It was a successful battle on two fronts this week, as the Ramblas overcame regular friendly foes Petts Wood… and the rain.
Despite captaincy duties falling to Chris Thomas this week, Matt Rudgyard had to do the honours at the toss and the Ramblas were put in the field, with eyes keenly trained on the clouds above.
Opening down the hill was James Dilley, trapping his former teacher Peatfield LBW with the second ball of the innings. At least he can’t give you detention now, James…
Despite some lovely shape with the ball, that was as good as it got for Dilley in his first spell, while at the other end, Thomas’s bowling looked like an austere economic model right out of the last few governments’ playbooks. Showing hitherto unseen miserliness, his opening seven-over spell produced four maidens and three wickets, as the Ramblas put an early stranglehold on proceedings.
Replacing Dilley was the returning Jonny Stocks, who also shaped in some fine deliveries, troubling the batters as they looked to get the scoreboard ticking over. Meanwhile, Steve Fitch took over from Thomas and continued where his captain had left off, taking a wicket in his first over to leave the visitors in a spot of bother at 55/5.
Rehan Qureshi replaced Stocks after a solid four-over stint and was very stingy, going for just four runs from his own four overs and very unlucky not to nab a wicket or two.
With Fitch bowling that nagging line and length, he was bowled through and was the victim of a supernatural event, with Luke Sheridan dropping a catch. The gasps and howls of disbelief were a collective sound to behold.
Drew Smith was next to race in from the Tennis Courts End and was on the money from the off, with pace and movement off the seam proving too much for the Petts Wood batsmen and resulting in the demise of the stoic Cook as he gloved behind to be caught by Rudgyard.
Taking the Ramblas home with the ball were BFFs/blood brothers/all-round happy chappies, L. Sheridan and Dilley. The former gamely twirled away and found his line to cause the batters consternation on occasion, while Dilley struck with an absolute beaut of a delivery with his first ball back. And the rapid Rambla took another with the penultimate ball of the innings to leave the visitors 139/8 from their 35 overs.
Having seen Petts Wood scramble their way to a total worth defending, and the rain worsening, the hosts knew the game was still, if not quite on a knife’s edge, then definitely up for grabs.
Mark Loughlin and Jason Christensen opened up as the Ramblas looked to front load with their big hitters to beat the darkening clouds – Thommoball, if you will (I will not, thanks… – Editor.).
Loughlin hit two boundaries, but succumbed to that puppyish excitability that continues to linger and was bowled. Cue the inevitable “Ah, shouldn’t have played that…”. Play it again, Sam Mark.
Christensen continued to attack and was looking in fine fettle, while our freshest-faced Rambla, Ben Sheridan, came in at three and after some solid, sensible blocks were followed by a couple of smart boundaries tension in those on the sidelines started to release. Alas, as ever with the Ramblas, it’s best not to get too comfortable and complacent… Christensen out LBW for a fine 20-ball 24.
Stocks continued the sprightly scoring, using all of his bat and striking some glorious boundaries to find the gaps in the field, putting on a fine half-century partnership with B. Sheridan, before one big shot too many saw him caught for an uncharacteristically rapid 23 from just 22 balls.
Meanwhile, B. Sheridan was looking in quite imperious form (although he caused a few jitters in his fellow Ramblas as he looked to follow up some big hits with even bigger ones) and was on 35 when his brother, Luke, joined him at the crease with just 47 runs needed for victory. Unfortunately, he was also on 35 when Luke returned to the sidelines… this season’s run machine out LBW for duck.
Qureshi came in just as the rain intensified and the Ramblas bowlers started to get nervy about their figures being retained for posterity. There was no need for those nerves, though, as B. Sheridan brought up his second 50 of the season and Qureshi crushed 14 from five balls to leave the hosts tantalisingly close.
Fittingly, B. Sheridan smoked the winning runs with a boundary to finish on a 56-ball 63 to get the Ramblas over the line for just their second win of the season, chasing down the 140 in 17.4 overs.
As ever (well, mostly… there has been the odd contretemps over the years), the game was played in good spirits and credit to the visitors for firstly getting themselves to a decent total from that unsteady start and for also refusing the easy option of using the conditions as an excuse to come off. We’ll see you in a couple of weeks for the return match!
Ramblas MVP: A doff of the proverbial hat to the bowlers who all kept things tight and created chances, but for that serenely struck 63, the quiet assassin that is Ben Sheridan is this week’s shout.