The Ramblas got back to winning ways with a dominant all-round performance against Blue Star.
Following back-to-back defeats, there may have been some concerns that the wheels were coming off after a fine start to the season, but captain Matt Rudgyard does not counter such talk, with levels of optimism not seen since… well, our last, puppyish captain. And going into a(nother) game against an unknown quantity, the talk was of “doing what we do best”. A few quizzical looks around the dressing room meant there may have been uncertainty as to what exactly that is in some individual cases, but thankfully not in the mind of Seth Clifford.
Opening the batting with Jonny Stocks, Clifford and his partner were initially watchful against some fine bowling, while trying to do the maths to work out what was a good score from the abridged 30-over game.
Clifford went big where he could to keep the scoreboard ticking over, with Kieran Gibbons and Jason Christensen offering support, but the hosts still went from 36/2 off 10 overs, to a very Ramblas 82/5 off 21. Still, it’d be boring if it was straightforward…
With more support coming from Rudgyard (21*), Clifford reached a fine half century to retire not out on 53, before Mark Loughlin, Geoff Parrett and Duane Hall all contributed to get the hosts up to a decent-looking 158/8.
Tea was taken, before it was positions in the field to be taken, as the Ramblas set out to defend a total that was eminently gettable, the visitors requiring 5.3 runs over. A steady start would be required to put the pressure on.
Opening bowlers Loughlin and Chris Thomas – with more than a little help from Clifford – ensured the pressure really was applied in the first eight overs, with three wickets between them (two courtesy of catches from Clifford and Rudgyard) and then a run out by Clifford leaving the visitors 45/4 and in need of rebuilding.
The rebuild was initially slow but steady, while the Ramblas continued to hustle and impress in the field to chip away with wickets, as Parrett took the wickets of both set batsmen thanks to the safe hands of Loughlin and *checks notes*, oh, that man Clifford again.
Hall then got in on the act with a wicket and Parrett bowled a pearler to dismantle the stumps to leave Blue Star on the precipice. That said, the big-hitting No. 8 was in fine fettle and looked like he could get the target himself – if enough batters stayed with him.
Just to top off a Roy of the Rovers style day for the lad, Clifford delivered what proved to be the telling blow, having the No. 8 caught quite brilliantly by Gibbons on the deep square boundary, leaving J. Stocks to finish things off bowling the last batsman, as Blue Star fell to a 40-run defeat.
It was a good all-round showing from the Ramblas to put recent defeats behind them, with some good support around an anchor (yes, anchor – no ‘w’ at the start) in the batting innings, and then fantastic support in the field to back up a largely tight bowling unit.
Ramblas MVP: It’s Seth Clifford, obviously. Did you not read the above?