The Ramblas returned to home comforts after picking up their third win of the season against Ash Village, taking on old foes Petts Wood on a gloriously sunny day.
With Chris Thomas, Laurie Stocks, Jason Christensen and Johnny Stocks unavaible for selection, Ramblas skipper was able to recall John Loughlin, Rehan Qureshi, Drew Smith and Steve Fitch to the lineup. However, the hosts were still two players short but Ramblas seamer James Dilley came to the rescue, recruiting Harry Cronin and George Morley to complete the team.
Some rare pre-match fielding practice
After winning the toss on a green top, Cooper opted to bowl first, preferring to chase a target rather than set it on what could be a tricky pitch. Cooper and Dilley opened the bowling, and despite their best efforts, some loose deliveries and a rapid outfield saw the Petts Wood openers plunder runs early doors.
The hosts needed a breakthrough and it was Loughlin who made it, running out Arora with a fantastic piece of fielding that left the batsman stranded. Alas that was as good as it got for the Ramblas. Dilley and Cooper were replaced by Parrett and Fitch respectively and while the pair bowled effectively, the visitors batters continued to rack up the runs as they reached drinks 139-1, but not before the Petts Wood batters sportingly retired upon reaching thier fifties.
Bowlers toil in the heat
Sensing the need for a change, Cooper turned to Ramblas debutants Cronin and Morley to put the pressure on the new batsmen. And the duo did not disappoint their skipper. Cronin was bowling some serious speed and giving the batters nothing to work with. Morley at the other end was keeping Petts Wood on their toes with some nagging line and length combined with a multiude of variations.
It was Morley who picked up the next wicket, when Petts Wood skipper mistimed a cover drive straight to Luke Sheridan at cover. Morley nabbed his second wicket of the day when he clean bowled Smith, the bowler giving Smith a send off after Smith had the audacity to pull him for four the previous delivery.
George picks up his maiden Ramblas wicket
Dilley came back into the attack in place of Cronin and his return paid off straight away when he dismantled Peatfield’s stumps with a delightful yorker. Morley claimed the final wicket of the innings thanks to a sharp, low catch in the covers by Sheridan.
The Ramblas managed to restrict Petts Wood to 204-5 off their 35 overs. It was another magnificent turnaround in the field from the hosts and put them in a strong position to claim early season bragging rights against their local rivals.
Qureshi and Loughlin were the pair tasked with getting the hosts off to a strong start. And Qureshi was in no mood to hang about, smashing twenty runs in the first over to knock the wind out of Petts Wood’s sails. Sadly for Qureshi, his innings was a brief one when he was clean bowled the next over with a ball that kept low.
Sheridan was the man in at first drop and batting beautifully alongside Loughlin. The duo continued their sparkling form with the bat, running quick singles and punishing any loose delivery to leave the visitors unsure where to put their fielders.
John & Luke in fine touch
The pair were proving to be a fruitful, and faultless, partnership for the hosts and after reaching his second fifty of the season off just 36 deliveries, Loughlin retired to rapturous applause from the sidelines.
Smith came to the crease with the Ramblas in a strong position and carried on the good work of the Ramblas batters, dispatching the ball to the boundary with regularity as the Ramblas edged ever closer to victory.
Sheridan brought up his third fifty of the season, and just as Loughlin previously, retired to cheers from the pavilion. Rudgyard came to the crease and alongside Smith took the score to 194 before Smith was trapped LBW for an excellent 40.
Drew on the attack as Luke reaches his 50
Morley was in at six and, after he and Rudgyard got the Ramblas to 200, made short work of the remaining runs, hitting his next two deliveries for four to seal an eight wicket win for the Ramblas.
George seals the victory with a boundary
Once again the Ramblas showed grit and determination to pull it back in the field in the first innings, and with the bat they looked as imperious as they’ve ever been. The club goes to next week’s crunch game against landlords Ex Blues full of confidence.
Ramblas MVP: Conscious that this is a cop out but following another excellent all round team performance, this week’s MVPs are Michael Cooper, Harry Cronin, James Dilley, Steve Fitch, John Loughlin, George Morley, Geoff Parrett, Rehan Qureshi, Matt Rudgyard, Luke Sheridan and Drew Smith.