St Margarets Cricket Club
St Margarets CC
Match reports
May 13th 2006 - Saltwood drew with St Margarets. by Lewso. also read Shaun's Report
Shaun won the toss and elected to put us in the field much to the disappointment of some of the more senior player who where hoping the match would be over quickly and they could get home.
Tris Alan and Geoff opened the bowling, both showing consistency and putting the batsmen under pressure, however not taking any wickets. So to mix things up a little Geoff was replaced by Frodo who took 3 wickets with his demon spin during his spell.
Lewso Jnr was brought in next and after a couple of erratic ‘loosoners' found some form, and came close to a wicket when the batsman edged the ball to point. However the usually very safe hands of Lewsey Snr couldn't quite hold on to it, but made up for it taking a catch from Frodo's bowling two or three balls later.
Other bowling highlights included Ben Osborn who bowled well and claimed he took a wicket when the batsman came down the track trying to smash the ball into next week, but missed it and wicketkeeper John H, stumped him. Ben also came close to taking another wicket when the batsman skyed the ball over Lewso Jrn who, running towards the boundary, tried to catch it over his head, but couldn't quite hold on to it. Another notable performance was from Jeremy Edmond who showed some great athleticism on the field throwing himself at the ball at times, stopping boundaries.
This game was also the debut of Cliff Creek , who bowled very well, but spent much of the game out at long off and apart from stopping the occasional four didn't get very much to do. Let's hope that doesn't put him off, as his bowling could prove very useful. Shaun led the team by example in the field stopping several boundaries and taking couple of catches. After a slight mix-up when Saltwood thought it was tea time, but St Margests thought there were still a couple of overs to go, they finished on 204.
204 was always going to be a tall order, but The Wood started with two extremely capable openers; Shaun and Ken. Two or three overs later Ken returned to the pavilion after trying to dispatch a wide ball, but edged it to the slips. On the way to the pavilion he was seen shaking his head muttering “it was 2 feet wide”. During this time Shaun, at the other end, had smashed several fours around the ground and was looking very strong.
Ken's replacement was Ben, who regularly took singles at the end of the over preventing Shaun from getting the strike, but played a very defensive role for a good twenty or more overs, and after being dropped 3 times, was finally got out. Next in was Nick Alan, who played a great game. He had 5 fielders in close proximity around him and would regularly smash the ball though them. Between them, Shaun and Nick pushed the score on considerably until Nick was bowled out. Soon after that Shaun was bowled too after scoring a very respectable 63.
The game ended after some rather unorthodox bowling from one of the opposition who either bowled at his feet or at the wicket keeper. A few wickets later Lewso Jnr and Frodo batted out for the draw and Saltwood finished on 130 something.
Shaun's Report
On a gorgeous day at St. Margarets, with a track looking as flat as we come to expect there and with a limited bowling attack it was always going to be a struggle for The Wood to keep St. Margarets within reach. Geoff Cooke and Tristan Allen kept things tight at the start and were unlucky not to come away with any wickets in their opening spells. With the St. Margarets openers looking comfortable against the guile of Cookie and Tristan, Saltwood decided to turn to the spin option early. David Frowd stepped up and promptly took the first wicket with his 3rd ball of the game. The Wood were on a real high as David took a second St. Margarets wicket in his second over. The clever field placings and cunning bowling seemed to be doing the trick. Spin carried on working with David getting a third wicket and Ben Osborne getting his first of the season after some good work behind the stumps from John Howland to stump the dangerous T. Bills.
Unfortunately that was the end of the joy for The Wood as the St. Margarets middle order of R. Blackman and D. King set about dismantling the Saltwood attack. A good economy rate for Jeremy Edmond and Cliff Creek (on debut) were not enough and St. Margarets ended on 204 for 4 with D. Blackman ending up with a well constructed 68 not out.
After a fabulous tea Shaun Howland and Ken Lewsey went out to the middle to try and chase down the sizable target. After a fantastic start and, it has to be said, some rather indifferent bowling, Shaun had raced to 21 off of just 3 overs with Ken not getting much of a look in. The extras were also starting to flow but the demise of Lewsey snr was the end of any realistic chance The Wood had of reaching the St. Margarets target with Ben Osborne struggling to find the middle of his bat. Skipper Shaun Howland batted slowly but sensibly and eventually reached his 50 in the 30th over. Young star Nick Allen was a hero with the bat, taking everything the St. Mararets bowlers could throw at him and remained at the crease for nearly 20 overs enabling The Wood to relax in the knowledge that a draw was within touching distance.
However, as is so often the case with Saltwood, the classic collapse promptly ensued. With Nick caught for 13 and Shaun bowled for 56, The Wood capitulated from 104 for 3 to 111 for 7 in the space of 6 overs. With a loss staring them unthinkably in the face, up stepped Andy Lewsey and David Frowd to expertly keep out the St. Margarets bowlers to earn Saltwood a draw.
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