Produced by Cricket Statz - www.cricketstatz.com
Last updated 28-Jul-2009.
Match Report
With four players playing their first league cricket of the season, and only four remaining from last week's rainy romp, this was a trip into the unknown, or at least into Cowplain. But it was a day when every one of the 11 Sarisbury soldiers stood up, fought and contributed to a great win.
Tim Cooper and Chris Oliphant built a base, Tim moving smoothly to 14 before Chris, much to Mark Callow's four lettered (actually seven if you include the 'ing') surprise, belted a stunning six over the bowler's head. But Tim (14), Chris (17) and Richard Azar all fell in 9 balls without addition to the 35 opening stand. The bowlers' peckers were proper perky as Ian Stewart and Lewis Mitchard came together and just 7 runs came from overs 11-20. Team-mates were getting anxious, especially when Ian had a miraculous escape as one ball clipped his off stump without dislodging a bail. On such moments can matches turn and after drinks, Lewis and Ian were fantastic, runs coming at seven an over before the partnership of 105 was broken with Lewis caught low down at extra cover for a well paced 40 (five fours). Ian completed his fifty with his 10th four but he chopped on for 52, having set up the innings for a final flurry, the score 146-5 in the 35th over. 3 wickets fell but Ian Black (17 not out) was a steady rock in the later overs and Will Jacobs tormented the hosts with a deadly combination of clean hitting and constant chattering, scoring off every one of the 7 balls he faced in a cameo of 15 not out. 183-8 was more than we could have dreamed of, either at the start, or at 42-3 after 20 overs.
Spirits were high despite Ollie Challis spilling his tea during the break and Mark Callow doing his best impression of a grumpy old git. But even Mark nearly raised a smirk as his bowlers and fielders pressed home their advantage early doors. Will Jacobs, opening the bowling, had figures of 1-5 off his first 4 overs, taking a caught and bowled to dismiss the opening batsman for a blob. Ian Street was typically steady at the other end and 10 overs passed with Waterlooville on 26-1. It was Richard Azar who starred ball-wise, though, a double wicket maiden in his second over and Ollie Challis held one up just enough for a catch at mid off by Ian Street to reduce the hosts to 42-4. Ian needed treatment for a cut finger but returned just as the scorer was considering doing a 'Blacky' and fielding. After a few lusty licks, the number 6's leading edge looped high to the strapped up Street to pouch and the ball was following the Street fighter as he took a third catch two overs later, both wickets to Richard Azar (10-3-29-4). At 21 overs and drinks, the score was 69-6 and the game surely ours. It was a little anti-climatic thereafter as we allowed more runs than we should have and the total moved into three figures. Tom Farley trapped the young number 3 lbw for a good 33 but there was just one more wicket as Chris Oliphant took a well-judged catch inches from the boundary off the returning Ian Street just as runs were coming at a rate to threaten our stranglehold. Mark Callow and Ian Street bowled tight overs to halt the home hurrah and Waterlooville closed 25 runs short of our score with 8 wickets down.
This was a great example of team spirit, fortitude oozing like melted cheese from a toasted sandwich. I might have imagined it, but it was such a momentous win that on the drive back west, we ran a gauntlet of wildly enthusiastic Sarisbury fans, mothers were raising their children up to the car windows and old ladies were on their knees, as if a triumphant army were returning to town. Absent Captain Mark - the lads did you proud!
