It was heartbreak in a heatwave as the Ramblas fell agonisingly short of chasing 258 at home to Chevening Amblers.
The hosts were looking to halt a three match losing run and get their season back on track on a gloriously sunny day. Once again skipper Matt Rudgyard lost the toss and Chevening opted to bat first.
Ganesh Ghube and Michael Cooper opened the bowling, and while for the former was a constant threat, the latter struggled to find his rhythm and was the victim of short boundaries and a fast outfield. Cooper was replaced by Steven Fitch just before the first drinks (or should that be hydration) break, which saw Chevening on 68-0 off the first 12 overs.
Luckily for the Ramblas, the break was just the reset they needed as Ghube nabbed the first wicket of the day, thanks to a catch from James Dilley at square leg. After finishing his spell, Ghube was replaced by Jason Christensen.
It was Fitch though who rattled through the middle top order, picking up three wickets in four overs. First a full delivery that dismantled the off stump, the second and third wickets both courtesy of excellent catches in the deep by Johnny Stocks and Cooper respectively.
Christensen nabbed the fifth wicket of the day when Loughlin took a tricky catch at square leg. Chevening were now 147-5 off 24 overs at the second drinks break, and the Ramblas felt they were back in the game. Sadly that feeling was short lived as the visitors racked up 100 runs in the last eleven overs to finish on 247-5 off 35 overs.
After a lengthy tea break to allow everyone to seek shade and recover from several hours in the field. J. Stocks and Mark Loughlin strode to the crease, keen to get the chase off to a positive start.
The pair did not let their skipper down, racing out of the blocks from ball one thanks to a combination of powerful hitting and quick running. J. Stocks was delightfully punching the ball through the covers and Loughlin was smashing the ball to the mid wicket boundary as they took the score to 106 inside eleven overs.
On the cusp of the first drinks break Loughlin departed for a dazzling 35 ball 59, clean bowled going for one shot too many. Drew Smith was the first cab off the rank and looked in fine touch from ball one. J. Stocks and Smith put on 51 for the second wicket before Smith was run out after being sent back attempting a risky single.
Christensen was in at four and helped take the score to 179 before being bowled. Tom Howgego was the next cab off the rank but his stay was a short one, lasting four balls before he was back on the sidelines.
James Dilley came to the crease with J. Stocks, scoring a quickfire 11 to take the total to 199 before being bowled. And just as the pressure was easing on the run chase disaster struck when J. Stock was bowled for a fantastic near run a ball 85.
With 57 runs needed off the last eight overs, Ghube and Laurie Stocks were tasked with settling the ship and seeing the chase home. However, the ship was sailing through choppy waters that saw Ghube and Rudgyard dismissed in the space of five deliveries.
Cooper joined L. Stocks at the crease with the Ramblas needing 38 runs from 28 balls, with the pair putting on 10 before L. Stocks was bowled. Fitch was the last man in, and in tandem with Cooper did their best to chase down the runs but fell short as Chevening won by 12 runs.
It was another classic contest between the Ramblas and Chevening that saw the visitors get revenge on their loss to the Ramblas earlier in the season. Next week sees the Ramblas travel to Tatsfield and another chance to break the winless streak.
Ramblas MVP: Honourable mentions to Ganesh Ghube for his performance with the ball, and Mark Loughlin for his blistering 59. But for his 85 that helped give the Ramblas a shot at chasing down 258, this week’s MVP is Johnny Stocks.