Metalfold Industries premier 3 vs Palmy Super XI
Saturday the 4th of November at Ongley Park 11
What had initially started out as a stunning day with no cloud and sunshine had changed quite dramatically and by 11am it started raining. By 1pm at least 2 fronts of rain had passed leaving the grass wickets on Ongley very sodden. With some sort of red-light system supposedly set up to tell us when and when not to play and with no idea if any games were being professionally umpired teams looked to be making their own rules. Trout met with Palmy Super XIs captain and won the toss, he decided that we would have a bowl and start sometime before 1.30.
Ben and Gaz opened the bowling with some tight lines that had both opening batsmen in some early trouble. The trouble then switched to the bowlers as the popping creases turned to mud and both bowlers hit the deck. To avoid any further injuries and the complaining that would be bound to follow both Ben and Gaz were replaced with Bish and Randy. Bish started well keeping the scoring under control, but the batsmen decided to target Randy on a pitch that wasn’t providing much assistance to the bowler. Craig Trim tagged in for Randy who also struggled for rhythm but eventually gained some control and applied pressure. That pressure resulted Bish picking up the much-needed wicket of Arvinder Singh who feathered one through to Zach behind the stumps. Craig Trim followed up with the wicket of Vineet Sharma and suddenly, we were back in the game.
Slower bowling looked as though it might do the trick as more rain flowed across the ground. Kurt and Sukh took up the bowling duties and made inroads straight away with Kurtis getting the wicket of Anil Ohri, caught for 16. Sukh followed up with 2 more wickets and both bowled out their 8 overs leaving Palmy at 150/7. Randy replaced Sukh and picked up 3 wickets as the Palmy batsmen tried to increase their scoring. The Super XI batted out their 40 overs only losing their 10th wicket on the final ball of the innings. They finished 186/10.
With the pitch waterlogged and offering the bowlers nothing, batting seemed like it probably wouldn’t be all that problematic. It turned out to be just the opposite as our top order completely shat the bed. Jase was the first to go, getting trapped in front to a very plumb LBW from the bowling of Arvinder Singh. The next over Bish hit a catch that was dropped only to look up to see captain Trout halfway down the pitch. Bish then set off down the pitch to save Trouts wicket at the cost of his own. Craig Trim then joined Trout who was working hard to make the most of Bistophers sacrifice. Craig battled away for some time as Trout kept the score ticking over. Eventually though Craig spooned one to a fielder and we found ourselves 40-3. Randy took Craigs place and then things really fell apart as he was caught out for 5. Trout’s promising innings came to a crashing halt as he was bowled by Param Dullat for 30 and then the man who so often pulls us out of these situations got a leading edge and was gone for 21 leaving us 78-6.
Other than the comments on how awesome it was to have a large waterproof tent to sit under was that general feeling around the Bloomfield camp was pretty negative. The BBQ was lit as it was looking as though this game might end quite quickly. Shukhyeet and Zach had different ideas. The Pair ground out a 54 run partnership keeping our outside chances of a win alive. Glennis then came to the crease and then came back 4 balls later after trying to go over top of the close in fielders. Zach kept things going with another boundary, but he was then bowled by Renish Vanpariya for 25. That left Gaz and Ben at the crease with 45 required off 41. That soon became 45 off 35 after Ben, true to form, blocked out a maiden. Luckily Gaz was swinging at the other end and managed to get a boundary away.
After a quick discussion about how slippery it was to run 2s Ben joined Gaz in the boundary hitting and with a few quick 2’s we were in with a shot. The palmy fielders, aware now that they not only needed a wicket but also needed to stop any more boundaries, moved the field back. Gaz and Ben continued to swing and with the field back were picking up 1’s and 2’s with ease. 18 off 12 became 8 off 6 as we entered the final over. More 1’s and 2’s got us to 3 required from the final ball. Ben hit it straight out to deep mid-on for a 2 that probably should have been 1. All the Palmy players, including the keeper, ran to the bowers end to make sure they had secured the ball. Ben, being the big dreamer that he is decided he wasn’t happy with 2 and went for the 3rd. Gaz looked up and immediately saw the opportunity. As the big truck got up to speed the Palmy guys hit the panic button and what followed was a shambles. With no one to receive the throw at the strikers end the first shy missed. Someone picked up the loose ball and had another go. He too missed as another arriving player picked up the ball and removed the bails just as Gaz’s dive ploughed him across the crease. He had made his ground and Bloomfield won the game by 1 Run.
Thanks to Palmy Super XI for a bloody enjoyable match despite the conditions.
MVP: Sukh 3, Randy 2, Zach 1.
Accelerate Automotive Bloomfield Premier 4 vs PNBHS 4th XI
The Paps
Bloomfield vs PNBHS 4th When we turned up to the ground it was very moist and cold while keeping an eye on the rain radar to see if there was going to be any cricket and to see if we had to get the homeless sleeping on the bench to leave so we could play some cricket. There was a break in the clouds and both captains decided to do a toss and start getting the game under way.
We lost the toss (again) and were told to field. Opening the bowling George got us off to a great start taking the wicket of the PNBHS opener for 1 then baby trout with great line and length bowled the Boys high number 3 with a massive inswing delivery for a duck. Boys high was losing wickets and couldn’t build any momentum into their innings from 86-6 to 125 all out. Cooper taking 3-22 from 3 overs. Kieran 5 overs 17-2 Great effort from the young guns in the team.
Chasing 126 for the win and the dark clouds coming back we needed to a fast start with Trimmy going for a duck. Wasn’t a great start. How ever George is batting well this season and was hitting the ball all over the field including a six that hit a car driving past but then a bowling change and George was given out LBW for 54 off 36 balls. Because of the fast start we cruised to victory 1-15 , 2-37, 3-80 , 4-106. Tyler and Cooper saw us home and we won the game by DLS.
Great effort and intensity in the field. We have a bye this week.
MVP Cooper 3, Kieran 2, George 1,
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