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LNZCC v Datchet – 22nd June 2008 - Match report
Datchet won the toss and elected to field in this 40 over match.
What a week leading into the game – it was on again off again three times. In the end an LNZCC 15 was selected to play Datchet – no we weren’t playing rugby, we agreed to supply Datchet with 3 of our players.
The day dawn bright and sunny, and LNZ was asked to bat first and on pitch that has yielded plenty of runs this season.
Firstly, I would like to thank Mike Oliver, Tim Bills-Everett and Phil Bartle who volunteered to play for the opposition, although over the course of the afternoon we came to regret the decision to give them three quality players. I would also like to thank the two Richard's, Keyse and Holden for making themselves available at short notice.
So to the first innings. On a typical Datchet pitch with a fast outfield and short boundaries LNZ got off to a rocketing start with Blair Simm and Ben Dormer (26) having first crack at the Datchet bowling line-up. Phil Bartle opened the bowling for the opposition and kindly let the boys get their eyes in with a mixture of gentle full tosses and half volleys. After six overs we were scoring at more than ten an over.
Blair and Ben looked particularly comfortable until Phil got a ball to wobble and Ben feathered a ball to the opposition keeper. This brought Matt Fanning (14) to the crease who Phil provided with a gentle full toss on leg stump to allow him to get started. Down the other end Blair moved swiftly to another 50 by putting away the bad balls and turning over the strike with ease. Just as Matt and Blair’s partnership was getting going it was broken when Matt spooned up a gentle half volley providing an easy catch to the Datchet fielder.
Matt was followed at the wicket by Peter Gibson (52), and he and Blair set about putting together the partnership of the innings. Although we have seen Pete play more fluid innings, he did dispatched the loose and wide balls to the boundary with ease. With his parents in the crowd, Blair Simm brought up his maiden century for the club before falling for 104. Pete followed soon after for another well-compiled 50.
Into the last 10 overs Richard Keyse (41) and Tim Hannon (12) tried to push the scoring rate along. Unfortunately Tim charged the wrong ball from Mr Bills-Everett and lost his stumps.
Tricky, rolling back the years, played a number of glorious shots in a bright and breezy cameo.
At this point, there’s an unconfirmed rumour from the opposition that a certain LNZ stalwart was heard to say to his partner that we had enough runs in the bank and that we should just push the ball around to protect our averages. I won’t say any more on this subject, other than Vancer finishing the innings with a nice picket fence.
LNZCC 282-7 off 40 overs.
Tim Bills-Everett starring for Datchet with the ball - 12/0/66/4 . Mike Oliver it was noted kept his distance from the bowling crease.
Now to the Datchet innings. With 282 on the board, LNZ strolled to the wicket confident in defending the total. After all, with the skipper able to call on a bowling line-up that contained Vance, Kevin Marshall, Fletch and newcomer Ryan O’Donnell, plus the crafty skills of Richard Holden, how could it not?
However we didn’t take into account that on a good pitch if we could score 7 an over, then so could the opposition. We soon found ourselves chasing the ball to all corners of the paddock and losing more balls than I can ever remember in one game planted into the numerous neighbours’ gardens. Mike Oliver (72) and his opening partner put on over 140 in an impressive for the first wicket stand.
The introduction of Fletch finally not only stemmed the flow of runs but also brought us our first wickets. Unfortunately for LNZ, we were never able to slow down the scoring rate or pick up enough wickets to put enough pressure on Datchet.
Usually known for his wicket-taking ability, it was Tim Bills-Everett who put the final nail into our coffin with a composed 20 not-out to steer Datchet to victory, with LNZCC losing the match with 4 balls to spare.
Before the game Mike Oliver said that he was happy to volunteer to play for Datchet as he fancies our bowling attack and likewise Tim Bills-Everett reckon there would be plenty of cheap wickets on offer by playing for the opposition and so it turned out!
Thanks once again to Marty for umpiring.
Scoreboard LNZCC 282 for 7 (40 Overs) Datchet 283 for 8 (39.2 Overs) Datchet win by 2 wickets
Batting Runs Catches Stumpings Stats Blair Simm 104 8 fours, century in 95 min 91 balls Ben Dormer 26 Matt Fanning 14 2 +Peter Gibson 52 1 1 Tim Hannan 12 Richard Keyse 41 Peter Tippen 9 Vance Thompson 8* 1 Kevin Marshall 1* Paul Christian DNB Ryan O’Donnell DNB Richard Holden 12th DNB
Extras 23
FOW 50, 88, 179, 217, 221, ?, ?
'Opposition' figures to be included in the LNZCC stats:
Runs Catches Stumpings Stats Mike Oliver 72 11 fours Philip Bartle 0 Tim Bills-Everett 20*
Bowling O M R W Stats Vance Thompson 11.2 1 90 2 c&b, bowled Ryan O’Donnell 4 0 40 0 Kevin Marshall 14 1 62 3 caught, stumped, bowled Paul Christian 6 1 39 2 caught, lbw Richard Holden 4 0 19 1 caught Tim Hannan 2 0 32 0
'Opposition' figures to be included in the LNZCC stats:
O M R W Stats Philip Bartle 5 0 56 1 Tim Bills- Everett 12 0 66 4
GBK Man of the Match – Blair Simm Umpire - Martin Conway |
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