After losing two successive Sunday’s to rain, the Ramblas were itching to get back into action as they hosted new opponents Old Dartechs.
In a throw back to seasons past, Ramblas skipper Michael Cooper had a selection headache with only eight players available. Luckily for Cooper, James Dilley came to the rescue and persuaded his dad Stuart Dilley to turn out for the Ramblas. He also managed to draft in father and son duo Rob & Jake Stratford to complete the XI.
Following an uncontested toss, the Ramblas fielded first, Cooper opting to stick with his usual opening attack of Mark Loughlin and Doug Danks. There was drama on the first ball when R. Stratford took a stunning juggling catch, only to see the umpire had called for a no ball. In an eventful first over, stand in ‘keeper Cooper conceded five penalty runs when a misfield hit his helmet.
Rob takes a great catch off a no ball
A loose start with the ball saw the visitors race to 45 off the first six overs, but Danks made the breakthrough in the seventh over. A mistimed drive from Taplin saw him edge it to J. Dilley who took a great diving catch at gulley. One wicket became two, when Loughlin clean bowled P. Dixit with an excellent full delivery.
After picking up a wicket apiece, Loughlin and Danks were replaced by J. Dilley and Chris Thomas respectively. Old Dartech’s number four McArdle was looking destructive, hitting some big sixes to help the visitors rebuild.
The third wicket came thanks to fantastic fielding from Luke Sheridan. When McArdle called a risky single, Sheridan picked up the ball at midwicket and threw a direct hit at the non-strikers end, sending the stumps flying.
In an attempt to keep his bowlers fresh, Cooper replaced Thomas with S. Dilley, and J. Dilley with 13 year old J. Stratford. The new change worked wonders, with S. Dilley clean bowling McArdle with a beautifully flighted delivery.
Jake in action / Celebrating Stu’s first Ramblas wicket
Shaking off a loose first over, J. Stratford bowling fantastically in his first adult match, picking up a much deserved wicket when he bowled Jo. Town for 29. S. Dilley then picked up his second wicket of the day thanks to a smart catch from Thomas on the square leg boundary.
Danks came back on in place of S. Dilley, with J. Dilley replacing J. Stratford. The hosts continued to battle away in the heat, with everyone putting in an excellent shift in the field. Danks snaffled his second wicket of the day, thanks to an excellent stumping from Cooper.
J. Dilley grabbed his first wicket, clean bowling Kumar with a ball that kept low. And two wickets quickly become three for Danks when another good catch from Thomas at deep square leg saw the visitor’s captain depart for 1.
Old Dartechs finished on 188-9 after their 35 overs, a very strong total on what was a tricky wicket.
With a team light on recent time at the crease, Cooper elected to open the batting himself alongside Simon Triggs. Triggs looked in good touch, but Cooper could only manage the one run before he was bowled.
Coop & Simon open the batting
The wicket of Cooper led to a middle order collapse, with Sheridan and Bandali both being dismissed for ducks in successive deliveries. R. Statford could only manage a single before he too was clean bowled.
Loughlin was in at six, tasked with a massive rebuild. The pair got the scoreboard restarted thanks to some smart running and a smattering of boundaries. Loughlin hit the hosts first maximum, smashing a short pitched delivery over the clubhouse roof.
The duo took the score past the hundred mark but sensing the need to pick up the run rate, Loughlin was caught in the deep for an excellent 37. Danks was the next man in and stuck around while Triggs hit his second fifty for the club.
Mark & Simon rebuild / Simon salutes his fifty
The final over saw both Triggs and Danks depart, the former for a hard fought 65, as the Ramblas finished their overs for 137-7, losing to twelve man Old Dartechs by 51 runs.
Although the result wasn’t the one the club wanted on a sunny bank holiday, it was a fantastic effort from everyone involved. It’s on to next Sunday’s game against Chelsfield as the Ramblas look to pick up their first win of the season.
Ramblas MVP: In a game where everyone pitched in to help the cause, this week’s MVPs are Michael Cooper, Simon Triggs, Luke Sheridan, Qahir Bandali, Rob Stratford, Mark Loughlin, Doug Danks, Chris Thomas, Jake Stratford, James Dilley & Stuart Dilley.