On a warm and humid day at Oak
Meadow Waltham played the league leaders Shinfield and
pulled off a miraclous draw thanks to a great team effort
from the ten men present.
On winning the toss vice-skipper Johnson elected to
bowl first hoping to make use of any vagaries in the
pitch, but also knew that with the lack of depth to
the bowling it was a bit of a gamble. Gearing
and Arif opened up restricting the visitors to a paltry
13 runs off the first 10 overs with controlled swing
and seam coupled with an excellent line.
Unfortunately Arif broke down after the 12th over and
Johnson was introduced to the attack, bowling with his
customary swing and lack of pace - in homage to Chris
England - to restrict the scoring rate. The next
18 overs were a herculean effort by Gearing and Johnson
as the Shinfield batsmen could not accelerate and Gearing
was rewarded with two wickets after a mammoth 15 over
spell in the humidity.
Shinfield were keeping wickets in hand, but a good piece
of hustling from Bridgeman at backward point with a
fumble then a fast direct hit effected a run out. Unfortunately
this brought a big hitting Shinfield batsman to the
crease who launched the ball to all parts in a rapid
fire 51 before Johnson misjudged a steepling catch,
but somehow plucked the ball from the air with his right
hand.
The final overs brought the introduction of Bridgeman
to the attack and he immediately struck with Owen making
a catch at short-extra cover look ridiculously easy
and then Bridgeman clean bowled a tail-ender. Woolford
chipped in with a run out behind the sticks and Waltham
were soon wearily walking off knowing they had performed
well in the field but 198-7 looked a very good score
for the top team.
Waltham got off to the worst possible start as Woolford
and Bridgeman managed a variation of the yes, no, sorry
run out routine so famous to cricket. Johnson
came to the crease and he and Bridgeman started to rebuild
the innings until Bridgeman was removed by a leg-cutting
beauty. Ali only lasted two balls and social member
Vic "Iron Jaw" Monon strode out to bat. Monon
was soon to show his steel by taking a ball flush on
the cheekbone and not taking a backward step.
Waltham lost Johnson to a ball that will make the "shooter"
of the season awards and at this point the game was
looking up for Waltham. A defiant 47 from skipper
Gearing with his characteristic shots around the ground
and the battling qualities of Owen brought a change
in the momentum but these two soon perished and the
game looked up for Waltham with only two wickets left
and over 10 overs to bat out.
Once Savva was removed almost all hope was lost, but
in what is probably the finest rearguard action by two
Waltham players since 1939-45 Arif and Aldred saved
the game for Waltham putting on 49* for the last wicket
in flambouyent style with the ball peppering the boundary
thanks to some exhilarating strokeplay from Arif in
particular.
Waltham can be proud of a ten man battling display against
the top team
in the league and thanks must go to Shinfield for playing
the game in
the right spirit. |
