Match Report – Cooper and Wall bat for 26 overs to rescue 3rds from horrific position at 72-9!

30 August 2013 – Bramshaw 3rd XI v Winterslow

by Tom Mason

Batting first at an excellent ground George and Richard opened up with him falling 3rd ball bringing M.Clasby to the crease. They both played in their usual way of looking to rotate the strike as often as possible but once Richard got out nicking one behind this was a sign of what was to come as Matt, John, Taylor, James M, Chris, Charlie and myself all falling after only 16 overs had gone despite the score being on 72 it was down to the last pair of T.Wall and J.cooper who batted excellently well and showing everyone else that if you got in then you wouldn’t ever have half a chance of getting out. We knew that if they could just eke out another 20 runs then with the bowling that we had even a score of less than a hundred could well be competitive with the bulk of bowling that we had available to us. These two continued to frustrate the other team with John doing most of the scoring but Tom needed to stay with him. It just didn’t look as if they would ever be troubled as once they saw off their opening bowlers who were the only two bowlers who challenged them and they didn’t seem to be breaking into any kind of sweat. It got to rather delayed drinks with them having got us into the 90’s. After drinks, they continued to bat superbly with Tom seeing out his end allowing John to play the shots at his end. As the game went on John made his excellent 50 backed up by Tom. They continued to bat well with the last few overs approaching they batted more aggressively. They then reached the highest-ever last wicket partnership for the club and soon after passed the 100 partnership before John was trapped LBW for 74 leaving Tom Wall 16* which was his highest-ever score. This was probably the most important partnership that I have ever watched in Saturday cricket and a superb effort from both of them. Setting them 173 to win.

After a good last Saturday tea of the season, Taylor and Charlie opened up keeping it tight as they have done all season this time without managing to pick up any wickets. Then on came John Wall and James Mason and they ripped through their first few batsmen with John taking three wickets followed up by James who took three. I then took three wickets through two good catches from Richard who also took another catch from James bowling and Taylor and my last victim was bowled just about. It then took a little while for the winning wicket to come when Tom Wall backed up his batting with a wicket caught by Charlie leaving them 94 all out with J. Wall, J. Mason and myself picking up three wickets each with one for T. Wall meaning that we somehow won that match thanks to Tom W and John C.

They must be wondering when they had us 72-9 that they have lost this match by 78 runs which in the context was a bit of a hammering!!
A good season and nice to finish the season with a win!!