While the world still deals with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a sense of comfort in knowing that cricket was back on the calendar. And the Ramblas kicked off the new season at home to new opposition Washington CC.
Unlike previous seasons where Ramblas skipper Michael Cooper had to scrabble together an XI, this year Cooper had that unenvious task of resting players. Ramblas originals Chris Thomas, Mark Loughlin, Geoff Parrett, Laurie Stocks & Johnny Stocks made the side, with Alex Danks, Doug Danks, Jason Christensen, Simon Triggs & Matt Rudgyard rounding off the side.
Cooper, as is his knack, lost the toss and the Ramblas were asked to bowl, sticking with his classic opening combo of Loughlin and D. Danks. Loughlin looked sharp early doors, reaping the rewards of having already played cricket this year. D. Danks bowled well in his first over but a missed stumping opportunity and Washington’s opener dispatched anything vaguely loose to the boundary saw the bowler’s figures take a bit of punishment.
Mark steams in / Doug & Coop deep in thought
In need of a wicket, Cooper made a double change with Loughlin being replaced by Parrett and D. Danks with Thomas. Parrett struggled to rein in the big hitting opener and his four over spell proved fruitless. Thomas made the breakthrough when he clean bowled Walker for 31 with a delivery that jagged back in to clip the top of off.
Cooper came on in place of Parrett as the visitors reached drinks 172-1. In a rare move, Loughlin replaced Thomas at the garden end and in tandem with Cooper managed to wrestle back some modicum of control. The skipper’s efforts with the ball were rewarded when he picked up the wicket of Pendry thanks to an excellent catch by A. Danks at cover.
Thommo & Geoff in action
With Loughlin bowled out, Thomas game in for another spell but couldn’t pick up his second wicket. Thomas and Cooper were replaced by D. Danks and Parrett respectively, with the spin duo tasked with bowling at the death.
The pair looked much more comfortable in their second spells and D. Danks picked up the third and final wicket of the innings when he bowled Mitchell for 19. Washington finished on 283-3, meaning the Ramblas had a big task ahead of them in the second innings.
Triggs & A. Danks opened the batting for the hosts and both looked in good touch as the pair put on 34 before Triggs was run out after his partner called for a risky single. Stocks was in at first drop and ably supported A. Danks as he raced to his fifty.
The pair took the score past the century mark but the partnership was ended shortly after when A. Danks was bowled for a superb 78.
Al & Johnny ticking along nicely.
Christensen was in at four and looked in good knick straight away, announcing his arrival with a massive strike down the ground. His explosive knock helped propel the innings along as he struck three more boundaries before being bowled for 24. Rudgyard was the next man in, and out, bowled for a first ball duck.
Sorry Matt!
L. Stocks joined his brother at the crease and opened his account, gliding the ball down to the third man boundary for four. Alas, that was as good as it got for L. Stocks as he was clean bowled for four. J. Stocks soon joined him back in the pavilion after he was also bowled for 19.
Parrett & Loughlin were the next into bat and the latter was in scintillating form, dispatching the ball to all parts. Parrett’s struggles with the ball translated to the bat and he was bowled for 2.
Cooper joined Loughlin with the aim of sticking around and making sure Loughlin kept as much of the strike as possible. A couple of mighty sixes helped Loughlin race to his fifty before his partner was clean bowled for four.
Mark reaches his fifty / Geoff deep in thought
D. Danks was in at 10 and along with Loughlin saw the Ramblas bat through their overs finishing on a pretty decent 225-8. While the defeat may look big on paper, there were many positives to take and a lot to build on as we take on Chislehurst next week.
Ramblas MVP: For his scintillating knock of 78 that helped kick off the second innings with a flourish, this week’s MVP is Alex Danks.