Fresh off their third win of the season, the Ramblas were back at fortress Ex-Blues as they looked to pick up back to back wins for the first time this year. Hildenborough were the opposition this week, and with the sun out and the pitch under cover from the rain the previous day, everything was in place for a cracking day of cricket.
Captain Michael Cooper was once again thrust into a selection headache with myriad players unavailable. With only eight players as of Saturday morning, things were looking bleak but search parties were sent out and by some miracle the final three players were found. Syam was the first to answer the call, followed by Graeme Moir and John Loughlin as the hosts fielded a patchwork, yet more than capable, eleven.
Cooper’s uncanny ability to lose the toss was back in action and the Ramblas were put into the field. The skipper once again showed faith in his opening partnership of Mark Loughlin and Doug Danks.
M. Loughlin’s pace was troubling the batsmen but some erratic deliveries from Danks saw the scoreboard tick along nicely for the visitors. The breakthrough came in the seventh over when a leading edge was safely snaffled by Cooper at first slip to dismiss Sparks.
Doug gets ready to bowl / Cooper busy in the field
Thomas and Moir replaced M. Loughlin and Danks respectively and while both struggled with their rhythm initially, they bowled tidily to apply some pressure. And that pressure finally told when a delightful slower ball from Thomas dismissed Hildenborough’s skipper M. Robertshaw. Thomas picked up his second, and the Ramblas second in his next over, clean bowling Chapman.
Cooper brought himself on and was unlucky not to pick up a wicket, but a few loose deliveries saw the score reach 124-3 at drinks. Sensing the need for a wicket and an injection of pace, the skipper brought on Loughlin and Syam.
Tough chance goes begging
The pair worked brilliantly in tandem, restricting the runs and helping to keep down the run rate. Loughlin was the first of the duo to pick up a wicket when he clean bowled the dangerous Webb for 40. Syam then picked up the other key wicket of Galloway with a rapid delivery that sent the middle stump flying. Loughlin then grabbed his third wicket of the game when he dismantled Wood’s stumps.
Syam bounds in / Gambie taking a breather
From 124-3 at drinks to 146-6, the Ramblas were right back in the contest. Danks came on in place of Syam and nabbed his first wicket when he clean bowled Hinchcliffe for a duck. Danks finished his spell with two maidens before being replaced by Moir.
Moir picked up the eighth and final wicket of the day when Goldup mistimed his shot and Harriss took a simple catch at mid on. Hildenborough finished their 35 overs on 173-8, a more than gettable target.
Graeme bowls as his brother-in-law strikes a pose
The sun was out in full force as both teams headed in for tea and they tucked into another excellent Ramblas feast before thoughts turned to the run chase. Ash Harriss and David Gambie opened the batting for the hosts.
Harriss continued his excellent form with the bat racing into double figures as the Ramblas got off to a flying start. Gambie was cautious early on but a couple of boundaries took his score to 12 before he was caught at mid wicket.
Ash & Gambie get the innings started
In at three was Smith and he followed in Gambie’s footsteps by playing the supporting role as Harriss continued to pile on the runs. The duo chipped away at the total, with quick singles and a flurry of boundaries. Harriss reached the fifty mark for the fourth time this season as the pair took the score to 97 before Smith was caught at mid off for 8.
Drew drives and Ash salutes his fifty
Matt Rudgyard came in at four but couldn’t find his form and was caught in the deep for 1. Next man in was John Loughlin, playing his first game in three years but showing no signs of rustiness. His sharp running turned singles into doubles, even threatening to lap Harriss on occasion.
After striking two boundaries in an over, J. Loughlin got a bit over excited and was caught at mid-off for a run a ball 11. Syam came in at six and after a few nervy shots looked in fine fettle, carving the ball through the covers as the Ramblas raced towards the finish line.
John & Syam keeping the scoreboard ticking
With just twenty two runs needed, fans on the touchline were wondering if Harriss could convert the fifty into his second century of the season. Harris, on 95, unselfishly took a single and watched on as Syam swept the ball for six to give the Ramblas a six wicket victory.
The heroes return / A Ramblas work is never done
In what was a great game all round, the hosts picked up their fourth win of an ever improving season. They now head to old foes and next door neighbours Wickham Park, keen to claim a maiden win there.
Ramblas MVP: Mark Loughlin bowled beautifully for his 3-22 and newbie Syam had key contributions with both bat & ball. However, for his standout 96*, to go with his many superlative innings this season, this week’s MVP is Ash Harriss.
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