Produced by Cricket Statz - www.cricketstatz.com
Last updated 21-Aug-2008.
Match Report
The Firsts got out of jail in a real nail-biter against Compton & Chandlers Ford on Saturday! Despite the dire weather predictions they got a full game in at the Compton Ground which had a "difficult" batting track and a very poor outfield! Fred, returning from his holidays took the Captaincy back after Pete had had his spell in charge completely rained off!
First problem was the loss of another opening bowler as Tom did his back in on Friday evening. The chairman came in as a fielder only (after all we would never need him to bat would we?) and Phil Jewel opened with Craig Raddon. Both bowled really well but it was Craig's day, he picked up both openers quickly and CCF were struggling. A good partnership between Gorty and Lawrence dragged things back for them, Simon Lawrence particularly, looking good. Spinners now came on, tho Fred removed himself quickly and tried Colin, who quickly had Gorty stumped by a very lively Otis. After that Colin got some tap and Fred came back and got Lawrence caught behind after a very good 47. The CCF middle order now committed hari kiri by trying to hit Keith and Fred out of the ground resulting in two catches for Pete and one for Matt. After that the openers came back and to everyone's delight, Radski completed an excellent 5 for 27.
The target was 149 and though the pitch was difficult it should have been fairly straightforward. The openers had to work hard but Colin was caught behind off the left armer Brown who really bowled well and quickly got Pete as well. Both batsmen drove at balls they should have left and Pete must have played and missed a dozen times while scoring five! Cometh the hour, and Bondy yet again set about a repair operation. He lost Simon to a fine leg-side stumping off the excellent off spinner, Padham who also got Matt lbw. We were in real trouble now and Fred joined Bondy in a patient but very slow recovery which saw the required rate creep up from 3 to 5 per over. These two were confident that they could keep things going like that but the wheels came off when Fred was well caught at point and then the opening bowler returned and Bondy tried a big one only to be caught at long on. Don't panic Mr. Mannering!! We still had another hero however and Otis really did well to keep things going while Jewly was clean bowled for one and Radski run out going for a suicidal 2nd run. Now the last hero came in, Chairman Cooper, (who was only in as a fielder!) but who scored a crucial 10 which included a superb boundary over the cover field. As the game drew to a still uncertain finish there were Sarisbury people sitting or walking all around the ground, unable to bear the tension, particularly the skipper, all alone, wondering whether our season really had gone pear-shaped, after all the hard work. Then came a little flurry of runs by Robbie and Otis and the agony eased. The scores were level with 7 balls left so Robbie decided to finish it in style and was clean bowled! Never mind, Otis pushed the winning single (bringing his score to a vital 20) with 4 balls left. Phew!
One observation about a decision made by CCF's captain, he kept Brown on for his full 12 at the start. If he had saved 3 overs for the end it might have ended differently. Never mind, they chased it down in the end and are still on top with 2 to play!
