After an early season week off, the Ramblas travelled to Norwood as they looked to build on their strong performance in the season opener. However, the weather did it’s best to stop the game, with light showers persisting throughout the day.
With Messrs Smith, Qureshi and Thomas absent, Laurie Stocks and Luke Sheridan returned to the line up for the first time this season. The Ramblas were still a man short but Al Murray answered the call at the 11th hour and the Ramblas had a full team to take on Norwood.
Ramblas skipper Michael Cooper lost the toss and the hosts opted to bat first. Mark Loughlin and James Dilley opened the bowling but despite their best efforts they were unable to make the breakthrough. The visitors suffered an early blow when Steve Fitch suffered a hamstring injury, leaving them a bowler light.
Cooper and Geoff Parrett replaced Loughlin and Dilley respectively but with the batsmen set and short boundaries, both bowlers saw their bowling figures take a bit of a hit. Cooper finally picked up the first wicket of the day, and his 50th for the club, when Loughlin took a smart catch at long on to dismiss Niket for 65.
With Fitch unable to bowl, Cooper turned to Johnny Stocks to replace Parrett and the move proved inspired, with the former Ramblas skipper picking up a wicket in his first over, clean bowling Ahmed for 33.
Murray came into the attack in place of Cooper and also made an immediate impact, clean bowling Tariq for a duck. Things got even better for Murray when he picked up his second wicket the very next ball courtesy of a fantastic catch at mid wicket by Jason Christensen. Alas, the hat-trick eluded Murray as his delivery just whistled past the edge of the bat.
This flurry of wickets saw the swagger return to the Ramblas who had toiled in the field in tough conditions. And it was J. Stocks who nabbed the next wicket taking a tough catch off his own bowling.
Murray’s day got even better when he dismissed Norwood’s captain, Parrett taking the catch at extra cover. Dilley come back into the attack in place of J. Stocks and he finally got rid of the opener with a beautiful leg cutter that dismantled the off stump.
With Murray bowling fantastically and three wickets in the bag, the Ramblas were sensing a 5-fer was on the cards. Murray did not let the side down, clean bowling Sarfaraz for 9 and then grabbing his fifth wicket an over later thanks to a brilliant one handed catch behind the stumps from Matt Rudgyard.
Al with the match ball / Luke receiving his previous season’s awards
The Ramblas couldn’t pick up the final wicket as Norwood finished their 35 overs on 262-9. It was daunting total to chase and as the weather started to take a turn for worse the visitors knew it was going to be hard work.
As the Ramblas began their innings, the weather continued to worsen. While the rain came down, Loughlin and J. Stocks started the innings, the pair playing some good shots before a lapse in concentration saw Loughlin bowled for 6. Christensen was in at three but only lasted two balls before he was caught at square leg attempting a pull shot.
Gloomy conditions as the Ramblas bat
L. Stocks joined his brother at the crease before the rain forced a stoppage in play. Sadly for the Ramblas, once play did resume the Stocks brothers were quickly dismissed, J. Stocks bowled for 9 and L. Stocks clean bowled for 3, as the hosts continued with pace bowling in wet and slippery conditions.
With the score now 26-4, Sheridan and Rudgyard joined each other at the crease to start on the rebuilding project. Sheridan showed no sign of rustiness in his first outing of the season and Rudgyard was in particularly good touch. The pair were watchful as Norwood brought on pace bowler after pace bowler, but weren’t afraid to dispatch any loose ball to the boundary.
The duo took the Ramblas total passed the century mark, but their 88 run partnership was ended when Sheridan was caught at mid wicket for a well made 40. Parrett was the next man in but struggled with his rhythm and was bowled for 1.
Luke on his way back to the pavilion
Dilley was the next cab off the rank and strode to the crease with the aim of making sure Rudgyard didn’t run out of partners. Rudgyard continued to smash the ball to all parts and he reached his maiden Ramblas half-century with a four that raced past the fielder at backward point.
Not content with being a spectator, Dilley unleashed some big hits of his own as he and Rudgyard helped the Ramblas finish on 171-6. Their 51 run partnership a delightful flourish at the end of a tough day for the Ramblas.
On a day where the wet conditions had an impact on the game, the Ramblas performed well against a strong team that were keen to win at all costs.
Next week sees the Ramblas take on old rivals Chevening, hoping the chance for early season bragging rights will help them prevail.
Ramblas MVP: Honourable mentions to Luke Sheridan for a fluent 40 on his season debut and Johnny Stocks for his 2 wickets with the ball. But for a maiden half-century and an amazing 5 wicket haul, this week’s MVPs are Matt Rudgyard & Al Murray.