Another week, another case of the Ramblas rueing missed opportunities, as they fell to a 15-run defeat to Lamorbey Park.
As even the most unlearned amongst us knows, it was Albert Einstein who said the definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Which, based on recent performances, may mean your plucky Ramblas are ripe for the asylum…
Winning the toss and opting to bowl, proceedings were off to a reasonable start for the hosts, as Mark Loughlin made some early inroads, causing one opener to depart injured and then claiming two wickets in more conventional circumstances – the second thanks to a catch at mid-wicket by Jonny Stocks who was just getting started with his day’s business…
The rest of the bowling attack toiled with little reward (as a few chances went awry and the batters found their range), before captain Matt Rudgyard turned to his lucky charm, Stocks, who was soon splaying the stumps.
Duane Hall continued his fine work for the season with a scalp of his own thanks to a very good catch by Ganesh Ghube (who was again excellent with the ball), before Stocks struck again… and again… and again to finish with 4/25 and soar up the wicket-taking charts, as the visitors posted 213/7 from their 35 overs.
Not even the irrepressible upbeat charm of JP Aubin-Parvu could raise a smile amongst the Ramblas as they trudged off knowing they had – again – gifted their opposition far too many runs. Solace, though, came in the shape of another fine tea and memories of the batting performances of recent weeks which, by hook or by crook, had seen decent – if ultimately failed – run chases.
Seth Clifford and Stocks, as is tradition, were first in the middle and, bucking recent tradition, set a magnificent platform as they put on an opening partnership of 107, before Clifford departed on 62. Stocks continued to enjoy his day, reaching his own half century, as he looked to up the rate.
Alas, despite that fine start and the best efforts of the returning Jon Loughlin and a fired up Michael Cooper (as well as sharp cameos from Jason Christensen and Ghube), the Ramblas couldn’t get over the line, falling 15 runs short.
Still, we get to do it all again next week as the season’s end looms. (Spare a thought for the poor schmuck who has to find different ways to say “they didn’t bowl and field as well as they could have done…”)
Ramblas MVP: A catch, four wickets and a half century from Jonny Stocks mean it has to be our former captain. Sorry, Seth…