League Match vs The Village, 3rd June 2006, London Fields
Village 209-5 (35 overs) lost to London Fields 213 for 9 (30.4 overs)
By our Vice Captain Andy Wyatt
On a hot, cloudless day, Jason Lord won the toss and asked the Village to
bat first.
We had seen the talent of Alan "A-Bomb" White last year, and two
new Australian recruits joined him in the VIllage's top order to make the
first innings a fascinating well-balanced affair. We did not take wickets
quickly, but our bowling was tight enough to prevent them running away with
it. Jason mixed the bowling and fielding positions around. Alec McCrindle,
celebrating his 30th birthday, scored a direct hit at one stump to run out
Strobes, who was on his way to a big score. The whole team can take credit
in keeping the opposition down to 209.
Our target of 210 at exactly six an over looked well within reach at halfway. Rhodri Evans had hit some smart boundaries before a false shot saw him caught out for 17. Richard Johnson proceeded to hit an excellent 81, with good support from Will Isaac. Both hitting anything loose, and not looking in any difficulty, we were 141 for 1 after 18 overs.
Drinks breaks can often break partnerships. Today, not only the partnership , but our whole innings had its back broken within a few minutes of the brief stop for rehydration. Richard's dismissal was followed by the loss of Andy, Alec, Jason and Matt for a combined score of one run. The Village had their tails up and were back in the game. Will Isaac assumed command of the batting in the middle and played some lovely shots. Jakob Bumke took the anchor role and we, aided by profligate no-balling costing 28 invaluable runs, began eating into the target score again.
Victory was in out sights when Will fell for 60, swiftly followed by Rob. We had less than 10- runs to score, but only two wickets left. So close but....
Jakob intellgently inched us nearer, his 8 not out a very big innings. Simon
Yates clipped two to tie the scores. We could not lose. The relief may have
led Simon to
waft at the ball which removed his leg stump.
The last man, Paul Turley, strode to the wicket. How would the pressure affect the man? He watched his first ball carefully past his off stump, then leant forward into the next pitched up delivery. His well timed push sped down the wicket, the bowler dived in an attempt to block it, but to no avail. The ball ran away to the Turley End boundary. We had clinched a thrilling victory.
Here's the scorecard:
Village Batting:
209-5 (35 overs)
London Fields Bowling:
| Name | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Average |
| Will | 5 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 16 |
| Simon | 5 | 0 | 24 | 0 | - |
| Paul T | 5 | 0 | 21 | 0 | - |
| Jakob | 5 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 30 |
| Rob | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | - |
| Alec | 5 | 0 | 38 | 0 | - |
| Matt T | 5 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 32 |
| Rhodri | 4 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 33 |
London FieldsBatting:
| Batsman | Scoring | How Out | Bowler | Total |
| Rhodri | - | caught | Mike | 17 |
| Richard | - | caught | Alan | 81 |
| Will | - | caught | Neil | 60 |
| Andy | - | lbw | Alan | 0 |
| Alec | - | bowled | Tilby | 1 |
| Jason | - | lbw | Tilby | 0 |
| Matt T | - | caught | Alan | 0 |
| Jakob | - | not | out | 8 |
| Rob | - | lbw | Pete | 0 |
| Simon | - | bowled | Pete | 2 |
| Paul T | - | not | out | 4 |
| Extras | 40 | |||
| Total: 213 for 9 in 30.4 overs |
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