Saturday XI Match Report 7th May 2011

Match Report - Week 1

NH 158 ao, Ockham 94 ao

And so to the new season and the team assembled with a few new faces and a blast from the past.

Heavy overnight rain had been around but the sky was now blue and the track looked good. Unfortunately in the next hour or so the rain that had fallen seemed only to dampen the very top leaving the soil hard just below. Greenwood and Rough opened the bowling and got movement and lift from the off.

A misunderstanding early on caused Dibble to be run out with the score on 6, followed very quickly by Jordan who guided one straight to Boyce at slip. Elliott joined Hoather and both looked uncomfortable on a surface so unusual at Inholms Lane. Elliott gloved to the keeper then Hoather guided one to gully followed by Goff and Tyers gloving to the keeper. Oops new season, new league, new batting collapse! When Jones went too gloving behind North Holmwood were well in the poop at 47-7 after 20 overs.

That's when the games changed as Greenwood replaced himself and Rough keeping a few overs back! Robin Lines and Steve Edwards then batted superbly for 15 overs hitting the bad balls and running really well between the wickets trying to wrestle the game back from the dead. Eventually Edwards went for 20 leaving Lines to get a really good 50 under his belt before reverse sweeping to his downfall. Morgan and Lapere added another 20 runs to get to a nearly respectable 158.

Tea was plentiful.

In reply the Ockham openers looked in no trouble as 30 rattled up in 6 or 7 overs even though there was a tough chance to Edwards in the gully. Skipper Morgan took himself out of the firing line and introduced Lines from the top end to team up with the ever reliable Daryl Goff. Soon a wicket fell and the wicket started to do a little again after a dull start. Jordan took a catch at point and Edwards at gully leaving the home side wondering if they had a chance. Hoather behind the sticks kept really well for a first go in some years and he too took a chance. Goff then produced the match winning spell as he took a hat trick with the first being bowled, Elliott taking a catch at slip and having Rough lbw stuck in his crease for the third.

Couchman and Boyce then countered but with the light getting worse and the ball doing more Lapere took the catch that won the match. Cricket is a remarkable game, from despair to joy in 4 hours…….