A controversial 150 from Chislehurst’s opener saw them emerge victorious by 52 runs in a closely fought contest.
While the weather washed away any lingering hopes of an Ashes victory, in Chislehurst it was much more conducive to cricket. Despite being short a few players, Ramblas skipper Michael Cooper was able to call upon father & son duo Neil & Koby Radburn to help, as well as Tom Howgego, making his Ramblas debut.
Cooper won the toss and as usual elected to bowl first. Mark Loughlin opened the bowling alongside Chris Thomas, but despite the former’s strong start with the ball, it was Thomas who picked up the first wicket, courtesy of a stunning catch by Jason Christensen at extra cover.
Loughlin and Thomas were replaced by K. Radburn and Geoff Parrett respectively and worked well in tandem to keep the hosts in check. Parrett, in particular, bowled beautifully carrying on his strong form throughout the season. But with wickets in the hutch, any loose deliveries were punished as Chislehurst batted more aggressively after the drinks break.
With both bowlers bowled out, Ben Sheridan and Cooper came into the attack. After reaching his century, Chislehurst’s opener refused to walk after gloving a Cooper delivery through to the ‘keeper.
Cooper did get his reward an over later when Dungate mistimed his shot and K. Radburn took a simple catch at cover. The skipper then picked up his second of the game when he clean bowled Ash, for a duck.
Loughlin and Thomas returned to the attack to finish the innings off but were unable to pick up any further wickets as Chislehurst finished on 259-3.
The Ramblas regrouped at the tea break and got themselves ready for the chase. N. Radburn and Luke Sheridan were tasked with getting the visitors off to a decent start. Strong bowling meant chances were few and far between. The pair took the score to 37 in the ninth over before L. Sheridan was caught behind for 13, dutifully walking to spare the inattentive umpire’s blushes.
Christensen was in at first drop and struggled initially with his timing but dug in and helped the Ramblas chip away at the target. Once he found his feet, he soon hit some beautiful boundaries as he and K. Radburn took the score to 81-1 at drinks.
Needing to score 179 runs off the remaining twenty overs, the visitors knew they had to be more agressive. Christensen departed shortly after drinks though, trapped LBW for 19. B. Sheridan was in at four and after hitting 10 in quick time was caught at mid wicket trying to keep up with the run rate.
Rudgyard was the next man in, and out, dismissed second ball. After a classic Ramblas mini collapse, debutant Howgego strode to the crease and showed no signs of rustiness after being out of the game for two decades.
Howgego and N. Radburn batted brilliantly together to keep the Ramblas in the contest. N. Radburn brought up an excellent fifty to warm applause from the sidelines. The duo put on 52 before N. Radburn’s tenure at the crease was ultimate ended for a gritty 77.
Knowing there was little time to get their eye in, Loughlin and Cooper’s cameos were brief but their sacrifices brought Parrett to the crease. And it was the Ramblas spinner who put on a show, hitting a flurry of boundaries as he raced to a fifteen ball 27.
Parrett and Howgego saw the Ramblas through to the end of the innings as the Ramblas finsished on 207-7. The visitors were left wondering what would have happened had Chislehurst’s opener walked, but we dust oursleves down and look forward to our trip to Locksbottom.
Ramblas MVP: Honourable mentions to Tom Howgego for his composed 30* on debut, and Geoff Parrett for his 27* to go with his fantastic spell with the ball. But for his 77 that kept the Ramblas in the contest, this week’s MVP is Neil Radburn.