On a glorious day, the Ramblas were unable to best old rivals Chevening, succumbing to a 15 run defeat.
Blessed with a rare over abundance of players, Ramblas captain Matt Rudgyard was faced with a tough selection decision until Mark Loughlin offered to step down for the game to avoid any dramas.
The new captain’s losing streak at the toss continued and the Ramblas were asked to bowl first. Rudgyard kept with his usual openers, James Dilley and Chris Thomas, who have served him well already this season. Dilley made the first breakthrough, smashing Brine’s timbers in his third over. Thomas nabbed the next two wickets, courtesy of catches from Seth Clifford and Steve Fitch.
Hall and Cooper came on in place of Dilley and Thomas respectively and while the latter’s spell could best be described as patchy, it was Hall who tore through Chevening’s middle order. His first two wickets came in successive balls of his first over. Both came from near identical catches by Dilley at extra cover.
The Stocks debrief at drinks
Hall picked up his third and final wicket of the day thanks to a catch on the move by Clifford at mid wicket to claim handy figures of 7-1-14-3.
Rudgyard brought Fitch and Tom Howgego into the attack, the skipper hoping they could stem the run flow and keep the Chevening skipper in check. It was Howgego who claimed the next wicket, and his first for the club, with a catch off his own bowling.
Dilley and Thomas returned to the attack and just as Recaldin claimed his century, Dilley sent his stumps cartwheeling to pick up his second scalp of the game. The visitors finished on 215-8, with the Ramblas feeling that the game slipped out of their hands after the drinks break.
During the tea break, talk briefly turned to the fate of the Premier League title, before focus turned to the run chase, and Hall’s new nom de guerre.
With the required run rate a sniff over a run a ball, Johnny Stocks and Clifford headed to the crease knowing a steady start was required.
Johnny prepping for the task ahead
The duo combined well in early overs, with some quick running and some mighty hits from Clifford keeping the scoreboard ticking along. The pair took the score to 40 before Stocks was clean bowled for 6.
Clifford was out two overs later, unfortunate to pick out Ed Isaac in the covers. Drew Smith and Howgego were in at three and four and tasked with a rebuild. They added 18 to the score before Howgego was caught at deep extra cover for 6.
Disaster struck for the Ramblas when Laurie Stocks and Dilley were dismissed in successive deliveries to leave the hosts struggling at 86-5. The skipper came to the crease and alongside Smith helped dragged the Ramblas back into the contest.
Ramblas watching nervously on the side lines
Rudgyard was at his swashbuckling best, dispatching the ball to all parts as the batters put on 64 runs for the sixth wicket partnership before Smith was trapped lbw for a hard fought 24. Duane ‘Village’ Hall strode to the crease knowing that with 66 needed off the last six overs, some big hitting was required.
And Hall did not let the fans down, smashing three enormous sixes to take the game to the final over. Amongst the fireworks, Rudyard picked up his first fifty of the season, a true captain’s knock.
With 20 runs still required, Ramblas hopes were dashed when Hall was caught behind for a delightful 24 and the Ramblas finished on 200-7 off their 35 overs.
It was another terrific game against Chevening, played in the right spirit that went down to the wire, but the Ramblas couldn’t help but look at the small moments where the game could’ve swung their way…
Ramblas MVP: Honourable mention to Matt Rudgyard for his 55* but there can only be one option; for his 3-14 with the ball to go alongside his blistering 24 with the bat, this week’s MVP is Duane Hall.