Saturday 21st January 2023
Metalfold Industries Bloomfield Premier 3 vs United CC P3
Another pearler of a day greeted us as we rolled up to Ongley 11 with enough food and equipment to survive a couple of weeks in the great outdoors. As our P4 team wasn’t playing this week the invite went out for a club gathering at the cricket and we were very happy to see that many club members turned up to show their support.
The wicket looked great and the outfield , as with all of PNCC’s grounds, looked as if the it might have missed a mow or 2 over the Christmas break. With a bit of early rain that morning Trout thought that the little bit of moisture in the pitch might help our bowlers early on before it would become the batting track it looked like it wanted to be. He won the toss and put us into the field.
Ben and Gaz opened the bowling for us again, continuing their search for the form they lost many moons ago. While they had showed glimses of their former selves in previous games this one really brought it all together. The tight lines and appreciable amount of swing really limited the scoring opportunities. Gaz broke through in his first over removing Joel Young for 1. Jonnie Newcomb joined Rick Satherley at the crease and they put their heads down and got to work.
Now I wish it was like the old days where we had a scoring system that actually worked or, when it did, told you some information other than just the basics but alas, we have descended into a bizarre reality where somehow the humble paper scorebook holds more value than the high tech trash NZC has asked us to use. For shame. So as usual, please ignore the slight inaccuracies from this point on.
Rick and Jonnie batted well seeing out Ben and Gaz and then Kurtis and Jase. Our bowlers bowled well (other than a few wides from someone…) but despite this, Rick and Jonnie made it through to drinks at 60-1. A low score but with wickets in hand a very good spot to launch from.
After drinks Bishtopher Chrishop and Trout had a bowl. They started well but so did Rick and Jonnie batting through for another 5 or 6 overs and increasing the scoring rate. Just when Ben and Gaz started feeling sorry for whoever the poor buggers were who were going to bowl the death Trout made the big break through, bowling Jonnie Newcomb for 45. This opened the door for Bishtopher who strolled on through it like disco era John Travolta. He picked up the next two wickets in short succession.
The 3 quick wickets looked as though they might have been Just a small speed bump for United as Ricky Costa started hitting some boundaries and Rick, who had just scored another 50, starting to open up. With the score 140/4 after 35 overs, United still had a decent platform to launch but that’s when it fell apart.
Ben and Gaz came back to finish the innings and continued the way they had finished. Ben picked up the wicket of Ricky Costa (24) and then Ben Valentine the next ball. Gaz then got Rick, caught and bowled for 58, and then another the same over. Ben missed his hattrick opportunity but picked up the wicket of Matthew Tamblyn a few balls later. United limping home 162/9.
The trouble for Bloomfield started right away. Jase and Bishtopher opened as usual and after a boundary to get off the mark Bish’s eyes lit up at a ball from Darryl Newsome. It went straight up and Bishtopher walked straight off the field. James McKelvie in his second game for Bloomfield was told to go and bat at 3. His stay didn’t last long either as he skyed one to Ben Valentine and followed Bish off the field.
With Bloomers floundering at 7/2 we need someone to get a partnership going with Jase who was stranded at the non-strikers end. Enter Kurtis, The Bi-Polar Express, (today the Vicar of Dibley) was in his usual grumpy mood, still pissed at Ben for being a high quality, professional and honest umpire the previous 2 games, trudged out to the pitch.
It was about this time that Jase woke up and started plundering. Kurtis rotated the strike while Jase bludgeoned 45 off 31 deliveries before being caught off the bowling of Joel Young. Trout then came out for a flash in the pan but the heat was a little high and he left after adding another 6 to the total.
Dave Watson who plays for our P4 side was nice enough to help us out this week and help us he did. With some stunning drives and an incredible sweep shot he and the Vicar of Dibley put on a 72 run partnership before Kurtis was out bowled on 49 (just to improve his mood). In his first game for us this season Barry Harlen joined Dave at the crease and looked as solid as a rock to see us through to the target in the 29th over. Dave finishing on 45*.
Another good win this week against a very strong opponent. With only 2 weeks left in the round robin we are now looking good for a spot in the semis. It’s almost impossible to know for sure as the points table is such a shambles with missing games and incorrect results its anyone’s guess what’s going on.
MVP- Jase 3, Ben 2, Kurtis 1.
Scorecard: (Yes, we actually have one this week)
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