Scorecard

Great Waltham Cricket Club 2nd XI v St Andrews 1st on Sat 01 Jun 2019 at 1pm
Great Waltham Cricket Club Won by 34 runs

Match report On the hottest day of the year, a wonderful all-round team performance, highlighted by a magnificent spell (he's Dad would have been proud of) Rhys, 5-22 off 10 overs, handed St Andrews their first defeat of the season by 34 runs.

Robbo won the toss and quite rightly opted to bat. The visitors opening attack was the best I've faced all year, especially G Street. Micky on the other hand didn't quite have the same respect and had raced to 18 in 8 balls when he shouldered arms to an off-cutter from A Street. Thereafter scoring runs became a tricky occupation. We were fully aware that the Visitors strong suit was there bowling and aided by an uneven wicket Nindi and I were determined not to expose our talented young batters to soon. We were both starting to find fluency and had taken the score to 67 in the 18th over when called for a quick single to backward point I was sort by a foot with a direct hit from G Street. Run out, distraught, I actually can't recall the last time I'd had that heart-breaking experience. 10 runs later Robbo was marching back. 23 overs left, if we could get to 180 and bowl well, also in the knowledge that the visitors' highest score this season was 165, we were confident of curtailing the Visitors' winning streak. In the middle overs, Yeoman was applying the brakes at one end, however Lewis and Nindi were starting to find runs at the other end. Lewis (16) and Nindi (47) both fell within 3 overs overs of each other and our prospect to crossing 200 diminished. Nindi in particularly playing a hugely responsible knock. 122-5, 12 overs left, both G and A Street had 6 overs left between them. It was crucial that he didn't subside to 150.
This season, when we've had a platform, our youngsters have stepped up. Harrison and Cameron similar to the previous week, took us to a competitive total with sprightly running and Harrison dispatching anything short to the mid-wicket boundary. A lovely cameo by Harrison meant we sat at tea quietly confident having set the Visitors their highest chase of the season.

The wicket was not going to change character, however it was essential that we started well with the ball and not let the opposition get off to a 'flyer'. Phillips who could have been out second ball, mistiming a cut just over Josh at point. The very next ball was timing to perfection off the back foot, bizarrely yours truly station at short cover (primarily for the one that bounced and loops off the gloves) saw the ball nestled in both hand to my right. A bit like my run-out, can't quite recall holding a catch of that nature!
Hearn who'd spent more time talking to Robbo on the boundary during our innings, stoked a beautifully timed drive back over Cameron's head for 6. However, soon realised the uneven bounce in the wicket quieten his conversations. Cameron got his man with a length delivery gloved to Lewis. Yoeman announced his arrival by stepping away and driving two boundaries over the cover. Rhys was settling into rhythm and lured P Street to play away from his body, another catch for Lewis. Yeomans and Prentice had steadied the innings, possibly shifting the game to 50/50, when Rhys struck a crucial blow before the first drinks break by bowling Yeomans with a beauty that nipped back and clipped on top of middle, 60-4 off 15 overs.
Captain A Street marched out determined to strike boundaries, when a aiming Robbo to the short mid-wicket boundary, top-edge a 'steepler' to mid-wicket where Josh a'la 'Aussie style' held a fantastic catch...against long odds:)
At the other end, Prentice was bafflingly still at the crease, playing and missing at regular intervals, chipping the ball in between fielders and occasionally squirting the ball to the boundary. The game has a history of non-stylist. unorthodox practitioners who have become effective and valuable to their team. With Salmon the visitors were set for a final charge, when Robbo bowled Salmon who played what could only be describe as a hoick. I am going to put this down to chasing. The reality is that at this level if you are chasing on a tricky wicket, common sense departs your cerebrum.
There were enough overs left for the visitors to uphold their 100% record, Prentice still at the crease and Rhys had just two overs left to bowl. Cometh the hour, he finally got one to rear of a length to Prentice which lobbed up for Rhys to run a few steps to take the return catch. The very next over, he bowled Newman to give him league personal best 5-22. Lewis' smart run-out ensured we got maximum bowling points and huge cheers from our supporters on a beautiful sunlit day.

Oh how I love this game. We (those mature in years) are so excited by how our youngsters are developing. this is great credit to those who give up their time on Monday nights for colts and matches. Rest assured your efforts are paying dividends. As Nipper pointed out, it's a great victory against the top of the table side, however we MUST ensure a similar result next week when we travel to bottom club Purleigh, who last year won comfortably at their home. He is of course a man of wisdom are right, the next two games are crucial. Today, let's us savour this win, unless your are a Spurs fan, you probably woke up this morning thinking, 'life's pretty good'.

A special mention to our third team who remain top with another comfortable win chasing 131. 'The Gavlar' runs and wickets. To Dan Bloom for his second league hundred, one that finally led to a comfortable victory at Bentley. And also to Graham Wicks on debut, runs wickets and catches, however even more extra-ordinary, he came arrived at The Club via an enquiry on our website :)

I'm off to see the U11s to see if my prediction of 5 wins will pay out this weekend.

ap

“Do you know what my favourite part of the game is? The opportunity to play.” -Mike Singletary

Great Waltham Cricket Club 2nd XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
3nb 5w 3b 7lb 
for 8 wickets
18
190		        
Micky Headon b A Street 18 4
Atul Patel run out (G Street) 20 4 1
Nindi Dhanjal b Walker 47 6 1
Neil Robinson ct b Prentice 2
Lewis Chapman ct b Yeomans 16 2 2 1
Harrison Elles st b G Street 46 7
Cameron Brown ct WK b G Street 13 1
Rhys Chapman ct WK b A Street 8 1
Joel Barker run out (G Street) 2
Joshua De'ath Not Out  2
Harry Duncan  

St Andrews 1st Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
G Street9.022438.002.67
A Street9.0055227.506.11
B Prentice10.0038138.003.80
C Yeomans10.0420120.002.00
R Newman4.002400.006.00
A Walker3.0014114.004.67

St Andrews 1st Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
5nb 6w 3lb 
for 10 wickets
14
156 (39.4 overs)		     
J Phillips ct Patel b R Chapman 2
P Street ct L Chapman b R Chapman 14
M Hearn ct L Chapman b Brown 7
C Yeomans b R Chapman 17
B Prentice ct & b R Chapman 63
A Street ct De'Ath b Robinson 0
A Salmon b Robinson 11
D Newman b Duncan 8
G Street Not Out  18
R Newman b R Chapman 2
A Walker run out (L Chapman) 0

Great Waltham Cricket Club 2nd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Rhys Chapman10.042254.402.20
Cameron Brown7.0033133.004.71
Harry Duncan10.0036136.003.60
Neil Robinson10.0032216.003.20
Joel Barker1.00600.006.00
Harrison Elles1.401000.006.00