As the Ramblas put a difficult May behind them and looked to the promises of the summer months, the site of hosts Chelsfield cleaning up the outfield of grass cuttings let the visitors know that the game would be anything but plain sailing.
Following last week’s troubles in getting a side out, Michael Cooper was luckily enough not to have to worry about fielding a team with a full XI readily available. Returning to the lineup were Jason Christensen, Drew Smith, Matt Rudgyard and Geoff Parrett, the latter still searching for the two elusive wickets to become the fourth Rambla to 100 wickets.
Unsurprisingly, skipper Cooper lost the toss and the Ramblas were put into the field. Cooper elected to open the attack with Mark Loughlin and Doug Danks, both looking bright early on.
Mark makes the breakthrough
It was Loughlin who made the early breakthrough, trapping Sheikh LBW for 6 with a fantastic delivery. Danks picked up the second wicket of the day thanks to an excellent catch by Johnny Stocks running in from square leg. The departing Chelsfield captain showed his displeasure by smashing his bat on the pitch, tearing a noticeable chunk out of it.
The slow outfield was making batting tricky, and keeping Smith busy, but the hosts were adjusting quickly. And a few loose overs saw the run rate accelerate.
After ten overs, Loughlin and Danks were replaced by James Dilley and Parrett respectively. Both struggled in the first overs but soon found their rhythm. Dilley picked up a wicket thanks to a fizzing delivery that sent the bails flying.
Dilley steams in / Heroic effort in the field from Johnny
With the hosts batsmen becoming more aggressive, the Ramblas sensed that Parrett was in with a shout at getting amongst the wickets. And how right they were. Parrett picked up his 99th wicket thanks to a brilliant running catch at long on from Loughlin. And the Ramblas original only had to wait a few more deliveries to pick up wicket one hundred, when Saleem hit the ball straight into the hands of Luke Sheridan at cover.
Celebrating Geoff’s 100th wicket
Cooper and Sheridan came into the attack in place of Parrett and Dilley, the latter bowling an excellent six over spell that deserved a wicket. Despite initially being bamboozled by having to bowl to a left hander, Cooper was quickly into the game but saw a couple of chances going begging and his five over spell at the death went wicketless.
Chelsfield finished their innings 219-5, a mammoth total considering the state of the outfield. Another tough day in the field was softened by the first cricket tea since 2019, which was duly scoffed.
Simon Triggs and Stocks opened the batting, having the unenviable task of getting us off to a quick start on a stodgy outfield. Alas, the task was made much harder when Triggs was superbly caught at first slip for 2.
Christensen was in at first drop and showed his intent second ball, when he dispatched a short delivery into the allotments next door. Sadly his innings was short lived, after suffering through an over of head high no balls and wides, he was bowled by a peach for 10.
Jason & Johnny attempt to rebuild
Smith was in at four but sadly his tenure at crease did not last long as he was trapped LBW for a duck. Rudgyard was the next man at the cease and he managed to get off the mark before being bowled for 1.
In came Loughlin, aiming to chip away at the score and support Stocks at the other end, who was batting very well in the circumstances. The pair took the score to 53 before Loughlin edged behind for 4, graciously walking before the umpire raised the finger.
The man of the moment Parrett came to the crease but like many of his teammates he was not there very long after he top edged a short that was caught by the ‘keeper. It was all over once Stocks was clean bowled for 9, a score that really doesn’t do the former Ramblas captain’s knock any justice.
Sadly for the Ramblas, the innings became a procession after Stocks departed, with Sheridan, Danks and Cooper all dismissed cheaply. The visitors were all out for 62 in what was a chastening defeat for the Ramblas.
Wickets tumble
A sure fire sign that this was a forgettable day of the office for the club was the near instantaneous paying of subs, with players keen to get home/to the pub to lick their wounds.
In what has been a tough first month of the 2021 season, the Ramblas can look to the annual Family Day as a chance to relax and reset before we head into the second half of the season.
Ramblas MVP: A game that had very few highlights even so there can only be one MVP. For picking up his 100th wicket for the Ramblas, this week’s MVP is Geoff Parrett.