The bank holiday weekend may have ushered in the new Ramblas season but it didn’t bring with it its usual sunny weather, as the club hosted London Itinerants in damp conditions. The Itinerants were keen to avenge last season’s defeat to the Ramblas.
With 15 players available for selection, Kent Ramblas skipper Michael Cooper had to make some tough decisions, with last season’s Players’ Player Luke Sheridan rested. But with a strong starting XI, Cooper won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Cooper opened the bowling with vice captain Chris Thomas and while the pair bowled well, they struggled to make an impact and the Itinerants opening pair kept the scoreboard ticking along. Thomas and Cooper were replaced by James Dilley and Steve Fitch respectively. Fitch struggled with his rhythm and Loughlin was brought on in his place as Cooper sought wickets.
Bowlers toil in the early stages
And it was Dilley who made the important breakthrough, clean bowling the visitor’s captain Joshi with a peach of a delivery. On the cusp of drinks, Loughlin dragged the Ramblas back in contention with two wickets in the space of four balls, cleaning bowling both Branagan and O’Neill.
After the drinks break, Geoff Parrett and Rehan Qureshi came on to bowl, aiming to build on the strong work from Dilley and Loughlin. While Parrett endured a tough start with the ball, he was heavily involved in the field, running out Varma with a fantastic direct hit from extra cover. He then took a simple catch to dismiss Kundu off the bowling of Qureshi.
Celebrating Geoff’s efforts in the field
Fitch was brought back into the attack in place of Qureshi and the decision proved to be an inspired one as he picked up a wicket with the first ball of his new spell thanks to a sharp catch from Loughling in the deep. Fitch picked up his second wicket of the game when Thomas took a simple catch at mid-wicket.
Fielders getting their dues
Dilley and Thomas came on the bowl at the death but the final wicket to fall came courtesy of a run out from Cooper, who made a sharp stop at square leg and after a mix up between the batsmen, threw the ball to Fitch who whip the bails off at the non strikers end.
The Itinerants finished their innings on 243-8 off 40 overs, a big score but one that didn’t worry the Ramblas.
After a short tea break, the Ramblas geared themselves up for the second innings. Cooper opted for Loughlin to partner Johnny Stocks at the top of the order. Loughlin was watchful early doors but soon opened his arms and punished any loose deliveries. Stocks struggled throughout his innings and was caught in the gully for 5.
Ramblas new opener in action
Drew Smith was the man in at first drop and combined well with Loughlin to try and keep up with the scoring rate. Loughlin brought up his fifty in just 55 balls but eventually fell in the 18th over for 58. Smith fell the next over for 3 as the Ramblas reached drinks at 75-3.
Jason Christensen and Qureshi were tasked with rebuilding the innings after the drinks break and the pair kicked on, taking the Ramblas past the hundred mark in the 23rd over. Some sharp runnings and powerful hitting saw them take the score to 154 before Qureshi was caught in the deep for an excellent 46.
Rehan & Jason rebuild
Matt Rudgyard came in at six and combined well with Christensen to take the Ramblas to 171 at the 30 over mark. With 10 overs remaining and 73 runs still required, the Ramblas knew they were still in the hunt. And after Rudgyard plundered three boundaries in the first three balls of the 31st over, the hosts started to believe. Alas, Rudgyard (18) and Christensen (29) both departed in the same over to leave the Ramblas in a spot of trouble.
Parrett and Dilley were the next pair tasked with getting the hosts over the line. Parrett initially looked nervy but once he got his eye in, the sixes soon started to flow. Sadly Dilley departed for 4 and Cooper came and went for a duck.
Thomas was the next man tasked with supporting the big hitting Parrett, who managed to break a window with one his sixes. Thomas was caught for 3 trying to get Parrett back on stike and Fitch was the last man out LBW to leave Parrett stranded on 23*.
It’s not just bowling figures Geoff destroys…
The Ramblas were all out for 217, losing the opening game by 26 runs. But consider how long it’s been since our last game and how little practice the team had, it was an excellent performance on one the Ramblas will build on,
Ramblas MVP: Honourable mentions to James Dilley for his 1-24 and Geoff Parrett for his all action performance. But for each of their efforts with bat and ball to bring us close to victory, this week’s MVPs are Mark Loughlin & Rehan Qureshi.