It was another glorious day as the Ramblas looked to bounce back from last week’s agonising defeat to Hildenborough. Playing at their temporary home ground at Petts Wood, for the second time this season, the Ramblas hosted Chevening and with the visitors being a man short and having several youngsters in their team, the captains agreed on a 25 over game.
Fortunately for the Ramblas, captain Michael Cooper had no such concerns, with Steve Fitch, Chris Thomas and Ben Sheridan all returning to the lineup.
Chevening won the toss and elected to bat first, with Cooper opting for James Dilley and Thomas to open the bowling. The pair were threatening from the off, giving the Chevening batters nothing to attack. Dilley made the early breakthrough, a beautiful inswinger that dismantled Chevening skipper Johnny Recaldin’s stumps.
Dilley and Thomas were replace by Geoff Parrett and Fitch respectively, with both carrying on the good work of the opening attack. And it was Parrett who picked up the next wicket, thanks to a sharp catch from Cooper at silly mid off.
Fitch then got in on the wicket taking, when Sayers attempted to dispatch a full toss into the fence but only succeeded in finding Thomas, who took an excellent catch at deep mid wicket. Chevening got to the drinks break at 50-3 and the Ramblas knew they would be looking to kick on.
Cooper brought himself into the attack alongside B. Sheridan and the pair combined for the next wicket when B. Sheridan took a great catch at long off, off the bowling of his skipper.
B. Sheridan grabbed his first wicket of the day, dismissing Nathaniel Cunningham thanks to a simple catch from Fitch at silly mid on. The bowler claimed his second wicket a few overs later when Leppard slashed the ball straight to Dilley at backward point. B. Sheridan got his third wicket the very next ball when he clean bowled Stu Cunningham. Alas a wide delivery saw the hat trick chance go begging, but it was a terrific spell of bowling from the youngster.
Johnny Stocks wrapped up the innings when Parrett caught Sam Cunningham at mid wicket. Chevening were all out for 124, a total that the hosts were confident of chasing.
With seven overs deployed in the field, Cooper switched around the batting order to ensure everyone got involved. Laurie Stocks and Jason Christensen opened the batting, with the latter plundering sixteen runs off the first over.
After a loose first over, Chevening found their rhythm and restriced run scoring opportunities. The pressure paid off when a mistimed pull shot saw L. Stocks top edge the ball to the ‘keeper for 2. Christensen’s cameo ended two overs later, caught in the covers for an industrious 22 as the Ramblas experienced a slight wobble.
Luke Sheridan and Matt Rudgyard were tasked with steadying the ship, and the duo chipped away at the total to take the hosts to drinks 64-2.
After drinks, the batters stepped up a gear, dispatching the ball to the boundary with increasing regularity. Rudgyard was in an especially aggressive mood, hitting nine boundaries as he raced to a richly desrved fifty.
Rudgyard retired after reaching the milestone and was replaced at the crease by Thomas, who looked in good touch for a man who hadn’t batted for over two months. He and L. Sheridan helped see the Ramblas over the finishing line as the hosts won by eight wickets.
It was another consumate performance that saw the Ramblas claim their seventh win of the season. They now look to gain some measure of revenge as they take on Battersea Eagles next Sunday.
Ramblas MVP: While everyone contributed to the victory, for his swashbuckling 50*, this week’s MVP is Matt Rudgyard.