The Cricket World Cup may have kicked off in South London, but the renewed groundswell of excitement for the planet’s greatest sport still couldn’t help generate enough interest to ease Ramblas skipper Michael Cooper’s recruitment headaches.
Once again Cooper struggled to get a side out in what is becoming an alarming trend in our tenth season. But by hook and by crook, and by Liverpool winning the Champions League, the Ramblas headed to Hadlow CC with a full XI, looking to put last week’s result behind them and start to rebuild some confidence.
After once again losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, Cooper elected to open with his usual combo of Doug Danks and Mark Loughlin. The confidence rebuild project hit somewhat of a snag when Tom Batchelor, who smashed a century against the Ramblas last season, opened the batting for the hosts.
Batchelor put Danks and Loughlin to the sword as Hadlow reached 65-0 off the first 9 overs. In the early June heat, Cooper decided short bursts of bowling were the way to go, so Danks and Loughlin made way for Chris Thomas and Ed Gibbs.
Thomas made the breakthrough thanks to an excellent catch on the move by Steve Fitch at square leg to dismiss Kennett for 24.
Sadly that was as good it for the Ramblas while Batchelor was at the crease as Hadlow raced to 182-1 at 20 overs. Fitch and Geoff Parrett had replaced Gibbs and Thomas and both got the treatment.
Thomas searches for the ball as Harriss salutes the crowd
On a hot day, a daunting scoreline like that might have seen other teams wilt but the Ramblas dug in. Soon after getting his century, Batchelor was finally out for 104 thanks to a sharp catch in the deep by Thomas off the bowling of Fitch.
The wicket brought a sense of optimism to the Ramblas and bouyed by the dismissal of the danger man, Cooper made another double change with Danks and Thomas replacing Parrett and Fitch respectively.
Danks picked up the third wicket of the day when he trapped Horne LBW for 38. Thomas then picked up his second wicket when Leeson picked out Parrett in the deep for 11. Their backs up, the Danks/Thomas axis kept on the pressure and tore through Hadlow’s middle order.
What Doug wants, Doug gets
Parrett took a simple catch at mid-on off the bowling of Danks to dismiss Davies for 6 and Danks didn’t have to wait long for his third wicket when he pinned Potipher LBW for a duck.
Thomas then grabbed his third wicket when Hadlow skipper Millen popped up a simple chance to Cooper at cover. Thomas nearly had his fourth wicket but Cooper failed to hold onto a tough chance running backwards.
Contrasting fortunes in the field
Gibbs and Fitch came on in place of Danks and Thomas and Gibbs was immediately amongst the wickets when he clean bowled Foad for 17. Gibbs picked up the ninth wicket of the innings trapping Jenkins LBW for 29.
Hadlow finished their innings on a daunting 273-9 but the Ramblas fought back in the second half to keep them under 300. It may not sound much but after being hit for 300+ the last two matches, the hard work put in by the bowlers and fielders cannot be faulted. Kudos to Haydn Evans in particular, who put in a real shift in the field.
The hosts laid on a sumptuous tea, which the Ramblas eagerly feasted on after toiling in the heat. And with the visitor’s bereft of opening batsmen, Parrett answered the call of his captain and joined Ash Harriss to open the Ramblas innings.
Harriss was off the mark with a glorious boundary but could only had another run to his score before he was caught off the bowling of Millen for 5. Rudgyard came in at three and together with Parrett slowly but surely rebuilt the innings after an early wobble.
While the pair may have been cautious at times, that did not stop them unfurling some big hits, with Parrett smiting a couple of textbook maximums to keep the fans happy. Rudgyard maintained his rich vein of form for the season thanks to some lusty blows down the ground as the pair reached their fifty partnership.
Geoff and Matt rebuild the innings
Alas, soon after reaching the fifty partnership Rudgyard was trapped LBW by Horne for an entertaining 25. Evans was the next man in but didn’t last long and was bowled for a duck. Cooper was in at five and looked to steady the ship and stay with Parrett.
The plan didn’t quite come together as the visitor’s would have liked, when Parrett was caught at square leg for an excellent 38 that showed he can dig in as well as play the big shots. Gambie was the next man in, but was out first ball when he edged it to first slip.
Views from the sidelines
Loughlin joined Cooper at the crease and together got the Ramblas past the hundred mark thanks to some sharp running and big hitting from Loughlin before he was caught for 12.
Cooper was then run out for two the next over, some hesitation with the second run proving his downfall. And the less said about his petulant smacking of the stumps with the bat the better…
Gibbs and Danks were the new men tasked with keeping the scoreboard ticking over and the former hit a glorious maximum to take his score to 12 before he was out LBW. Danks batted well but kept finding the fielders before he edged one through to the keeper for 1.
Ed striking a pose / the bowlers union in discussion
Fitch and Thomas were the final pair at the crease and took the total to 130 before Thomas was bowled by Leeson for two. The Ramblas succumbed to a 143 run defeat but can be proud of the fightback in the field after the dismissal of Batchelor.
Next week sees the second Ramblas Family Day, a perfect way to get together and have some fun after what has been a slightly nightmarish start to our tenth season.
Ramblas MVP: Honourable mentions with the ball to Chris Thomas & Doug Danks for nabbing three wickets each. And with the bat, Matt Rudgyard continued his fine form and put on a fifty partnership with this week’s MVP Geoff Parrett.