2nd XI 2017 Season
Saturday 6th May 2017, Chestfield Away
The 2nd XI's opening game of the season involved a lengthy trip to Chestfield on the North Kent coast - a trip too far for a certain Calum Hider, who decided half an hour before the departure time that his work commitments that evening prevented him from travelling, and initiated a scramble for a new 11th man. The identity of the replacement remained unknown until we reached Chestfield - new addition Dan Hunter had brought along his dad, Paul, who'd been due to make his club debut for the 3rd XI.
Of the 11 that took the field, none none were the current or previous captain of the side, so Dan Webster had been invited to lead the side. With no umpire, ODs forfeited the toss and were asked to bat first - a decision the stand-in skipper did not dislike, although perhaps it would be best to hide this information given the events that followed...
Webster opened the batting with Osborne, and 10 uneventful but economical overs passed without the loss of a wicket. The scoring rate of one run per over was not something that could be allowed to continue all innings, but it did at least provide a platform upon which the rest of the innings could be built. That was until Webster chased a wide one and was superbly caught in the gully. Words of sympathy offered to the temporary leader gained no traction as he espoused some of his trademark negativity: "if you hit it in the air near a fielder, you can't complain if you get caught." Unfortunately, the solid platform built in the first ten overs was then dismantled in the space of a few balls, as Osborne and McLaughlin soon followed in the captain's footsteps back to the pavilion, leaving ODs 17/3. Responsibility was now handed down to Billy Rouse and Ed Nott, who combined to make a short but sweet partnership comprised of quick running and clean ball-striking. But both fell in quick succession - Rouse caught in front of the wicket, Nott caught behind - to leave the side in deeper trouble at 46/5. Paul Hunter joined Rowan Clapp and defied convention by forcing the younger player to indulge in unwanted scampering between the wickets. Clapp decided that boundaries were required, striking some nice shots down the ground and through mid-wicket, before attempting one shot too many and having his stumps rearranged. Paul continued to impress after his surprise elevation to the 2nd XI, pushing singles and playing some punchy shots to lift ODs towards the hundred mark. Luke Hunter made an unfortunate duck before Tej Patel made an effervescent 15 in partnership with Paul. Once Tej fell, Hunter jnr quickly followed and Paul was last man out for 34, leaving Simon Henley not out and in receipt of 10 fantasy points.
The total of 119 was clearly inadequate, but we took to the field in the hope that early wickets could cause some alarm and derail what looked like a regulation chase. The first 10 overs unfortunately yielded no breakthrough. Despite some good bowling by Hunter jnr and T Patel, the experienced opening pair acclimatised to conditions and started counting down the runs required. Ed Nott came into the attack to mix up the approach with some spin, but that couldn't crack the code. So it was left to the stand-in skipper, with the ignominy of a 10-wicket defeat looming, to intervene and salvage some pride, as well as points. A combination of yorkers, slower balls and silly fields did the trick, as Webster picked up two wickets in his first two overs - both openers sent back to the pavilion by toe-crushing deliveries. With four close catchers in front of the wicket, the reverse umbrella field was designed to affect the psyche of the batsmen - Hunter jnr was recalled at the other end to replicate the approach. Accurate line and length, catchers in the eye line, tempt an injudicious drive. The Chestfield number three fell right into the trap, as Hunter jnr took a sharp caught-and-bowled - his return of 1/36 in 10 overs marked a fine debut for the club. The oddball plan was maintained, with chances missed at backward point and silly mid-off. Runs kept coming, and a few lofty blows down the ground brought the runs required to 30. A field change prompted the fourth and final wicket of the innings, with Webster covering off the hoick to mid-wicket and opening up the off-side only to dismiss the batsman with another yorker as he ambitiously attempted to exploit the gap square of the wicket. 3/36 in 8 overs was not enough, though, as the final partnership saw two solid players take the home side to victory with relative ease. Defeat, and a solitary point for the 2nd XI.
The team had come to terms with defeat long before the final runs were scored, so the mood was not too downcast after the match. Indeed, spirits lifted when news of the stand-in skipper's resignation was revealed in the dressing room shortly after the close of play. After a two-year-and-one-week absence, Lakey will return to lead his side next week. He'll be hoping that the Chestfield affair was merely an aberration, rather than a sign of things to come...
The 2nd XI's opening game of the season involved a lengthy trip to Chestfield on the North Kent coast - a trip too far for a certain Calum Hider, who decided half an hour before the departure time that his work commitments that evening prevented him from travelling, and initiated a scramble for a new 11th man. The identity of the replacement remained unknown until we reached Chestfield - new addition Dan Hunter had brought along his dad, Paul, who'd been due to make his club debut for the 3rd XI.
Of the 11 that took the field, none none were the current or previous captain of the side, so Dan Webster had been invited to lead the side. With no umpire, ODs forfeited the toss and were asked to bat first - a decision the stand-in skipper did not dislike, although perhaps it would be best to hide this information given the events that followed...
Webster opened the batting with Osborne, and 10 uneventful but economical overs passed without the loss of a wicket. The scoring rate of one run per over was not something that could be allowed to continue all innings, but it did at least provide a platform upon which the rest of the innings could be built. That was until Webster chased a wide one and was superbly caught in the gully. Words of sympathy offered to the temporary leader gained no traction as he espoused some of his trademark negativity: "if you hit it in the air near a fielder, you can't complain if you get caught." Unfortunately, the solid platform built in the first ten overs was then dismantled in the space of a few balls, as Osborne and McLaughlin soon followed in the captain's footsteps back to the pavilion, leaving ODs 17/3. Responsibility was now handed down to Billy Rouse and Ed Nott, who combined to make a short but sweet partnership comprised of quick running and clean ball-striking. But both fell in quick succession - Rouse caught in front of the wicket, Nott caught behind - to leave the side in deeper trouble at 46/5. Paul Hunter joined Rowan Clapp and defied convention by forcing the younger player to indulge in unwanted scampering between the wickets. Clapp decided that boundaries were required, striking some nice shots down the ground and through mid-wicket, before attempting one shot too many and having his stumps rearranged. Paul continued to impress after his surprise elevation to the 2nd XI, pushing singles and playing some punchy shots to lift ODs towards the hundred mark. Luke Hunter made an unfortunate duck before Tej Patel made an effervescent 15 in partnership with Paul. Once Tej fell, Hunter jnr quickly followed and Paul was last man out for 34, leaving Simon Henley not out and in receipt of 10 fantasy points.
The total of 119 was clearly inadequate, but we took to the field in the hope that early wickets could cause some alarm and derail what looked like a regulation chase. The first 10 overs unfortunately yielded no breakthrough. Despite some good bowling by Hunter jnr and T Patel, the experienced opening pair acclimatised to conditions and started counting down the runs required. Ed Nott came into the attack to mix up the approach with some spin, but that couldn't crack the code. So it was left to the stand-in skipper, with the ignominy of a 10-wicket defeat looming, to intervene and salvage some pride, as well as points. A combination of yorkers, slower balls and silly fields did the trick, as Webster picked up two wickets in his first two overs - both openers sent back to the pavilion by toe-crushing deliveries. With four close catchers in front of the wicket, the reverse umbrella field was designed to affect the psyche of the batsmen - Hunter jnr was recalled at the other end to replicate the approach. Accurate line and length, catchers in the eye line, tempt an injudicious drive. The Chestfield number three fell right into the trap, as Hunter jnr took a sharp caught-and-bowled - his return of 1/36 in 10 overs marked a fine debut for the club. The oddball plan was maintained, with chances missed at backward point and silly mid-off. Runs kept coming, and a few lofty blows down the ground brought the runs required to 30. A field change prompted the fourth and final wicket of the innings, with Webster covering off the hoick to mid-wicket and opening up the off-side only to dismiss the batsman with another yorker as he ambitiously attempted to exploit the gap square of the wicket. 3/36 in 8 overs was not enough, though, as the final partnership saw two solid players take the home side to victory with relative ease. Defeat, and a solitary point for the 2nd XI.
The team had come to terms with defeat long before the final runs were scored, so the mood was not too downcast after the match. Indeed, spirits lifted when news of the stand-in skipper's resignation was revealed in the dressing room shortly after the close of play. After a two-year-and-one-week absence, Lakey will return to lead his side next week. He'll be hoping that the Chestfield affair was merely an aberration, rather than a sign of things to come...
Saturday 13th May 2017, Catford Wanderers Home
The boosey 2's this week turned out for their first home game of the with their strongest side of the season with no fewer than 8 players who have previously represented the first team in the side. This against a struggling Catford Wanderers team who were unable to field a side the previous week due to unavailability. On paper at least this would seem a very one sided affair however as I have learnt to my detriment in the past, never write off Catford Wanderers.
With no opposition umpire the OD's were gifted the toss and with black clouds looming elected to field. An uneventful 8 overs saw Catford move onto 19-0 before 2 wickets in 3 balls fell to OD's star bowler Simon Hunter. A sharp catch by Clapp at first slip for the second ensured Catford were bang in trouble at 20-2.
Tej Patel toiled away for 6 overs but whilst being economical going for only 16 runs yielded nothing in the W column. The skipper decided a change of bowling was in order, the result, a wicket in the first over with Joe East trapping Catford's opener in front for 17.
Another wicket in East's following over brought Jacob Allen and Selwin together at the crease with the score just 25-3. Selwin batted well for his 48 and held the innings together for Wanderers. The OD's could feel their foot being prised off the gas pedal as Catford began to start scoring more freely. Bayliss unfortunately discovered that Selwin liked the ball coming onto the bat at pace and was quick to latch onto anything over pitched.
Paul Hunter replaced Bayliss from the clubhouse end and varied things up a bit, changing his line by coming round the wicket to try and stem the flow of runs coming from Catford and was unlucky not to take a wicket.
At the other end for Wanderers Jacob Allen swung a lot but thankfully only connected a few times. With murmurs of "mind the windows Tino" coming from the slip cordon the OD's hoped it was only a matter of time. Billy Rouse finally got the breakthrough, a brilliant full length ball to clean bowl Allen.
OD's knew a collapse was imminent if only they could remove Selwin. A change of bowling did it. Dan replacing his father Paul and with his first ball Selwin played down the wrong line for the ball to knick his off stump.
The remaining wickets fell for just 13 runs with Billy ending up with the best figures, 15-3. Strong work by the bowlers and the razor sharp stumping by Williamson behind the pegs ensured the couple of tough chances that went down in the field were not too costly. At the 1/2 way stage it was job done with Catford all out for just 125.
After tea the youngest and the oldest players took to the field to face the Wanderers attack. Unfortunately for the OD's it didn't last long with Williamson snicking off in the first over. The skipper having been absent for 2 years, 9 months and 4 days was slightly concerned it was likely to be a story of old for the Boosey 2's where a fragile batting attack let's down a great start.
Luckily he need not be concerned, the other opener batted with skill, elegance and maturity way beyond his young age. It really was a class display of how to build an innings, biding his time, waiting for the bad ball and never giving the opposition a chance of getting him out.
East was supported by cameos by Clapp (29) and Rouse (12) but the youngster carried his bat ending on a superb 59* and rightfully deserving of the man of the match award. The game was done in the 25th over when East scampered a single down to third man to send the 2's to a 5 wicket victory.
Hopefully the older guys were looking on from the sidelines and took note. Only time will tell if it is possible to teach these older dogs some of these new tricks. This week the gravy train that is the Boosey 2's trundles on to Blackheath Wanderers, a side that have lost the first 2 matches of the season. Surely then this needs to be a must win for the OD's. However if this team are serious about promotion then surely every game needs to be a must win after having given the pack leaders a head start on match day 1?
The boosey 2's this week turned out for their first home game of the with their strongest side of the season with no fewer than 8 players who have previously represented the first team in the side. This against a struggling Catford Wanderers team who were unable to field a side the previous week due to unavailability. On paper at least this would seem a very one sided affair however as I have learnt to my detriment in the past, never write off Catford Wanderers.
With no opposition umpire the OD's were gifted the toss and with black clouds looming elected to field. An uneventful 8 overs saw Catford move onto 19-0 before 2 wickets in 3 balls fell to OD's star bowler Simon Hunter. A sharp catch by Clapp at first slip for the second ensured Catford were bang in trouble at 20-2.
Tej Patel toiled away for 6 overs but whilst being economical going for only 16 runs yielded nothing in the W column. The skipper decided a change of bowling was in order, the result, a wicket in the first over with Joe East trapping Catford's opener in front for 17.
Another wicket in East's following over brought Jacob Allen and Selwin together at the crease with the score just 25-3. Selwin batted well for his 48 and held the innings together for Wanderers. The OD's could feel their foot being prised off the gas pedal as Catford began to start scoring more freely. Bayliss unfortunately discovered that Selwin liked the ball coming onto the bat at pace and was quick to latch onto anything over pitched.
Paul Hunter replaced Bayliss from the clubhouse end and varied things up a bit, changing his line by coming round the wicket to try and stem the flow of runs coming from Catford and was unlucky not to take a wicket.
At the other end for Wanderers Jacob Allen swung a lot but thankfully only connected a few times. With murmurs of "mind the windows Tino" coming from the slip cordon the OD's hoped it was only a matter of time. Billy Rouse finally got the breakthrough, a brilliant full length ball to clean bowl Allen.
OD's knew a collapse was imminent if only they could remove Selwin. A change of bowling did it. Dan replacing his father Paul and with his first ball Selwin played down the wrong line for the ball to knick his off stump.
The remaining wickets fell for just 13 runs with Billy ending up with the best figures, 15-3. Strong work by the bowlers and the razor sharp stumping by Williamson behind the pegs ensured the couple of tough chances that went down in the field were not too costly. At the 1/2 way stage it was job done with Catford all out for just 125.
After tea the youngest and the oldest players took to the field to face the Wanderers attack. Unfortunately for the OD's it didn't last long with Williamson snicking off in the first over. The skipper having been absent for 2 years, 9 months and 4 days was slightly concerned it was likely to be a story of old for the Boosey 2's where a fragile batting attack let's down a great start.
Luckily he need not be concerned, the other opener batted with skill, elegance and maturity way beyond his young age. It really was a class display of how to build an innings, biding his time, waiting for the bad ball and never giving the opposition a chance of getting him out.
East was supported by cameos by Clapp (29) and Rouse (12) but the youngster carried his bat ending on a superb 59* and rightfully deserving of the man of the match award. The game was done in the 25th over when East scampered a single down to third man to send the 2's to a 5 wicket victory.
Hopefully the older guys were looking on from the sidelines and took note. Only time will tell if it is possible to teach these older dogs some of these new tricks. This week the gravy train that is the Boosey 2's trundles on to Blackheath Wanderers, a side that have lost the first 2 matches of the season. Surely then this needs to be a must win for the OD's. However if this team are serious about promotion then surely every game needs to be a must win after having given the pack leaders a head start on match day 1?
Saturday 20th May 2017, Blackheath Wanderers Away
Grey skies greeted the Boosey 2's this week as the second away day for the season took the 2's to Blackheath Wanderers in South East London. An interesting 10 minutes trying to find the ground was followed by an entertaining 10 minutes trying to find the wicket. The arrival of stumps put to bed any argument as to what was the popping crease and what was the 6 yard box.
Wanderers without an umpire forfeited the toss, there was no decision to make for the OD's skipper with all batsmen unanimously electing to bowl first. Wanderers started brightly and Dan Hunters usual trick of nicking the off stump with his first ball was not to work this week. Tej Patel eventually made the breakthrough for the visitors, deservedly taking his first wicket after a couple of weeks hard graft.
The second was quick to follow leaving Blackheath in a spot of bother at 20-2. A spirited fight back from Budania and the opener Dhanak saw Blackheath up into the 70's and out of trouble for now. OD's skipper varied the bowling but a short leg side boundary didn't help Gill with Budania shovelling everything in that direction. Finally the skipper deciding to spread the field for Budania paid off, a rank short ball from Rouse from the top end saw him hole out to deep backward square leg. A great catch followed by Gul who had been positioned there not 2 balls earlier. Great captaincy or bad bowling... we will never know!
Wickets continued to fall with only Ahmed putting up any resistance, once he had the right bat out there at least. Aerial shots gave the OD's hope and eventually he put one in the air towards the skipper that was plucked.
The final wicket fell with the score on 147. The bowlers had done their job with the spoils shared again, Paul and his son Dan Hunter grabbing 2 and 3 respectively and Dan Webster taking 2. The real plaudits need to go to the fielders. With 1 runout and 4 catches there was not a single missed chance. Rarely is such a feat observed in first grade, let alone the Boosey 2's.
Tea was consumed with the batsmen deep in thought, the wicket had given its fair share of surprises in the first inning and it had just started raining. There was minimal delay and the match resumed on time.
The first ball, a loosener from Edwards was smashed to the boundary so hard it went straight through backward point, a feat all the more impressive as he was stood on the boundary! Gul had made his intentions perfectly clear with his first ball for the 2's. Not to be outdone, Pete White smashed his first ball for 6, game on!
Runs flowed freely with Edwards by far the pick going for just 19 in his 8 overs, the problem for Wanderers was there was nothing in the end column. The 50 and then 100 partnership came and went, the OD's were edging closer to victory.
The openers both passed 50 and then both got out with Gul missing a straight one and White making sure Wanderers could catch as well. So it fell to the returning Dan Webster to attempt to see the OD's home and with a nerdled 19 he nearly did it. Some interesting field changes with 2 required to win played on Webster's mind. In an attempt to push a single he succeeded in pushing back a chance to the bowler. Low and to his right but Moharir made no mistake. Clapp and Williamson set about finishing the game, but that was not without incident. A top edge from Williamson had 2 Blackheath fielders chasing after it. The slip fielder called it... the slip fielder put it down. With a scampered single the scores were level. A couple of balls later Clapp made no mistake. A stride down the wicket and the ball flew to the boundary for 4.
With the points in the bag and a beer in the belly OD's 2's left the ground with the Wanderers players clear on possibly the oldest cricketing cliché, that catches really do win matches. The 2's are thinking onwards and upwards, the next game sees them at home to Chiselhurst & West Kent. Following a similar good start to the season Chiselhurst are second in the league on 35 points with The OD's just 1 point behind. With three games gone it's too early to say whether these two will be battling it out for promotion come September. What is clear though is that a win for either side would certainly send out a signal to the remainder of the league that they are the team to beat.
Grey skies greeted the Boosey 2's this week as the second away day for the season took the 2's to Blackheath Wanderers in South East London. An interesting 10 minutes trying to find the ground was followed by an entertaining 10 minutes trying to find the wicket. The arrival of stumps put to bed any argument as to what was the popping crease and what was the 6 yard box.
Wanderers without an umpire forfeited the toss, there was no decision to make for the OD's skipper with all batsmen unanimously electing to bowl first. Wanderers started brightly and Dan Hunters usual trick of nicking the off stump with his first ball was not to work this week. Tej Patel eventually made the breakthrough for the visitors, deservedly taking his first wicket after a couple of weeks hard graft.
The second was quick to follow leaving Blackheath in a spot of bother at 20-2. A spirited fight back from Budania and the opener Dhanak saw Blackheath up into the 70's and out of trouble for now. OD's skipper varied the bowling but a short leg side boundary didn't help Gill with Budania shovelling everything in that direction. Finally the skipper deciding to spread the field for Budania paid off, a rank short ball from Rouse from the top end saw him hole out to deep backward square leg. A great catch followed by Gul who had been positioned there not 2 balls earlier. Great captaincy or bad bowling... we will never know!
Wickets continued to fall with only Ahmed putting up any resistance, once he had the right bat out there at least. Aerial shots gave the OD's hope and eventually he put one in the air towards the skipper that was plucked.
The final wicket fell with the score on 147. The bowlers had done their job with the spoils shared again, Paul and his son Dan Hunter grabbing 2 and 3 respectively and Dan Webster taking 2. The real plaudits need to go to the fielders. With 1 runout and 4 catches there was not a single missed chance. Rarely is such a feat observed in first grade, let alone the Boosey 2's.
Tea was consumed with the batsmen deep in thought, the wicket had given its fair share of surprises in the first inning and it had just started raining. There was minimal delay and the match resumed on time.
The first ball, a loosener from Edwards was smashed to the boundary so hard it went straight through backward point, a feat all the more impressive as he was stood on the boundary! Gul had made his intentions perfectly clear with his first ball for the 2's. Not to be outdone, Pete White smashed his first ball for 6, game on!
Runs flowed freely with Edwards by far the pick going for just 19 in his 8 overs, the problem for Wanderers was there was nothing in the end column. The 50 and then 100 partnership came and went, the OD's were edging closer to victory.
The openers both passed 50 and then both got out with Gul missing a straight one and White making sure Wanderers could catch as well. So it fell to the returning Dan Webster to attempt to see the OD's home and with a nerdled 19 he nearly did it. Some interesting field changes with 2 required to win played on Webster's mind. In an attempt to push a single he succeeded in pushing back a chance to the bowler. Low and to his right but Moharir made no mistake. Clapp and Williamson set about finishing the game, but that was not without incident. A top edge from Williamson had 2 Blackheath fielders chasing after it. The slip fielder called it... the slip fielder put it down. With a scampered single the scores were level. A couple of balls later Clapp made no mistake. A stride down the wicket and the ball flew to the boundary for 4.
With the points in the bag and a beer in the belly OD's 2's left the ground with the Wanderers players clear on possibly the oldest cricketing cliché, that catches really do win matches. The 2's are thinking onwards and upwards, the next game sees them at home to Chiselhurst & West Kent. Following a similar good start to the season Chiselhurst are second in the league on 35 points with The OD's just 1 point behind. With three games gone it's too early to say whether these two will be battling it out for promotion come September. What is clear though is that a win for either side would certainly send out a signal to the remainder of the league that they are the team to beat.
Saturday 24th June 2017, Addington Village Home
On a gloomy, could rain anytime, Saturday afternoon at the home of cricket, Addington won the toss and chose to have a bat.
The visitors apologised that they were slightly weak, fielding only 9 players including at least 4 colts. This information possibly got into the OD Cuaco players heads and maybe they thought they were in for an easy ride and early finish, but there was still a job to do.
The Dan's started things off for us, with Hunter from the golf course end and Webster from the croquet end. The opening bats looked solid and confident, not afraid to go after the odd loose ball. After some good early overs, D Webs was first to strike hitting the top of leg stump to send the oppo skipper back to observe the DIY SOS that was being carried out on the changing rooms. At the other end Dan H was bowling ok, but just a little loose at times and was replaced by Seth after 4 overs. The young spinner also struggled with his length, bowling a number of uncharacteristic full tosses which the batters took full advantage of. This led to Seth being replaced after 3 overs, the skipper turning to the experience of Henley. After a wide loosener, wardrobe settled into a good rhythm. At the other end D Webs was just coming to the end of 10 very good overs that had only netted a single wicket, but he'd kept the batsmen honest not giving them much to get onto. Dan was replaced by Joe East, who managed to find enough energy to turn his arm over, and was almost immediately rewarded with a wicket, LBW, and no 3 was on his way for 20. There then followed some good tight bowling from both ends stopping the runs and frustrating the remaining opener, who had looked keen to play some shots throughout his innings. Eventually the pressure was too much, and after 14 consecutive dot balls the opener was removed by Henley for 44 with a decent delivery that hit middle and off.
Number 5 bat was greeted with a shocking beamer, but hung around for a couple of overs before succumbing to East's Christmas ball, a flighty delivery that the batsman thinks is a gift, but results in the feeling of a Boxing Day hangover!
Joe also did for the 4 bat, when he pushed the ball to Dan Webster at short mid- wicket for a regulation catch.
With 2 new batters at the wicket, Henley was replaced at the top end by McNamara. The 2 youngsters looked very capable and solid, and set about using up some overs while adding runs where they could. Tom had 3 good overs before Hunter came back to finish off. Joe was also replaced by Webster as OD Cuaco looked for some late wickets, which they got one off in the last over when, looking for runs, the batslady top edged to Williamson behind the stumps.
And so Addington ended on 127 for 6 off their 46. Pick of the bowling was J East with 10-3-15-3, closely followed by D Webster with 13-6-26-2.
Pete White and Joe East opened the batting for the home team, which started badly when White miss-timed a pull shot that went straight to mid-wicket off the second ball. J P joined Joe in the middle and both batsmen looked to hang around and wait for the bad balls, adding 34 to the score before Carmiere was run out for 14. This brought Webster to the crease with plenty of overs to play with, while Joe was getting bogged down in dot balls at the other end. Joe's torment was ended when he tickled the ball behind and was gone for 16. Williamson now joined Dan in the middle ready to build a winning innings. Dan was getting after all the loose deliveries he was given before the rain came and play was paused, possibly at the wrong time for OD Cuaco. After the break, Gary played the ball back to the bowler, which square leg thoughts was worth an LBW shout, and unfortunately the umpire agreed. Gary tried his best Yorkshire charm to try and overturn the decision but alas it was not to be and he was back to the pavilion (a few seconds later than his bat). Big Tom was Dans new partner in the middle, and immediately dispatched a loose delivery for four. He couldn't build on this though and eventually top edged to deep gully. With big Phil Parke eager to try his new racket, and batting down to 11, "the closer" Calum Hider went to the middle to hopefully be Dan's final partner. And so he was. With Dan was scoring well and nearing his 50, Calum only needed to add 1 run to the score before Webbo blasted 2 fours to bring up his 50 and the victory.
It was a good knock from Dan, scoring at a good rate while playing proper shots. Extras was next best with 31, but we did what was needed and bagged the 20 points.
On a gloomy, could rain anytime, Saturday afternoon at the home of cricket, Addington won the toss and chose to have a bat.
The visitors apologised that they were slightly weak, fielding only 9 players including at least 4 colts. This information possibly got into the OD Cuaco players heads and maybe they thought they were in for an easy ride and early finish, but there was still a job to do.
The Dan's started things off for us, with Hunter from the golf course end and Webster from the croquet end. The opening bats looked solid and confident, not afraid to go after the odd loose ball. After some good early overs, D Webs was first to strike hitting the top of leg stump to send the oppo skipper back to observe the DIY SOS that was being carried out on the changing rooms. At the other end Dan H was bowling ok, but just a little loose at times and was replaced by Seth after 4 overs. The young spinner also struggled with his length, bowling a number of uncharacteristic full tosses which the batters took full advantage of. This led to Seth being replaced after 3 overs, the skipper turning to the experience of Henley. After a wide loosener, wardrobe settled into a good rhythm. At the other end D Webs was just coming to the end of 10 very good overs that had only netted a single wicket, but he'd kept the batsmen honest not giving them much to get onto. Dan was replaced by Joe East, who managed to find enough energy to turn his arm over, and was almost immediately rewarded with a wicket, LBW, and no 3 was on his way for 20. There then followed some good tight bowling from both ends stopping the runs and frustrating the remaining opener, who had looked keen to play some shots throughout his innings. Eventually the pressure was too much, and after 14 consecutive dot balls the opener was removed by Henley for 44 with a decent delivery that hit middle and off.
Number 5 bat was greeted with a shocking beamer, but hung around for a couple of overs before succumbing to East's Christmas ball, a flighty delivery that the batsman thinks is a gift, but results in the feeling of a Boxing Day hangover!
Joe also did for the 4 bat, when he pushed the ball to Dan Webster at short mid- wicket for a regulation catch.
With 2 new batters at the wicket, Henley was replaced at the top end by McNamara. The 2 youngsters looked very capable and solid, and set about using up some overs while adding runs where they could. Tom had 3 good overs before Hunter came back to finish off. Joe was also replaced by Webster as OD Cuaco looked for some late wickets, which they got one off in the last over when, looking for runs, the batslady top edged to Williamson behind the stumps.
And so Addington ended on 127 for 6 off their 46. Pick of the bowling was J East with 10-3-15-3, closely followed by D Webster with 13-6-26-2.
Pete White and Joe East opened the batting for the home team, which started badly when White miss-timed a pull shot that went straight to mid-wicket off the second ball. J P joined Joe in the middle and both batsmen looked to hang around and wait for the bad balls, adding 34 to the score before Carmiere was run out for 14. This brought Webster to the crease with plenty of overs to play with, while Joe was getting bogged down in dot balls at the other end. Joe's torment was ended when he tickled the ball behind and was gone for 16. Williamson now joined Dan in the middle ready to build a winning innings. Dan was getting after all the loose deliveries he was given before the rain came and play was paused, possibly at the wrong time for OD Cuaco. After the break, Gary played the ball back to the bowler, which square leg thoughts was worth an LBW shout, and unfortunately the umpire agreed. Gary tried his best Yorkshire charm to try and overturn the decision but alas it was not to be and he was back to the pavilion (a few seconds later than his bat). Big Tom was Dans new partner in the middle, and immediately dispatched a loose delivery for four. He couldn't build on this though and eventually top edged to deep gully. With big Phil Parke eager to try his new racket, and batting down to 11, "the closer" Calum Hider went to the middle to hopefully be Dan's final partner. And so he was. With Dan was scoring well and nearing his 50, Calum only needed to add 1 run to the score before Webbo blasted 2 fours to bring up his 50 and the victory.
It was a good knock from Dan, scoring at a good rate while playing proper shots. Extras was next best with 31, but we did what was needed and bagged the 20 points.
