15th May 2011 - H.C. Trotters v Regals
LPOSSC,
Sudbury Hill
After numerous nets sessions and an entertaining training game the HC Trotters season finally started on an overcast and windy day in Sudbury Hill.
The Trotters travelled to the LPOSSC knowing they had a competitive game ahead of them and whilst some may have been riddled with the effects of a 30th birthday the night before all were brimming with confidence.
Captain Wolfenden strolled to the middle and won the toss. Trotters to bat first!
Jones and McCann donned their pads and entered the arena. Their footwork and blocking was tested from the outset as the Regals opening bowlers fired down jaffa after jaffa after jaffa. The pressure eventually told as McCann was caught for 5 with Jones following a few balls later for 5 having been bowled by a straight one. This meant the Trotters were 12 for 2 with both the JWs at the crease. James set about his usual methodical game whilst John was a little more expansive. The partnership saw 53 runs added before John sent the ball so high it came down with snow.....only to be caught by the wicky. Despite the huge height it had only moved 5 or 6 metres on the horizontal. John had added 26 to the scoreboard.
LPOSSC,
Sudbury Hill
After numerous nets sessions and an entertaining training game the HC Trotters season finally started on an overcast and windy day in Sudbury Hill.
The Trotters travelled to the LPOSSC knowing they had a competitive game ahead of them and whilst some may have been riddled with the effects of a 30th birthday the night before all were brimming with confidence.
Captain Wolfenden strolled to the middle and won the toss. Trotters to bat first!
Jones and McCann donned their pads and entered the arena. Their footwork and blocking was tested from the outset as the Regals opening bowlers fired down jaffa after jaffa after jaffa. The pressure eventually told as McCann was caught for 5 with Jones following a few balls later for 5 having been bowled by a straight one. This meant the Trotters were 12 for 2 with both the JWs at the crease. James set about his usual methodical game whilst John was a little more expansive. The partnership saw 53 runs added before John sent the ball so high it came down with snow.....only to be caught by the wicky. Despite the huge height it had only moved 5 or 6 metres on the horizontal. John had added 26 to the scoreboard.
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65 for 3 and Captain Wolfenden was heading to the middle. This second Wolfenden partnership added another 52 runs with James still playing his usual methodical game (block the balls on line and leave the balls that aren’t but pop a few off to the boundary) and Ed offering catches left, right and centre. At the fourth time of asking a Regals fielder managed to hold on to the ball and Ed was out for a rollercoaster ride of 17.
Debutant Sachdeva joined James at the crease who, you’ve guessed it was still playing his usual methodical game. Amit played a lovely glance down leg to score his first run for the Trotters but then Umpire McCann gave him an unusual Trotters welcome and gave him out with a more than dubious LBW decision, for which even the opposition only mustered the meekest of appeals. Whilst calm and relaxed on the outside, Amit was no doubt boiling up with rage on the inside. The Trotters bench couldn’t believe it. Twitter was full of questions of McCann’s loyalty.
136 for 5 with Macnamara and James (doing the usual) in the middle. However the Trotters were running out of overs so it was pedal to the metal time. Macnamara set about upping the run rate crashing the ball to the boundary for a four. Sadly, he was clean bowled next ball as he again went to hit big.
With Radclyffe up next the Trotters faithful were hoping the big hitting Radclyffe had turned up. And he didn’t disappoint as he sent the ball this way and that to the boundary and ran well with James. A huge six back over the bowlers head being the pick of his shots.
It wasn’t until the end of the 35th over that James was finally removed from the crease by Regals. He batted for 30 overs playing the stabilising innings the Trotters needed adding a disciplined 59 to the total.
Radclyffe continued to bash the ball about, selfishly and correctly, keeping Lambert off strike. He finally fell for 33.
With only 4 balls remaining Wickenden came in to bat tasked with adding whatever he could to the score. He swang and missed at his first ball but it glanced off his pad and Lambert and Wickenden were able to run a leg bye. Lambert finally faced........and was bowled first ball for a golden duck, ruining one of his season objectives.
Mellors, complete with Lambert as his runner owing to a mysterious heel injury, headed in for the final 2 balls. Both were in the block hole making them difficult to get away so the Trotters closed their innings on 159 for 9, 25 runs light of where they wanted to be.
They’d have to be good in the field if they were to get a result. Regals required run rate was 4 an over.
With the players’ hunger and thirst satisfied by an enjoyable tea, that boasted some exceptionally well-filled egg mayo sarnies, the Regals innings began.
And ended with them scoring 162 off 35.2 overs. Trotters moments of glory were:
Lambert's C&B to take the wicket of Sharma
McCann's direct hit for the run out of Chahal
Trotters bowling figures were as follows:
Radclyffe 6.2-0-37-2
Lambert 3.5-1-15-1
McCann 6.1-0-20-0
Wolfenden (E R H) 6-0-28-0
Wickenden 7-0-37-7
Wolfenden (J C L) 4-1-19-1
Man of the Match - J C L Wolfenden - Top scored with the bat and economical bowling.
