(at deep cover - apologies to John Milton).
As with many things in life writing the match report can some times be a joy or a some times a burden. When we win, or play well, or there are champagne moment words flow, but after disappointing defeats like this one the words are much harder to come by.
For the 2nd time this season, Milton came to The Rec, the first occasion having nominally been their home game which was relocated as their 1st XI had bagged the home ground. For the 2nd time this season we contrived to lose. I missed the first game – sort of – but played this time. For more than half of the match we looked likely winners but somehow let Milton back into the game and eventually take it away from us. “Taking your foot off the gas” and “(not) keeping the foot on the throat” are clichés often applied to situations like this. I wouldn’t resort to them as a rule but they seem appropriate here.
Let’s get the weather report out of the way first. It was overcast and windy at first – with a short shower that didn’t force us off – improving as the day went on and ending in pleasant sunshine for the post-game socialising.
We batted first. There was a debut for another of the promising youngsters that are coming through the junior ranks: Robbie Sewell. Alas, like many batsmen before him he was duly “Cotoned” by the last ball of the 1st over and he popped a catch to mid wicket. This brought Alastair to the crease to join Dave “Head Case” Simmons who had just been exchanging pleasantries with the nurse who had attended him at Addenbrooke’s after his unfortunate incident a few weeks ago.
Dave and Alastair moved the score along steadily with a mixture of aggression and watchfulness. The occasional ball was keeping very low from the footpath end making a call under law 24.6 a distinct possibility. It was quite a surprise when Dave was out as both batsmen were looking very comfortable. Ross came to the wicket and didn’t look to be in as good touch as previous weeks.
Alastair was still unmovable although he was having more difficult penetrating the field now. Ross was next to depart, bringing Gabriel in. With the luxury – for once – of not opening and not coming in during a headlong batting collapse he unleashed several fine shots and played with a degree of freedom hitherto only seen in the nets. It was a little unkind to suggest that the “real” Gabriel had been tied up, hidden in the bowls club and replaced by a lookalike.
We are pretty sure that following advertisement in the Cambridge Evening News is a hoax.
Missing: One stolidly reliably opening batsman. Answers to the name Gabriel. If found, please return to Coton CC, The Coton Recreation Ground, Cambridge.
As with Dave, it was something of a surprise when Gabriel was out but he had seen us towards our highest total batting first this season. Adam Bradbury entered the fray and hit some nice looking shots. Best amongst these was a cracking drive that clattered into the bowler’s family jewels causing him to collapse in a heap, grovel in agony for a few minutes and disappear from the attack. This may not have been a good move as his stand in promptly dismissed Adam.
Rads was run out without facing, surely the most cruel of dismissals. His noble sacrifice allowed Alastair to continue batting – that he was still there has somewhat been lost during the Adam/Rad incidents.
Dan joined Alastair and provided a couple of lusty blows as we reached 151-6 in the 40 overs. Alastair had been in for 39 of the 40 overs providing 62 invaluable runs to the cause.
When we fielded, Ross employed the fast/slow tactic that George utilised successfully last year. From the top end Matt Chandler turned in his best display for Coton with a fast, hostile spell. The run in was smoother, the length fuller and the result much better. Scotch was his usual reliable self, with a wicket in his first over and a gradual strangulation of the scoring rate. Towards the end of his third over a Milton batsman put one in the air to Scotch’s right. Time stood still as Scotch took off, flinging himself horizontal towards the ball. He missed, but the attempt was truly awesome. I am sure reports of tsunamis in Grantchester and Cambridge were greatly exaggerated.
The first bowling change saw Ross taking over from Matt who had put in 7 excellent overs. We had Milton on the rack. 4 batsmen back in the hutch for about 30 runs we had to be favourites for the win.
Milton’s ringer, Chetan, had a nervous start but always looked ready to attack the bowling. After the excellent returns from the two previous games, Ross was a little off colour this time around. Not that he bowled badly but as the partnership built we were looking increasingly ragged in the field and Milton started to claw their way back.
Replacing Scotch after 10 overs at the footpath end, Adam Bradbury then produced a fine display of spin bowling that belied his tender years. This was alas not supported by the fielders or the umpires. On behalf of the guilty parties, Adam, you are owed several beers: a shame you can’t collect on this debt until the 2016 season. Dave Simmons in particular had a torrid time at deep square leg. Perhaps conscious that he wasn’t wearing a helmet Dave was under perpetual assault, the climax coming when he superbly held a catch only to stumble partially over the line resulting in a 6.
Adam’s spin caused difficulties both to the batsmen and Alastair behind the stumps. Chances went begging: this wasn’t helped by the umpires missing a blatant edge behind.
It’s worth commenting on the different styles of slow bowling offered up by Scotch & Adam:
· One is young & fit. The other, err, isn’t.
· One spins the ball, the other utilises changes in pace, angle and flight.
· One has a long future in the game…
Adam finally broke through the 5th wicket and the balance swung again. Ross had asked Rob to be ready to bowl in attempt to change things around and grab a wicket but after Adam’s success the skipper seemed ready to change his mind. Rob, having thrown his toys out of the pram, was ready to sulk off to the cover boundary but Ross was swayed by the pathetic look in the former’s eyes and let him have a bowl.
The conditions looked ripe for swing and so it proved. After a first ball 4 (an inside edge), Rob beat the bat with 5 successive deliveries. One was LBW (only it wasn’t, village rules applied) and the others evaded the stumps but didn’t result in a wicket. Two similar overs followed (without the 4) before Ross returned.
Adam – who had been putting in a tremendous shift in the field as well – was taken out of the attack and Robbie Sewell got his first bowl. Left arm pace brought a new variety to the Coton attack and after a couple of nervy deliveries Robbie showed great promise for the future.
Nevertheless, Milton had now gotten ahead of the scoring rate and edged across the line with a couple of overs to spare and 5 wickets in hand.
It was a close game but one that we could and perhaps should have won given our starts in both innings.
Next week it’s a trip to Hertfordshire without our top scorer to take on 2nd in the league Barley. Should be a piece of cake (or several pieces of cake, an assortment of sandwiches and a pork pie). Roll on Saturday.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment