Match Report – 3rd teams 9 brave souls edge them to victory as dot ball hits curb!

16th June 2012 – Amport v Bramshaw 3rd XI

by Tom Mason

When we turned up we only had 9 players and with Captain Phil on holiday, Jon Wall took over the rains. Dot ball turned up just before drinks and we were all telling him to get changed but he said that he had hit a curb and he was so shaken up that he couldn’t play! (Hence I’m doing the report!) Anyway back to the match Jon Wall won the toss and elected to bowl and he and Joe Coombs opened the bowling and kept it tight early on before Ben Arnold came on, supported at the other end by James W who both kept the runs to a minimum so that at drinks they were 93-0. Josh then swapped the gloves for the ball and got our first wicket which was quickly followed by 3 in four balls by Jon Wall who got them in deep trouble before Junior Wall came to bow a brilliant spell of 3 overs, 2-5. Then the wickets started falling at quick rates and we reduced the runs at the same time there was some good bowling all around from Ben A, John W, Joe C, Tom W, Josh A and me. In the end, they scored 140 all out and that was a great effort after them being 93-0 after 21 overs and with only 9 in the field.

After A great tea, Amport took to the field with Brian Hart and Joe Coombs opening and they got off to a steady start to build a platform before Bryan got out bowled for 20. Then Jon ‘My Bat My Ball’ Wall came in needing some big shots to keep us up with the run rate but alas Jon was dismissed the third ball for 2. Then Andy came in to join Joe and shortly after Joe got out for a very good 41. Then Josh came to the wicket and he and Andy lasted a few overs before the rain came and we were below the run rate but, luckily we were allowed back out and Andy added a few before getting bowled. Ben then shared a good partnership with Josh before Josh was the next to go and then it was James in and he got a duck. When Tom Wall came in to join Ben there were still 25 needed with 13 overs left and with some big hits from Ben and some extras, we got home in the end with 6 overs left and with only nine players. This is a result which can hopefully kick start our season and we can build on this, good luck next week back at Landford against Hursley Park!