St James CC v Thames Ditton
CC
16th September 2007
E.Dack 3 5-0-45-2
R.Pierson 36 7-0-40-1
F.Karim 110
O.Ehsan 6
D.Smith 0 2-0-14-1
N.Shiraz 28 8-0-49-1
J.Smith 0 5-0-34-1
J.Boyle 46 5-1-23-1
R.Boyle 10* 4-0-26-1
A Woolley 1*
S.Smith dnb 4-0-29-1
On a bright and warm September Saturday St James arrived to play Thames Ditton.
The opposition insisted on a 40 over game and informed us that they had several
players from their firsts, seconds and thirds.
St James headed to the field and Stan was brought into the attack early, getting
a wicket with his first ball! A beautiful length drew Milliard forward and
clipped his off stump to bowl him for 2. Stan should have had more wickets but
Patel (the other opener) was dropped twice on his way to 28.
At the other end James Boyle bowled another encouraging spell, exploiting the
good bounce available and swinging the ball away nicely. He picked up Ditton’s
number three for 1 caught in the gully by Ousman. Jack replaced him and removed
Patel who whipped him round the corner where Ryan took yet another superb catch
at square leg. Ryan himself came on to bowl and picked up the vital wicket of
Turnball caught and bold for only 8. However despite these successes Ditton
scored at a comfortable rate of 5 an over and St James’ younger bowlers bowled a
terrible number of wides which led to several outbursts which need to be curbed.
Robin returned and Nabil was introduced but the Ditton batsmen continued to
score heavily, putting together several dangerous partnerships. Nabil bowled an
excellent unchanged spell for little reward and Ed took pace off the ball well
to capture two middle order wickets. However the field was now scattered and
undisciplined and too many boundaries were conceded even as Dave and Robin
bowled at the death to pick up two more wickets. 268 looked way too many for St
James to chase.
And with the loss of Ed in the second over things looked bleak. The Ditton
opening bowlers were from their firsts and seconds and they bowled fast, with
hostility at Robin and Ali. But with the field up they were able to keep the
runs flowing when the bowlers strayed and Ali’s flashing blade kept the
boundaries coming. With Robin rediscovering some form the score after 5 overs
was 20-1, after 10 overs it was 52-1 and at drinks after 20 it was 103-1. Ali
continued to smash boundaries
and Robin picked up a couple with late cuts before cutting one too many which
flicked the off stump from the left arm spin of Gubber.
With the foundation well set though at 111-2 in the 21st over St James were
going for the win. Ousman and Dave didn’t last long as the pressure to score
quickly mounted but Ali continued to take the attack to the bowling (with Ryan
as his runner) and was eventually caught for a wonderful 110 including 18
boundaries.
It was over to Nabil now who found it tough going as Ditton’s spinners and
medium pacers bowled. He lost Jack for a duck to a right arm over the wicket ,
leg side ball and was caught and entertained the crowd as he scored a cracking
conversion with the club helmet, but found the right partner in
James Boyle who immediately began to hammer boundaries (including a big 6)
through the mid wicket area. Together they put on 56 in 25 minutes and suddenly
St James had leapt from 182-6 to 238-6 with 3 overs to go and 31 runs still
needed. Nabil was then caught out for 28 and next over James followed him for
46. It left Ryan and Andrew needing 16 off the last over to complete the
improbably victory. However despite a fine lofted off drive from Ryan for 4 it
was not to be despite St James posting the highest score in their history.
As the teams left the field Thames Ditton looked tired and annoyed while the St
James players looked thrilled with their efforts. A fine batting effort from all
concerned.
Much rumination was donr after the game for those 9 runs,was it those wides or byes
or ducks that led to defeat...or that unmentionable chump what dropped 4 catches in
the outfield.