Fresh from an epic win against Petts Wood the previous week, the sun had once again come out to play as the Ramblas took on Hildenborough at fortress ex-Blues. And with temperatures soaring, players and fans knew it was going to be a tough afternoon in the field. And with both teams struggling for numbers, the task was going to prove all the more difficult.
For the visitors, three of their numbers dropped out the morning of the game, and for the Ramblas, the stag do of Ramblas board member Geoff Parrett meant half the squad were unavailable for selection. Luckily, Ben Butcher, Richard Pleydell and Ramblas rookie Chris Scott answered the distress call as the Ramblas cobbled together nine men for the game.
In the absence of the Ramblas leadership group, Sam Ford once again skippered the team and showed he’s a natural for the job by losing the toss and being asked to bowl first. Doug Danks and Ed Gibbs opened the bowling for the home side but a combination of the odd loose ball and lack of bodies in the field meant that the boundaries flowed.
Ed opening the bowling for the first time
The Hildenborough openers kept the scoreboard ticking over and the pressure on the Ramblas as they reached their fifty partnership in the seventh over. Things got worse for the Ramblas when Rich Ford got hit in a particularly sensitive area and was off the field for a few moments.
Sensing the need for a change, S. Ford brought on Butcher on in place of D. Danks and Scott in place of Gibbs. And the changes sparked a fightback from the Ramblas as Scott made the key breakthrough thanks to a smart take from Dave Green at mid wicket to dismiss Potipher for 29.
Scott picked up his second wicket in his next over to dislodge the other opener Webb for 44, caught by Gibbs at extra cover. And not content with two wickets, Scott then picked up another wicket in his third and final over, clean bowling Phillips for four. Hildenborough had gone from 76 without loss to 91-3 and the Ramblas were right back in the game.
Ed with the catch for Chris’ second wicket
Butcher came on in place of Scott and in tandem with S. Ford stemmed the run flow and some strong fielding helped the hosts stay in the contest. Hildenborough steadied the ship and they had a let off when D. Danks misjudged a catch and got a ball to the nose for his troubles. Drinks were taken as he received treatment.
Rich and Doug both in the wars
With the score on 118, S. Ford took control of the game for the hosts. He picked up the wicket of Long, when a mistimed pull shot saw Pleydell take a simple catch behind the stumps. The wicket was his fiftieth for the Ramblas, only the fifth player to do so in the club’s history.
Sam’s 50th Ramblas wicket
And S. Ford only had to wait one ball to pick up fifty first when Greagsby hit the ball straight to Scott at mid wicket. Alas D. Robertshaw saw off the hat-trick ball but the Ramblas were into the tail.
Aware that he was running out of partners, M. Robertshaw went on the attack, hitting multiple boundaries as the score raced to 136. But Butcher removed his partner at the other end thanks to a simple caught & bowled effort.
Doug give Ben a bit of physio before bowling
D. Danks came back on as the Ramblas looked to pick up the final wicket, and the beard to be feared grabbed his customary wicket thanks to an excellent catch by Alex Danks at deep-wicket to dismiss M. Robertshaw for 48.
Al’s catch for the final wicket
The visitors were all out for 153 and the Ramblas knew that is was a total that was most certainly chase-able.
Not content with skippering and finding additional players, S. Ford also laid on an excellent tea as both teams relaxed at the halfway point.
Pleydell and A. Danks opened the batting for the Ramblas, knowing that with gaps in the field runs were there for the taking. And Pleydell raced to ten off just six balls thanks to a couple of big boundaries before being dismissed a ball later.
Green replaced Pleydell at the crease and watchful in his innings, was keen not to give away his wicket and support A. Danks in the run chase. Sadly Green couldn’t make amends for his duck last week and was clean bowled for one.
Pleydell in good touch / Dave & Al with some smart running
R. Ford recovered from his earlier knock and came in to bat at four, and made his intentions clear early on with a delightful boundary. But R. Ford was also soon back in the hutch with the score now 42-3.
Scott was the next man in and he and A. Danks wasted no time in getting the Ramblas back in contention thanks to some quick running and bruising boundaries. Despite some loose heaves, Scott was punishing anything wide of off, drilling the ball through the covers with alarming regularity.
Club Captain Cooper, from legless to leg byes in less than 48 hours
A. Danks was looking in fine fettle, cutting and pulling the ball as he raced to his fifty off just 41 balls. Scott reached his fifty shortly after, but just as the pair reached their hundred partnership, A.Danks was caught at deep mid wicket for an excellent 45 ball 54.
S. Ford saw off the rest of the over and with eleven runs needed for victory, Scott finished the game off in spectacular style with two massive sixes from the first two balls of the following over. Scott finished on 68* off only 45 balls as the Ramblas sealed a four wicket win.
Chris seals the win for the Ramblas
In what was a difficult match considering both sides were short handed, credit goes to both teams for putting on match of such quality. And with two wins on the bounce, the Ramblas go to next week’s game at neighbours Wickham Park full of confidence.
Ramblas MVP: Alex Danks once again looked excellent with the bat, and congratulations to Sam for reaching fifty wickets for the club. However, for picking up three wickets with the ball to go with a catch in the field, and a match winning 68*, this week’s MVP has to be Chris Scott.