the over went for about 15-16. Again no blame apportioned to the bowler but any bat on ball at that pace is four!!!!
I came on to replace Danny and managed to clean the tail (4-20) supported by Macca. Despite the total creeping upto 181 I was more than confident we could get them.
Maybe then came the turning point.......Mrs Millward's tea. It was probably a school boy error asking for the best teas in the club on the first game as we seemed to struggle due to the huge amounts of coronation chicken consumed!!!! (mmmmmm...corrie chicken)
I made a decision that Macca would open with Os as from experience I thought it would be best for the cleanest striker in the team to put away the bad ball that was bound to arrive from early season bowling. This backfired as Matt was not aware that there was a new ball each innings, crashing the second ball to cover off the toe. This brought in Sammy Floyd who at 14 belied his youth to play some of the best shots of the match earning high praise from Brian Knapp. Oz went quite cheaply and we were 20-2. Sam and PJ batted great together, PJ building an innings unlike in pre-season before unluckily dismissed for 19. Sam went almost next ball for 21 which left two new batsmen, Dan M and Reevsey. Dan was out early rather unluckily and we were in serious trouble at 50-5. I went 2nd ball and we were staring at a bad defeat 58-6. Then came the match winning partnership between Reevsy and Dulux who put on exactly 100 for the 7th wicket. Both playing patient innings, putting away the bad balls (of which there were a few, though still had to be put away). Reevsy was well caught making a great 60. With still 30+ needed for victory Ag's (our new overseas) made his way to the crease hastily followed by his baggy gusset trousers! We knew if we batted the overs we would win, and that was managed in the 43rd over by Dan steering one to 3rd man for four making his 50 in the process and getting us a 3 wicket win.
So victory from the jaws of defeat, great effort and character shown at the end by the bats and a game played on a good pitch in a great spirit, mentioned more than once by the opposition.
We must remember Amport only had 3 bowlers of note and only just stayed up last year. They will struggle to stay up this year so the games will be a lot harder from now on. Apart from the early batting and dropped catches there were positives, but we must and will improve.
