The sun was once again out in full force as the Ramblas travelled to old foes Petts Wood, looking to avenge the home defeat earlier in the season. And despite Wimbledon and the World Cup competing for peoples affections, those in the know knew that the real drama was about to unfold in a leafy corner of Kent.
Cooper’s selection issues of the previous week were a distant memory as Sam Ford, Rich Ford, Tom Danks, Ed Gibbs and Dave Green all returned to the lineup. Even the last minute drop out of Dave Brewer due to injury couldn’t derail the skipper, with Alex Danks coming to the rescue at the last minute, much to his girlfriend’s dismay. Sorry Jess!
After winning the toss, Cooper elected to bat first, memories of bowling first last week having been seared into his memory. A. Danks and T. Danks were tasked with getting the Ramblas off to a good start.
And the first over showed signs of promise with nine off it, including a run four, as A. Danks showed signs that something special was on the cards. However, with the score on 17, T. Danks was clean bowled by Downs for one.
The early wicket brought S. Ford to the crease and although the boundaries dried up slightly, some sharp running from the pair kept the score ticking over. And once S. Ford’s eye was in, a couple of delightful cover drives raced to the boundary followed by a pull shot in one over took his score to 17. Sadly for S. Ford he was then dismissed the next over, clean bowled by an unplayable delivery from Wijesinghe that kissed the top of off.
Sam watchful at the crease
S. Ford’s dismissal prompted a mini, but very Ramblas-esque, batting collapse. Drew Smith, in at four, could only manage a single before he was bowled by another cracking ball from Wijesinghe.
Dave Green only lasted one ball, caught in the covers when a ball from Attaway cramped him for room. R. Ford lasted a touch longer but he could only pick up the one run before his was bowled by Attaway. The Ramblas had gone from 42-1 to 55-5 in the space of five overs and were in dire need of a partnership.
Loughlin came to the crease and got off the mark early thanks to the second run four of the match. And both he and A. Danks continued the hard running, turning ones into twos and twos into threes, as they looked to keep pressure on the home side. And A. Danks brought up a deserved half century, but those on the sidelines were hoping he could convert it into something much bigger.
Al looking in great touch as he salutes his half century
A change of bowlers saw an increase in the run rate, as some tired legs in the field and big hitting from the pair saw a flurry of boundaries scored. Anything short from the bowlers was being punished as both players sensed now was the time go hard.
Loughlin raced to his half century as the pair’s partnership went past the century mark. And despite batting in this heat from ball one, A. Danks showed no signs of tiring as he notched his first century of the season, and third all time, in the final over.
Al celebrates his century as he and Mark leave the field
The Ramblas finished on 202-5 off their 35 overs thanks to a 147 run partnership from A. Danks (101*) and Loughlin (67*).
After a gruelling innings in the field, the hosts (and A. Danks) were grateful of the chance to collapse in the shade for a while. And for those who hadn’t been in the field, now was the time to enjoy an excellent tea and wonder if today was the day the Ramblas could claim their second win of the season.
Cooper opted with his tried and trusted opening attack of Loughlin and Doug Danks, hoping the pair’s knack of taking early wickets would bear fruit, and, a few loose balls aside, the pair bowled well. But in the heat of battle/the great British summer tempers flared when D. Danks was called for a couple of back foot no balls. Fingers were pointed, hats were thrown on the ground but after a discussion between the two captains, the situation was diffused and normal service was resumed.
Tom defending his father’s honour
The breakthrough came in the seventh over when Moore was run out for 18 thanks to a sharp piece of fielding from Thomas in the covers. In an effort to conserve energy in the field, Loughlin and D. Danks were replaced by Cooper and Thomas respectively. And Thomas then picked up a wicket in his first over to dismiss Gamlath for 20.
After being caught off a bump ball, then being dropped the very next ball, Gamlath was dismissed at the third time of asking thanks to an excellent catch by Loughlin on the move.
Mark celebrates the run out and takes an important catch
Cooper and Thomas were then replaced with Gibbs and D. Danks, with the skipper hoping that another change in the attack could help peg Petts Wood back. And D. Danks did not disappoint his skipper picking up the wicket of Russell thanks to a simple stumping from S. Ford.
Gibbs then picked up his first wicket of the day thanks to an excellent catch behind the stumps from S. Ford to dismiss Smith for four. And the bowler picked up his second two overs later when he clean bowled the dangerous Cook for 44. The hosts were now 123-5 off 21 overs and the game was delicately poised.
Gibbs grabs his second wicket
Gibbs and D. Danks were replaced by Thomas and R. Ford, with R. Ford’s three over cameo only yielding ten runs. Thomas bowled well but as fatigue kicked in his last over went for nine, to ramp up the tension. R. Ford and Thomas were then replaced with Loughlin and Gibbs.
As Meaton and Downs continued their rebuilding efforts, the Ramblas refused to give in and ran down everything they could, knowing that every saved run was vital. The pair batted fantastically under pressure and with five overs to go, the hosts only needed 33 runs to claim victory.
Thommo makes a key stop in the field
The hosts became heavy favourites when Mark’s penultimate over went for thirteen, followed by nine off Gibb’s next over, meaning that Petts Wood needed just eleven off three overs.
The 33rd over, Loughlin’s final over, yielded just three runs as sharp fielding and pure pace kept the Ramblas in the game. And the 34th over saw the pendulum swing in the visitors favour when Gibbs picked up the wicket of Downs for 30 thanks to a simple catch from T. Danks in the covers. But more importantly, just one run was conceded.
So it was simple, the hosts needed just seven runs off six balls to secure victory. And with his strike bowlers all bowled out, Cooper turned to T. Danks to bowl the final over…
34.1 T. Danks to Wijesinghe, no run. 7 needed off 5.
34.2 T. Danks to Wijesinghe, wicket! After a waist high no ball is called, a suicidal run from the batsmen sees him comfortably run out by S. Ford. 6 needed off 5.
Sam with the run out of Wijesinghe
34.2 T. Danks to Peatfield, no run. 6 needed off 4.
34.3 T. Danks to Peatfield, one run. 5 needed off 3.
34.4 T. Danks to Meaton, wicket! A full a straight delivery does for Meaton who is dismissed for an oh so nearly match winning 45. 5 needed off 2.
34.5 T. Danks to Attaway, wicket! Another fuller ball from T. Danks sees Attaway come down the crease to combat it but is hit flush in the pads and out LBW. 5 needed off 1.
34.6 T. Danks to Rutter, wicket! And that is the hat-trick! Rutters had to go big but a mistimed shot sees him play on to his stumps as the Ramblas win by 4 runs!
The moment that sealed the match
In what has become an instant classic, and another close contest with Petts Wood, the Ramblas picked up their second victory of 2018. Hats off to both sides who put on a hell of a performance in the heat, most notably our very own Alex Danks, who was on the field for the entire match.
Ramblas MVP: Shout outs to Ed Gibbs for his figures of 3-35 and Tom Danks for his hat-trick to wrap up the win, and to Mark Loughlin for his 67* off 53 balls. But for batting out the entire innings and compiling a match winning 101*, this week’s MVP is Alex Danks.
2 Comments Add yours