Littlebourne Cricket Club

Russell wraps up run chase

June 15th 2006 - Saltwood beat Littlebourne in the KVL - by Tom

A rapid unbeaten 47 from Jeremy Russell led Saltwood to an impressive three wicket win over newly promoted Littlebourne 2nds. The game had started less promisingly for the Wood when skipper Winston threw Duckboy the new ball. In hindsight Duckboy should have thrown it back, but instead he proceeded to ‘do a Gambo’ (by which I mean bowl a succession of wides, rather than prance around camply, telling everyone that he once kissed some person from Big Brother). One Duckboy over began with four successive wides, but he resisted the temptation to revert to his favoured off spin, and bowled eight overs on the bounce as the Wood made early inroads and largely contained the Littlebourne top order.

Chances came and went. Jezza was hit by a flying ball at slip, Duckboy dived full stretch and somehow got a hand to a stinging half chance (ten of his teammates mistakingly referred to it as a ‘sitter’), while Tractor lost one in the sun. The unlucky bowler on that occasion was Macca, who again bowled well with no reward. The Wood were also boosted by a smart run out engineered between Trevor II (Darren Lehman) and Andy Reene, enjoying a first start behind the stumps. There was some dispute over whether the batsman was out but not from Crumbie, who as the Wood’s very own Sat Nav system, offered the batsman directions back to the pavilion. ‘Sat Nav’ was fired up all day and lived up to his other nickname of Winston by very nearly leading his team to War. He bowled very well though and fully deserved his three wickets.

Littlebourne had reached 130 for 6 after thirty overs and the Wood were a tad disappointed to let their opponents reach a final total of 195 for 9. A first bowling point of the season remained elusive. The Wood began their reply confidently but sensibly. Jon Reene (without his lucky beard) started as he left off, but was undone by an unplayable ball that bounced off a length. He’s probably the only batsman at the club that could have got a bat on it. Macca came in and immediately hit his first ball over cover for four. Just as the Littlebourne fielders were getting worried, he fell. It was a useful innings but if he had managed to bat for another half an hour, victory would have been almost secured. The Wood soon found themselves in some trouble at 60-3 and Duckboy appeared to be batting like an American holiday maker, who was being introduced to the game for the first time. He struggled for timing throughout but stuck it out and with Darren Lehman batting well at the other end, they slowly and calmly accumulated the runs. They put on over 50 and both had just started to kick on when they got out and another collapse looked on when Dobber was out. As always there was some confusion as to how Ian was out as fielders appealed for a combination of caught and stumped. Some even claimed handled the ball (the one dismissal Ian needs to complete the set?), but either way the Wood were seven down and there was still some way to go. Fortunately Jezza was on hand, ably supported by Tractor. Whether late cutting or smashing the bowling into the trees, Jezza was at his destructive best. He ended the game in the grandest style with a six and the Wood had made an extremely challenging run chase against a strong side appear surprisingly comfortable.
Next up for the Wood are promotion favourites Hollingbourne.

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