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| v HOUNSLOW LEISURE, 17TH JUNE 2014 |
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STEVE'S VIEW. |
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The evening didn't start well as both team had to wait
outside the ground for someone to unlock the main gate. The teams then had to remove the square markers
and drag ropes to make a boundary. The track didn't seem to be prepared and for some reason chosen
ahead of a least two better looking tracks. Anyway all that and Barry winning, yes winning the toss,
suggested that this was not going to be some ordinary match! The match got underway around 6:30pm
but with plenty of decent lighting remaining of the day, it wasn't going to be a factor. It was
suggested to Barry prior to him making the decision to field first, that we weren't a good a good chasing team. |
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The bounce on the pitch was at times erratic and that coupled
with a very slow outfield, meant runs were going to be fairly difficult to make. The opposition started fairly
well running a number of quick (often suicidal) singles, however, our fielders failed to capitalise initial.
Alok made the initial breakthrough bowling one of the openers. Another would have happened if for some bizarre
reason Vijay went from first slip to leg slip and the very next ball would have gone down first slips' throat.
This was followed by a run out, the opposition chancing once too often trying to run a bye when the ball went
straight into Barry's gloves and following a throw back to the bowler, run out the facing batman with ease.
Will S picked up a couple of wickets, one stumped by Barry and another caught at deep mid-wicket by Vijay.
I think the rest of the wickets were shared around a with a couple more run outs as well. Hounslow Leisure
ended up with 117, which was about par giving the pitch and slow outfield.
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Adam and Steve opened the batting, ticking over runs in the initial
few overs. Both were out before they reach double figures. Barry came in at 3 and Richard at 4. Following a missed
full toss by a Richard, Rick came in at 5. Barry and Rick were going along well for a while maintaining the 6 an
over run rate required to reach the target. Rick hit a wonderful six off a no ball, but was out a little later. Will
Vijay coming in and Barry continuing to play some good shots we still felt confident that we should reach the target.
Some tight bowling in the last 6 overs from the opposition was making it difficult for Barry and Vijay to hit more
than one or two runs at a time and some ball were unplayable lifting and moving off a length because of the track.
This added some pressure on Vijay and Barry and on one occasion while running for two, Steve called one short againstVijay as his bat was short of the crease before returning for the second run.
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14 was needed of the last 2 overs and the penultimate over only supplied
6 of these. 8 needed of the last over to win. It came down to the final ball when any result still possible,
2 for the win, 1 to tie and no runs for a loss. Vijay faced and hit a good shot through mid-wicket, mid-on area. A
tight but almost certain 2 available, however, Vijay once again failed to make the full run and Steve called one short
on the final ball even though Barry was running to the danger end. Barry ending up with 49. |
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So it ended up a tie but Cricket was the real winner on the day. |
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Steve also added this statistical analysis of the main innings of the day, Barry's jug avoiding 49 not out: |
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