Club XI in narrow loss to Merlin

14 July 2013 Club XI v Merlin

by Tom Mason

Batting first on another glorious day Taylor and Arthur opened up with Arthur getting out early on before C. Morey and Taylor put on some quick runs before Taylor got out for a brisk 27. This brought in Joe who started carefully before playing some excellent shots before he got out leaving us in an excellent position. Chris then got out for a duck bringing Ginge in who got stumped for 1 and then in came Ram who again hit another great knock this time hitting 23 his best score in his 3rd match for the club. Charlie and I then both got ducks. This left us in quite an unsafe position but Chris had reached 100 by this point and so we knew that if he could keep going and others could get going we would be well on the way to setting up a competitive target. Chris and Tarty then but on a useful last wicket stand before Chris got caught behind on 121meaning that It was slightly below par as we had reached 240 odd.

After a great tea Tarty & Charlie opened the bowling unable to pick up any initial wickets with one batsman in particular hitting some aggressive shots. After a few overs, their other opener was forced to retire. Their batsmen continued to bat well before one hit into the deep to Morey who took the catch picking up our first wicket. I then came on trying to pick up their opener who was batting superbly and at the other end it was Ritesh who came on bowling some absolute beauties I managed to pick up a wicket curtsey of a solid catch from ginge meaning they were two down but effectively three down. Ritesh was bowling well the other end and I managed to pick up their opener caught by Morey again who just couldn’t keep out of the action and he nearly sparked a run out which could have turned the match in our favour.  This match always looked as if it would go to the last few overs and so it proved with some more wickets being picked up from Ram and Taylor and they completed their target with 7 balls to go.

Next week is a home match against Royal Mail. An outstanding century from C.Morey.