After a terrible ‘summer’ of
flooding and very little cricket, fans across the country
were hardly likely to hold their breath in expectation
of much action on Bank Holiday weekend – usually a forerunner
to torrential downpours.
Choosing to follow an enforced Benitez like rotation
policy, a much changed WSL lineup took to the field
in a classic top v bottom encounter at the Emmbrooke
Oval. In a scintillating encounter Emmbrook will feel
hard done by as they were forced to learn the cruel
lesson that a cricket match is not won in the first
45 overs or in fact the following 40.
Captain Hill proved that he really is a great big tosser
by once again calling correctly and promptly inserted
Emmbrook on a pitch that showed more green than an Irish
Leprechauns pants on St Patrick’s Day.
Rashid ‘The Rawalpindi Express’ Arif opened up and produced
his usual array of swing, seam and raw horsepower as
he fired down thunderbolts from the top end. He was
joined in an excellent new ball partnership by Keith
‘I promise, I can catch a cold’ Lugthart (6 overs for
18) that tied down the Emmbrook openers.
The breakthrough arrived courtesy of a banana ball from
Arif that caught the edge only to be pouched by Naveed
at first slip. But today was not to be a day dominated
by the ball, as the WSL bowlers toiled away valiantly
with little to show for their efforts.
Hill had requested that the team put themselves about
in the field and the lads all responded positively and
worked tirelessly throughout the afternoon, most noticeably
local alcoholic Matt ‘The Tattooed Pikey’ Nebbett who
excited great interest from Nathan Thomas by having
a tattoo of a sheep strategically placed on his bottom.
Another stand out performance in the field came from
Matt ‘Adam Gilchrist is my Doppelganger’ Connor who
showed the way forward for an English wicketkeeper/batsman
at the top level as he kept a clean sheet throughout
the day.
The leather was then thrown to Naveed ‘Huggie Bear’
Raja and the pick of Waltham’s bowlers Paul ‘for whom
the bell will shortly toll’ Gearing (3 for 55 off 15).
Once again they bowled a probing line and length without
the reward that they deserved. Time and time again edges
found gaps or lobed agonizingly over the heads of fielders,
or straight down there throats and straight onto the
turf!
Emmbrook began to hit out as the final over approached
and destroyed the figures of Naveed (10 overs for 48)
and Arif (1 for 78 off 14) with some lusty blows. Dan
‘Noodle’ Owen was also trying to be ‘appealing’ out
on the boundary but Mrs Nebbet and her ‘WAG’ companions
were having none of it as they knocked back G&T’s
and Googled shopping centers in Sunderland.
At the change of innings both sides were satisfied and
confident heading into the second half. Emmbrook believed
that they had 30 or 40 more runs on the board than required
however Waltham had the knowledge that they could post
235 as they had two weeks ago against Goring.
A big ‘329’ call out needs to go to Naveed who must
have had some fiery curry powder on his morning cornflakes
and he transferred the heat into a number of well struck
blows to various parts of the boundary in a brutal assault
on the Emmbrook opening bowlers.
At the other end, Paul ‘The Rudder’ Ashton, anchored
the innings together, content to play the perfect foil
to Naveed’s aggression. However in a momentary lapse
in concentration, Ashton rolled back the years as he
Fred Astaire’d down the pitch and lofted Emmbrook opening
bowler Clancey back over his head, over the sight screen
and out of the ground.
Naveed (38) was the first to perish as he tried in vain
for another maximum but was instead well caught in the
deep. Nathan ‘Cricket Whites = Sheep Camouflage’ Thomas
(9) joined Ashton (33) and looked composed before joining
Naveed back in the hut. He was in good company as Gearing
(9), still fatigued from his long spell with the leather,
misread a rank longhop and played on via a thick inside
edge and both pads.
Cometh the hour and cometh the Chris ‘A* in GCSE Lunch’
Sharpe. In probably his most mature and high pressured
innings he pushed and nurdled singles, ran the hard
doubles and casually lofted midwicket with elegant ease
to share a 114 run partnership with his skipper.
As the final few overs arrived, the WSL ‘Brain’s Trust’
gave the green light for Sharpe (27 n.o.) and Hill to
start looking for the boundary. With no OS maps available,
Hill (88 n.o.) chose to use satellite navigation techniques
as he launched rockets and missiles to all areas that
had American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan screaming
in terror of “incoming not so friendly fire!!!”
The win was wrapped up with and over and a half spare
and with only four wickets down which may have disappointed
Nebbet fans who believed that his maiden 50 was still
possible with just nine lusty blows required. This set
back, when coupled with his lack of bowling, meant that
many fans were left with a bitter after taste in their
mouths…most notably the Emmbrook keeper!
Great team spirit led to a fantastic result for the
WSL boys who snatched a memorable victory from the jaws
of a draw/defeat. Many thanks must go to Emmbrook who
played the game in great spirit and probably deserved
better than the pain of defeat. |
