The 1st XI were looking forward to their third match of the season against what was known to be a talented Grace Dieu side. Captain Jack H won the toss and asked Grace Dieu to bat, some initial loose bowling allowed the attacking opposition batsmen to take control with any indifferent deliveries being severely punished. Jack H did manage to get one of the openers stumped to make a breakthrough but Grace Dieu were motoring along at 10 runs per over with 75 on the board after only 10 overs. The support bowlers were struggling to bowl in any decent areas and were either too short or too wide giving the batsmen the opportunity to free their arms and hit the ball hard. Things were looking ominous with the scoreboard racing away, then Ed S’s first ball was magnificent, pitching 6 inches outside off stump turning and hitting the top of middle stump to dismiss the dangerous opener for 58. The tide of runs was stemmed somewhat by the introduction of Charlie H who finished with 3 wickets for 24 runs off 5 overs. But still too many poor balls were being bowled and some sloppy fielding generally allowed Grace Dieu to post a very intimidating total of 210 for 6 off their 25 overs.
The S.Anselm’s reply once again began poorly with Jack M-M departing for 0 choosing to drive a ball that was not there to be attacked. Hugo R departed in similar style for 2 and two wickets were down in the first 3 overs and not even 10 runs on the board. Patrick C was doing his best to keep the scoreboard ticking over but perished playing a horrible cross bat shot to a spinner for 11. Freddie H hit some nice shots in his short innings of 18 before being magnificently caught. Jack H was playing his best innings of the season attacking the loose deliveries and defending the good ones, he was well supported by Charlie H who hit some cracking off side shots in his innings of 27 (6 fours) before he was caught. Jack was next to depart when being bowled by one that kept low for 30 (4 fours). Will W 2, Ed S 0 struggled and Will A 5 not out (one very nice pull shot for 4) and Paddy D 3 not out batted the remaining overs out to post a respectable 142-9 and a loss by 68 runs recorded.
The biggest difference in the sides was the consistency of bowling by Grace Dieu backed up by some top drawer fielding, both areas that S.Anselm’s must improve to progress more. The boys are getting there and the team performances are getting better by the match. Stick with it, the results will come!
MAC
Posted on
Fri, May 20, 2011
by MAC