Despite the ominous weather forecasts throughout the week, and a few showers on the day, the cricketing gods were kind to the Ramblas and the sun was (mostly) out as they looked to nab their first win of the season.
The weather wasn’t the only issue Rambas skipper Michael Cooper had to contend with during the week. Original opponents Hackney Umpires pulled out as they were unable to field a team but after scouring the web for a new team, Battersea Eagles answered the call. However, there was yet more drama for Cooper as three players withdrew from selection due to either injury or self-isolation.
Luckily, Neil Missen, Lewis Barham and Luke Sheridan’s younger brother Ben came to the rescue as the Ramblas managed to get a full side out. Rehan Quereshi returned to the side and Rahul Saha played his first game since the 2019 season.
After winning the toss the previous two weeks, Cooper returned to old habits and the Ramblas were asked to bowl first. And with his usual bowling attack thin on the ground, L. Sheridan opened the bowling alongside Mark Loughlin. The pair combined well, restricting the batsmen’s scoring opportunities and Loughlin was unlucky not to pick up a wicket in his four over spell.
Mark & Luke open the attack
B. Sheridan replaced Loughlin and in tandem with his brother kept the pressure on the visitors. B. Sheridan made the breakthrough when Battersea’s opener Abi mistimed his shot and Qureshi took a simple catch at point. The brother’s were replaced in attack by Cooper and Saha, who carried on the good work of the previous bowlers.
Ben picks up his first Ramblas wicket
It was Saha who picked up the second wicket of the day, with a beautiful delivery that came back in to clip the top of off stump. He then picked up another wicket in the next over, bowling Battersea’s number three for two. Saha’s spell got even better when a risky/suicidal run saw their skipper hit the ball down the ground that was quickly collected by Saha who whipped off the bails.
Qureshi replaced Saha, but it was Cooper who picked up the next wicket when a tempter outside off stump drew the batsmen out and Matt Rudgyard snaffled a catch off the outside edge. Sensing the need to kick on, Battersea’s middle order became more aggressive, much to the detriment of Cooper’s bowling figures but the skipper finished his eight over spell with figures of 1-48.
With the middle order rebuilding and looking dangerous, Qureshi picked up both set batsmen in the space of an over. The first was clean bowled thanks to fizzing delivery that smashed through the stumps and the second was thanks to a now customary catch from L. Sheridan.
Ramblas bowling attack in action
Cooper and Qureshi were replaced by Loughlin and B. Sheridan respectively, with Loughlin picking up a deserved wicket thanks to another caught behind from Rudgyard. B. Sheridan’s second spell was unlucky to not pick up another wicket but after two overs, he was replaced by Barham who picked up the ninth wicket of the game when he clean bowled Safi.
Smith was tasked with bowling the last over and after struggling with his rhythm initially, found his stride and the Battersea Eagles reached 153-9 off their 40 overs.
Grey clouds overhead, along with rain constantly forecast, a quick turnaround was called and Johnny Stocks and Barham went out to open the batting. Some excellent bowling from the visitor’s opening attack made sure that runs were hard to come by but some excellent running from the batsmen kept the scoreboard ticking over. However, the Ramblas were dealt an early blow when Stocks was bowled for 1 by a delivery that jagged back in off the seam.
Johnny & Lewis get things started
Smith was in at first drop, keen to continue his good form from his previous game. While Barham looked to up the run rate, Smith was initially more watchful, keen to ensure no more early wickets. Despite the quality of bowling from Battersea, the duo ran well and ensured that the hosts didn’t fall too far behind the required run rate. After creaming a four through the cover boundaries, Barham fell next ball for an excellent 35.
In at four was Saha who helped navigate the Ramblas to 53-2 at drinks. With 101 runs needed of 20 overs, the game was delicately poised. Saha smashed the first six of the innings, dispatching the ball over the deep midwicket boundary to put the pressure back on the bowlers. Some more excellent running between the two kept the fielders busy and chipped away at the target.
Drew & Rahul rebuild
Saha fell in the 28th over, clean bowled for an excellently crafted 30, replaced by Qureshi at the crease. As is his style, Qureshi announced his arrival with a bruising boundary off just his third ball. In the next over he hit a massive six back over the bowler’s head, plundering eleven runs off the over in the process. Qureshi survived a few scares, being dropped several times to go along with some comical running between him and Smith.
Back to back maidens from Battersea saw the pendulum swing in their favour and ultimately led to the demise of Smith, who was bowled for 21 trying to squeeze the ball into the leg side. Rudgyard was the next man in, but he was unable to get on the scoresheet, caught at mid wicket trying to hit the ball over the inner ring. The Ramblas were now 118-5 off 33 overs, leaving 36 required off 42 balls.
Rehan goes big / Survives a scare
Sheridan came to the crease and got the best view in the house to see Qureshi hit two more maximums to keep the host’s noses in front. The pair took the score to 140-5 off 37 overs before a wicket maiden that saw Sheridan bowled for 8 meant the Ramblas now required 14 off the last two overs.
Qureshi picked up three runs in the penultimate over, leaving new man Missen to face the final two deliveries. After an initial dot ball, the Ramblas faithful let out a ferocious roar as a lusty drive from Missen saw the ball fly over the slips and past the third man boundary.
7 runs were now needed off the final over, and after Qureshi picked up a single first ball, Missen knew he had to get the dangerman back on strike. After Missen dropped the ball into a gap in the field, Qureshi sprinted to the strikers end. Missen sacrificed himself to ensure that Qureshi made his ground and the pair crossed.
This meant that the Ramblas needed 6 runs to win off 3 balls, and all results were still in play. Qureshi only had one result in mind, smashing the next two balls for two boundaries to see the Ramblas home with one ball to spare.
Rehan hits the winning runs / Fist bumps all round
In what was a tense and see-saw game, the Ramblas finally picked up their first win of the season in exhilarating fashion and go into next week’s game against Petts Wood brimming with confidence.
Ramblas MVP: A tough decision this week, with so many people contributing to the victory. Honourable mentions to Rahul Saha (30 & 5-2) and Ben Sheridan (6-1-16-1) but for his two wickets and a catch in the field to go with his match winning 49*, this week’s MVP is Rehan Qureshi.