After losing the previous week’s match to some classic bank holiday weather, the Ramblas were delighted that the sun was back in all its glory as they travelled to Oakhill Taverners. In what has become a tough ninth season for the club, fans and players alike were confident that the team could sign off the season in style.
Captain Michael Cooper and Vice-captain Chris Thomas returned to the side after holidays and injuries respectively kept them out of the side.
And the leadership group also welcomed back Ian Dacre to the side, as the former Ramblas seamer briefly flew in from Seville, especially for the game. Ok, maybe not especially for the game, but it was still good to see him back in Ramblas whites again.
Ian fits back into the side seamlessly
Showing a trip to Scotland hadn’t blunted his captaincy skills, Cooper lost the toss and the Ramblas were put into the field. Cooper elected to open the bowling with his favoured partnership of Mark Loughlin and Doug Danks.
The pair were straight into their groove early, with Loughlin’s pace and D. Danks’ guile causing the Oakhill openers no end of troubles. D. Danks made the early breakthrough when a beautifully flighted delivery bamboozled Richardson and the opener was bowled for twelve.
Loughlin’s four over burst failed to pick up the wicket it deserved and he was replaced by Ed Gibbs, who looked dangerous from the offset. However, as the batsmen found their feet the scoreboard started to tick along nicely for the hosts.
The slip cordon on ready for action during Mark’s spell
In the last over of his spell D. Danks picked up his second wicket of the game thanks to a ludicrous one handed catch from Alex Danks. Oakhill’s number three smashed the ball down the ground but didn’t count on A. Danks plucking the ball out of the air at mid-on to the astonishment of everybody who witnessed it.
Dacre replaced D. Danks and showed no signs of rustiness despite the fact he hadn’t bowled a ball in a year. And with the newly opened Ramblas bookie offering evens on the Spanish seamer picking up a wicket, Loughlin thought it was a fiver well invested.
Alas, two dropped catches (naming no names, A. Danks…) and some magic deliveries going unrewarded, Dacre couldn’t pick up a wicket on his return.
Ian picking up where he left off
Gibbs was still plugging away at the other end when he cleaned bowled Oakhill’s other opener Davis for 51. It was a key wicket that helped break the partnership that was looking dangerous. In the next over of Gibbs spell, Dave Green’s excellent efforts in the field paid off when he ran out Le Bars with arguably the most nonchalant throw ever to grace a cricket field.
Ed in full flow as he picks up his wicket
With Gibbs bowled out, Thomas came into the attack and put his injury worries behind him with some excellent bowling in the death overs. He picked up his first wicket of the day to dismiss the host’s captain Fergus thanks to a sharp catch from Loughlin at backward point.
The Ramblas kept the pressure on in the final overs thanks to some excellent bowling and even sharper fielding. And after a suicidal attempt to sneak a run off a leg bye, Verrell was run out by ‘keeper Sam Ford.
Rich Ford was tasked, along with Thomas, with bowling at the death and once again didn’t disappoint, grabbing a wicket in his penultimate over thanks to an excellent catch from Gibbs at extra cover.
Thomas nabbed the last wicket of the innings and his second of the game in the final over, bowling Summerfield with a well disguised slower ball.
Oakhill Taverners finished their innings on 193-8 and although it looked like a large total, it belies the fantastic efforts everyone in the field against a quality opposition.
During the tea break, the Ramblas relaxed ahead of the run chase discussing a wide range of topics from Brexit to Rich Ford’s days as a kiss-o-gram.
Clearly inspired by such discourse, Ramblas openers S. Ford and A. Danks started the innings confidently, with quick running and a smattering of boundaries keeping the Ramblas in touch with the required run rate as the Ramblas reached 36-0 off the first five overs.
The pair continued to chip away at the target, even as the hot weather threatened to sap all of their energy reserves. However, they were up against a very strong bowling attack and boundaries were coming at a premium.
Al is great touch as Doug looks on
In the 21st over A. Danks picked up his second fifty of the season and at the same time took the opening partnership to 100. Sadly, A. Danks’ innings ended in the next over, clean bowled by Fergus for a hard fought 53 off 57 balls.
Matt Rudgyard came in at three knowing that he had to be aggressive from the get go and after hitting a much needed boundary, was bowled by King for seven.
The wicket brought Green to the crease who only lasted six balls, stumped for one after losing his balance going for a lusty blow. Cooper replaced him and picked up a couple of runs but he knew that it was a case of boundaries or bust from now on.
Matt, Dave & Coop try to keep up with the run rate
In King’s next over, Cooper, Loughlin, R. Ford and Gibbs were all dismissed, all of them heroically sacrificing themselves at the altar of an ever increasing run rate.
A procession of wickets tumble…
With the game all but over, and S. Ford on 77*, Thomas strode to the crease to help ensure that S. Ford could reach a deserved century. At the end of the penultimate over, S. Ford was on 84* but more importantly kept the strike.
Ford hit ten off the first three balls of the final over and on the fourth, while trying to turn a quick single into an even quicker two runs nearly saw Thomas run out. Fortunately, his cries of ‘you’re gonna have to sacrifice yourself’ to his partner, and Thomas’ willingness to do so, clearly appeased the cricketing gods.
The Ramblas opener reached his century with a delightful six over the long off boundary to boisterous cheers from the Ramblas faithful, as the Ramblas finished on 172-7.
A tired Sam salutes his century / Ian gutted not to get a chance to bat
Although the Ramblas lost by 21 runs, it was a brilliant performance and a great way to end the season.
So with another season done and dusted, all that remains is to say a massive thank you to everyone to has helped and supported the club this year and roll on our tenth season!
Ramblas MVP: Honourable mentions to Michael Cooper, Ian Dacre, Alex Danks, Doug Danks, Rich Ford, Ed Gibbs, Dave Green, Mark Loughlin, Matt Rudgyard and Chris Thomas for a fantastic all round performance. However, with an 87 ball century, this week’s MVP has to be Sam Ford.
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