In-keeping with Ramblas tradition, the season opener ended in defeat, as dropped catches proved particularly costly.
Yes, it’s 16 years and counting without a first-day win, but the Ramblas’ notorious penchant for slow starts to the season continued (by this point, it’s starting to look deliberate…), passing up opportunities of varying levels of difficulty that the visitors’ batsmen took full advantage of.
Mark Loughlin – celebrating his 200th Ramblas game – (two wickets and a catch) and Seth Clifford (three wickets plus a run-out) were the pick of the bowlers, but the well-set Blue Star batters took a liking to some of the other fayre on offer as they accelerated like they were on the autobahn during the middle overs.
Despite Blue Star posting a formidable 301/8, things had been looking a lot worse for the Ramblas going into the last 10 overs, but even that late wasn’t enough to stop the hosts trudging off with weary predictability. At least they had their sprits lifted by a splendid tea (the vada pav a particular highlight).
Stomachs full, the Ramblas headed out to bat knowing a good start was imperative…
…so, one of the openers getting bowled first ball of the innings was not quite part of the plan. And that, alas, was pretty much a sign of things to come, as wickets tumbled with unhelpful regularity – the icing on the cake being the final wicket to fall, as Laurie Stocks continued his role of unluckiest man in cricket, receiving yet another pea roller to seal the end of the Ramblas innings on 86 all out to seal a comprehensive 215-run defeat.
Ramblas MVP: *looks around blankly* Ah, we’ll give it to Seth Clifford (for his bowling and fielding efforts)… And say no more about it.