Match Report

Scrummagers v Badshot Lea
Wednesday11th May 2011

The Scrummagers began this match in unbelievable fashion when opening bowler Daffyd took a wicket with his first ball thanks to the safe hands of wicketkeeper John Warne. Foolishly the Scrummagers failed to capitalise on this promising early start when they should have left the field, and Badshot Lea duly smote the ball to all parts of the ground. The next three batsmen all scored 20 plus runs in quick time, although Dave Hurley did pick up a wicket with his “better ball” thanks to a catch from Chris Finney.

Julian Ranger picked up the wicket of Captain Turner, but Badshot Lea were now steaming towards a total well in excess of 200 runs. Fortunately the Scrummagers realised the danger of the match getting away just in time, and chose to put on their wibbly-wobbly bowlers to great effect. Brown (2-0-10-1) followed by debutant Benjy Weeks (2-0-8-1) put the brakes on thanks to a catch by Dave Hurley and stumping by John Warne. However with four overs remaining Steve Hopper (2-0-7-1) and specialist Keith Harding (2-0-11-0) came into their own as they crafted away to leave the Badshot Lea team with a slightly modest 171 runs for 7 wickets at the turnaround.

Knowing that they had to start well the Scrummagers opted for the big hitting combination of John Warne and Julian Ranger to open, although on this occasion Ranger forgot to hit (let alone big) and quickly found himself back in the pavilion. Fortunately Warne (22) was not put off by Ranger’s efforts and forged an excellent partnership with Dave Hurley (35 retired – first time ever?!!!) to give the Scrummagers a chance. Pleasingly both players ran well between the wickets as well as striking some solid blows, although Warne was heard to mumble that he wished he had known that Hurley’s nickname was the “Gazelle” before going in to bat!

Brown (27) and Chris Finney (36 retired) kept the momentum going before allowing Chesty Harding and Daffyd to have a go. Chesty, ever the clubman, never muttered a sound as he was given out lbw to an inside edge after having nudged his way to 6, allowing for possibly bigger hitters to come in. And come in they did, as Dicky Davies tried to make amends for his earlier bowling and unusual fielding. The packed patio saw Davies muller the ball in hugely impressive fashion, scoring 29 runs from a mere 11 balls. The win was now a formality but Davies, remembering his responsibilities as a teacher being a role model, unselfishly allowed Daffyd to strike the winning boundary after some earlier problems with insects that he had to swat away.

The Scrummagers were home with 8 balls to spare and duly basked in the warmth of a good chase against a Badshot Lea team who had played in a sportsmanlike spirit. Afterwards the players retired to the bar to share a little banter, with (a version of) cricket once again the winner.

 

Score:
Badshot Lea 171 for 7
Scrummagers 175 for 4

HRG MOM:
Sam Bull (Bowled with heart against batsmen with their eye in and not out at the end of the innings)

Scrummagers MOM:
Daffyd (Wicket with the first ball of the match, before bowling to allow Badshot Lea to have enough of a score for the Scrummagers to chase, and finally staying in importantly at the end to smite the winning runs after a number of practice shots!).

The Roving Reporter