The weather came out in full force for the first Ramblas home game of the 2018 season, clearly realising it needed to up its game after last week’s debacle. And with an earlier start time of 11am, the team had even more time to soak up the Bank Holiday sun as they took on London City for the fourth time in as many seasons.
A few last minute drop outs meant an impromptu reshuffle, with Ash Harriss and Dave Brewer making their first appearances of the season. Johnny Stocks, Drew Smith & Geoff Parrett were also back into the side in place of Tom Danks, Rich Ford and Dave Green.
After two uncontested tosses to start the season, the first toss of the season went the way of the visitors and the Ramblas were asked to bowl. And, despite some early struggles, the skipper kept faith with the opening pair of Mark Loughlin and Doug Danks.
And D. Danks made an instant impact, clean bowling opener Khurrum first ball of his spell after the batsman played an ugly swipe across the line. The beard to be feared only had to wait three more deliveries before getting his second wicket of the game when he trapped Mamu LBW for a duck.
Ash and Al keep it real in the field
Loughlin then got in on the action, claiming his first wicket of the season when a loose shot from Waqas saw the ball loop up and fall straight into the waiting hands of Drew Smith at cover.
D. Danks them claimed his third wicket of the match, when another mindless swing off the bat saw Ifran clean bowled for two. With the visitors in trouble at 12-4, Zaheer was tasked with leading the fightback.
After Zaheer did some damage to D. Danks figures, he and Loughlin were replaced by Sam Ford and Geoff Parrett. And the new pair suffered at the hands of the big hitting Zaheer who was smacking the ball to all parts of the field in tandem with Nasir.
The bowlers were victims of some uncharacteristic drops from the Ramblas fielders, with Harriss and Cooper putting down tough chances. Loughlin also dropped a relatively simple chance and although it was off a no ball, it’s good to see that he’s human after all…
Smith consoles Harriss after a dropped catch/A rare Loughlin miscue
Despite the drops, the ground fielding was up to the high levels the Ramblas set themselves, Dave Brewer once again using his ankle to stop a shot racing to the boundary, with the ball making an almighty thwacking noise as it hit Brewer’s well placed shin pads.
Ford finally made the breakthrough when a mistimed cut from Zaheer was snaffled by Parrett in the covers as the batsman departed for a rapid 72. And, bowler and fielder combined again in Ford’s next over to dismiss Nasir for 46.
Parrett then got in on the wicket taking action, dismissing Nadeem for 15 thanks to an excellent catch from Loughlin on the long on boundary.
Although the two set batsmen were back in the hutch, the new batmsen were of the same see ball, hit ball disposition and the runs continued to flow. And with pressure being put onto the fielders, a potential run out chance was spurned after a heavy throw from Harriss left ‘keeper Matt Rudgyard with too much to do.
A tough run out chance goes begging
With Parrett bowled out, Cooper brought back Loughlin in hopes of cleaning up the tail, and along with Ford, he did just that. Loughlin clean bowling Duncan for 5.
Ford bagged his third wicket of the day when he splayed the timbers of Ali for 28. And Loughlin then wrapped up the innings by dismissing Jimmy for 5 as London City finished on 191.
The Ramblas head back to the pavilion after hard work in the field
In the first season post Mrs C, Messrs Cooper, Stocks & Parrett put together a tea that made sure the hosts were well fed before they went out to chase down 192 for victory.
A. Danks and Stocks were once again tasked with kicking off a Ramblas run chase and while the pair were being watchful, a flurry of wides kept the hosts up with the run rate. But sadly for A. Danks, his early season struggles continued as he was clean bowled by, to quote the umpire, an unplayable inswinger by London City’s left arm seamer.
Smith was the next man in and after looking in good touch was adjudged LBW for 6, followed by an uncharacteristic display of frustration on the sidelines.
Harriss came to the crease and immediately announced his intent with a booming cover drive for four. But just as Harriss was finding his feet, Stocks was clean bowled for a hard fought 11.
After a couple of quick wickets, Rudgyard and Harriss steadied the ship thanks to some sharp running and some big boundaries. Alas, on the cusp of drinks disaster struck as Rudgyard and Brewer were clean bowled in consecutive balls.
Cooper came in at seven and managed to see off the hat-trick ball but couldn’t get off the mark after a big drive failed to sail over the fielder on the cover boundary and was out for a duck.
Cooper falls attempting to go big
Ford came in at eight and along with Harriss, took the run chase by the scruff of the neck and brought the Ramblas back into contention. Harriss continued to hit some big boundaries as he raced to a well deserved fifty before he lost his partner when Ford was clean bowled for 17.
Loughlin joined Harriss at the crease and followed his partner’s lead in his aggressive batting style. But with the score on 159 in the 36th over, Harris was caught behind for a fantastic 59.
Parrett and Loughlin were the next duo tasked with seeing the Ramblas over the line and a huge maximum from Loughlin took the score to 172-8. But Parrett fell for 3 shortly afterwards, caught on the deep square leg boundary.
D. Danks was the final man in and after some quick singles took the Ramblas to 175, was trapped LBW as the Ramblas fell 15 agonising runs short of the required target.
Despite being unable to secure the win, it was a perfect way to bounce back from the humbling at Sidcup and the Ramblas can look to next week’s game against Petts Wood full of confidence.
Ramblas super fan Niamh’s perfect summation of the day’s play
Ramblas MVP: Shout outs to Sam Ford for his 3-53 with the ball and Ash Harriss for his near run a ball 59 with the bat. But for his all round performance, 3-31 with the ball and a 18 ball 29 with the bat to keep us in the game until the penultimate over, this week’s MVP is Mark Loughlin.
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