Following last week’s resounding victory in the land of Snod, the Kent Ramblas returned to home comforts, but were ultimately bested in an absorbing encounter with Wrotham.

As sure as night follows day, captain Michael Cooper lost the toss and saw his team put into the field, with newbies Freddie Skitini and Rob Dolby joining the good fight for the first time. They really did get the authentic Ramblas experience on debut…

Opening up with the fresh cherry, Mark Loughlin was on the money, while from the other end Chris Thomas was coming up short changed, as the Wrotham openers punished every bad ball – and some of the not so bad ones.

After that opening spell, Ben Sheridan was brought on to replace Loughlin and bowled gallantly from the Tennis Court End, while Captain Cooper was on the end of some punishment coming up the hill.

That expensive over from the skipper saw him take himself out of the firing line immediately, and after B. Sheridan’s fine five-over spell, Luke Sheridan and Rahul Saha came together to bowl their sets of seven off the reel to help bring a modicum of control back for the Ramblas.

L. Sheridan deservedly struck (caught at long off by R. Dolby) as the drinks break helped pause the visitors’ momentum, claiming a second wicket with one of his worst balls a couple of overs later. Still, they all count..

The other side of this bowling partnership, Saha, was causing all kinds of strife and eventually got his reward, bowling the big-hitting Gosling – who had been fortunate to survive a couple of tough catching opportunities (as well as some pretty straightforward runout chances).

R. Dolby and Loughlin saw things off, where a couple of overs of hefty hitting saw the away side close on 212-3 from their 35 overs.

It had been a fairly chastening experience in the field at times, but the Ramblas recovered well in the second half of the innings and didn’t let their heads drop. Still, chasing 213 at a smidge over six an over was going to be tough…

It was a Dolby double bill to open up with the bat (there’s a surround sound gag to be had here, surely? – Editor), as Keith joined son Rob to lead the charge.

The pair played fluently and carefully, staying in touch with the run rate until, just before drinks, Dolby Snr saw one rear off his top edge to hit him above the eye. Reluctantly, but wisely, K. Dolby chose to sit it out for a bit (and get patched up – thanks First Aider!), with Drew Smith stepping in.

The pause in play and drinks break had made things understandably a little stilted, but despite tracking at close to the same rate as their opponents had, Smith and R. Dolby knew they had to up the ante.

As the team’s ton came up in the 22nd over and the boundaries started to appear with more regularity, Smith was caught behind.

Like a boxer who’s cut man has done enough repair work to send his fighter back into the fray, K. Dolby strode back out determined to go down swinging. A few more runs were added as Dolby Jnr reached his 50, but the returning batsman was bowled (and then given an unnecessary send-off) for a stoic 22.

Saha and Cooper came in (and went out) with attacking intent, but despite a boundary each couldn’t quite get going and keep R. Dolby company for long, while debutant Skitini looked solid in getting off the mark before also being bowled.

Having reached a fabulous century off 99 balls, R. Dolby knew the only currency he could trade in was boundaries. Alas, some fine strikes went straight to a fielder on multiple occasions that saw the required run rate soar into the final couple of overs.

An attempted heave saw the end of a fine innings of 115, and despite some lusty blows and frantic running between the wickets from Jason Christensen and L. Sheridan, the Ramblas ended on 197 – just shy of what would have been one of their finest wins.

It was a game that saw the Ramblas left ruing their chances, as some big moments when fielding were snatched at, but it was still a contest that was taken to the wire.

Ramblas MVP The 20th century for the club may have not been enough for victory, but Rob Dolby‘s 115 was still one of the best we’ve seen.