Despite vast improvement in the batting department following last week’s never-to-be-mentioned-again (apart from here) showing, Ramblas’ run of woe continued this Sunday as old foes Chevening proved too much in a much closer encounter in West Wickham.
Winning the toss and shouting “We’ll have a bowl first” barely a millisecond after the coin hit the ground, captain Michael Cooper was then immediately left cursing the backed-up M27 that caused his premium opening bowler to be late.
Showing off his plethora of bowling options, Cap’n Cooper switched things around, opening the bowling himself from the Gardens End, while Chris Thomas kicked things off from the Tennis Courts End.
Alas, the Ramblas found themselves up against it, wondering what it is they’ve done to irk the groundsman having been given a pitch with a short boundary measuring approximately 20cm, and unable to reap the bowling rewards of last week in the first half of the innings, despite the late-arriving James Dilley doing commendable work up the hill and the indefatigable Geoff Parrett continuing his imperious form of the past season and a half.
At drinks, the visitors were 131 without loss and the Ramblas needed to regroup to avoid having to chase a total reminiscent of the dark ages (2010-2014). Thankfully, or these reports would be getting shorter by the week (Cue cries of “We should be so lucky…”), regroup they did.
Bowlers toil up the hill
Having butchered a couple of run-out opportunities and missed a couple of catches we can categorise as half-chances, things started to turn for the Ramblas when the visitors’ captain retired for a fine first century during Steve Fitch’s second over.
Fitch was backed up by Ben Sheridan from the Tennis Courts End and the youngster made the first genuine breakthrough, bowling the other Chevening opener with a searing low full toss that also broke the bail.
Returning, this time from the Gardens End, Thomas got in on the wicket-taking act thanks to a catch from Fitch, before the safe hands of Mark Loughlin helped B. Sheridan and Thomas to their second wickets.
Dilley then took a quick-fire trio of wickets, two with that satisfying clatter of timber and one courtesy of another catch from Fitch, to leave the visitors posting a very competitive 261/7. That marked a fine comeback in the second half of the innings from the hosts, but left them facing a stiff total to chase down and break an interminable losing streak.
As homemade teas were consumed and many regretted not having more layers to protect against the wind, the Ramblas pieced together their batting line-up to go forth and take the fight back to the bowlers.
As was the case in the previous game, Loughlin and Johnny Stocks opened the batting and while they were again faced with some stellar bowling, the pair guided the ball into the gaps and struck boundaries where they could, including the first of two delightful sixes from Stocks.
Ramblas relaxing on the sidelines
The pair put on a steady 33 before Loughlin was brilliantly caught and bowled, bringing in Luke Sheridan to join a focused-looking Stocks as the Ramblas looked to get back up to an attainable run rate having been kept firmly in check by the opening bowlers.
L. Sheridan, having been his usual excellent self in the field, showed respect to the good balls and summarily dispatched the bad deliveries to build a fine partnership with Stocks, as the pair continued unscathed to drinks. The run rate was now nearing double figures, as Stocks & Sheridan (sounding like your go-to firm of local solicitors) returned to the heat of the battle knowing that attacking play was the only chance the Ramblas had of overcoming their target.
The bowlers and fielders continued to make that task as difficult as possible, but with smart running, a few maximums and the gift of a couple of lives, the dynamic duo put on a masterful 94-run partnership before a stunning catch on the boundary saw L. Sheridan depart for a fabulous 43-ball 54.
With 135 runs still needed for victory, and the run rate now above 10, Smith joined the well-set Stocks and after a scratchy start started to punctuate the spread out field, before Stocks was bowled by one that stayed very low for a splendid 70. Matt Rudgyard came in knowing it was a case of “Go big, or go home” and that mentality can only go one of two ways in such a scenario – glorious success or understandable, short-lived failure. Alas, it was the latter in this case, as Rudgyard departed for two to bring in B. Sheridan.
Johnny reaches his first fifty of the season
Having voiced desire to bat further up the order this season, the whipper snapper of the Ramblas collective again more than backed up his words with an exhilarating 11-ball 26, including two mighty sixes, before the (entirely necessary) gung-ho attitude saw him stumped, leaving Cap’n Cooper with just the final two balls to face, and Smith 27 not out at the other end as the Ramblas fell 42 runs short on 219/5.
After the game-that-dare-not-speak-its-name, it was encouraging for the Ramblas to pass 200 with the bat for the first time this season and they also showed admirable steel in the second half of the visitors’ innings to keep the target below 275. Alas, the winless run stretches to 10 and all hopes turn to the Bardhill on the Bank Holiday weekend to break the streak.
Ramblas MVP: Once more, Ben Sheridan deserves more than an honourable mention for his exploits with bat and ball, while brother Luke’s stupendous work in the field allied with his quick-fire innings also stood out. But, for his well-crafted 70 that anchored the chase, Jonny Stocks gets the shout this week.