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Scorecard
Produced by Cricket Statz - www.cricketstatz.com Last updated 24-Jul-2008.
Match Report played at Cams Hill School. This report is from me as an observer in the midddle not as an official of Sarisbury Athletic. Whinging out the way first, that wicket and outfield is not County 1 standard. I have no doubt Portchy do all that they can to bring it up to scratch but never the less, sounding like sour grapes but I speak what I think it was poor. Portchy won the toss and elected to bat, our two young guns opened up and after their 15 overs Portchy were 60-3. A good start, however, neither bowler used the conditions that well, did not bowl the right lines often enough and you couldn't help but feel that on this up and down wicket more wickets did not fall with the new ball. That said neither bowled badly and when Keith came on and got an early wicket with the skipper doing his best to avoid a big skier that Pete H took running from mid on to within 10 feet of a Rabbit caught in the headlight skipper!!!! Sarisbury were on top. And when Freddie got his wicket, snaffled by a Bondy juggler at slip Portchy were rocking at 94-5 after 31 overs. At this point you just felt that the game was Sarisbury's for the taking, however a big congratulations must go to the Portchy no 6 who played the most delightful innings supported by the over seas player in the last 17 overs they had an unbroken partnership of 129 to help post a 200 score. Some of his shots were measured and easy on the eye, never needing to go aerial and this was helped by some indisciplined fielding, which in itself has been a rarity this season for the firsts, and a lousy outfield. Freddy tried moving the bowlers around in an effort to get the break through but it just never materialised, Phil Jewell in particular was the pick of the bowlers who gave little away and Freddy himself put a much better shift in this week. However the last over went for 19 and with this Portchy took the momentum into the tea break. I was not party to the skipper's team talk but I would imagine he was asking for his Batters to take responsibility, partnerships and seeing off the new ball. In truth it never happened, of the top 6 only Squidge showed stickability, seeing out a hostile assault by Portchy's left arm over, until he played an absolute ugly shot to an even uglier delivery. Before that though the bowler from my end (and ultimate my MOM) had wrecked havoc amongst our top order by bowling the sort of lines and with movement that Sarisbury's bowlers could not/did not match. His spell of 12 overs 5-12 was excellent. Did he deserve those figures, in truth, yes and no. He did nothing wrong, hardly bowled a bad ball but boy did our big guns hand it on a plate to him. This was typified by the shot that saw Pete H's top of off stump knocked back. The ball delivered was a peach the complete opposite was the shot selection and execution of the batter. We all have quite rightly applauded Pete for his undoubted talent, ability and it has been said many times here his excellent form this season, but for once with a target to chase Pete's high standards were not present. Only he himself can explain what he was trying to do. Before long Sarisbury were rocking at 59-5 when Matty J was given out caught behind, he was adamant he didn't nick it saying the noise and there was a noise was bat hitting ground in attempting to drive. So, perhaps Matty J excluded the rest of the top order must look at themselves and ask what could I have done differently to help win the game. Question that I ask and even challenge the first batters are, are you flat track bullies? Do you have the nous to change roles and graft your way to chase down a decent score? Am I being too hard in my synopsis? There is no doubting the talent, but talent alone is not enough. However, I would like to feel that they will hold their hands up and admit they underachieved individually and collectively yesterday. From 71-7 Freddy was joined by Phil who at last showed the sort of application required and they put on a symmetrical 71 for the 8th wicket. Just before Phil went it was still game on admitedly 10 and over was needed with 5 overs left but game on because these two applied themselves. Once this partnership was broken the game was over and fizzled out to a THOROUGHLY deserved victory for Portchy. They bowled better lines, they fielded tigerishly, and in their experienced no 6 bat they had a player who new how to change his approach according to the situation of the game. They were also very well skippered by Craig, (who I must say I reckon would have an argument in an empty room!!!) and they just gave me the impression they wanted it more than we did. Finally when the results came in and we find out that the top 3 lost and that we were still top, my mood improved, thinking we got away with. BUT ON REFLECTION, I am not sure now that it was good. Because to lose and drop down to 3rd or 4th would drive home the faults displayed by the team yesterday, the fact we are first still, is I am CONCERNED that lessons will not have been learned from the performance. Please guys go out and prove me wrong. Gooders |
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