Match Report
by Robbo
Sunday 16 September 2007
Tadworth v Old Suttonians - match report
What a game! In summary we lost in the last over but all concerned agreed that it was the type of game where frankly it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose, the sort of game which restores you desire to keep playing if these are the games you get to play in.
The opposition were there when we arrived and looked like an average age of early 20’s – so didn’t look good. I asked the opposition if they wanted 40 overs or a timed game and when the asked for timed game I thought things started to look up. Tadworth lost the toss (or rather I did) and so maybe looking worse at the prospect of 45 overs watching a load of young batsmen posting 200+ against us. Amazingly they elected to bat, so things looked up again (assuming my theory that if you put the opposition in for a timed game you are not convinced you have a very good team). I would have elected to bat anyway looking at our first 6 line up of Williams, Ireland, Sewell, Cullen, Sander and Hedge. Sadly the new ball swung and we struggled to get the score moving – although as a did not bat I can’t comment those that did said it was a bowlers wicker (;-). After the first change bowler finished they brought on 2 excellent spinners and continued to tie us down. They ended up bowling close to 50 overs and we declared after 3 hours at 149 for 8. Paul Hedge, Neil Williams, Paul Griffiths and Joe Button made solid contribution in the teens and twenties but everyone played their part (apart from the bloke at 11 who did not bat – what a waster he must be).
The usual lovely tea (courtesy of Amanda and Sylvia) followed and we were back in the field with circa 2 hours 10 minutes to bowl back. With the old ball we opened with the spin twins of Joe Button and Matt Robinson. What ensued was an absorbing game with some great bowling and fielding (not one chance dropped with a cracking catch from Neil Willliams) against an opposition batting line up sadly devoid of rabbits. Joe took a wicket in his first over and it was game on. Mat in the next over bowled the ball of the match reminiscent of the classic Shane Warne delivery against Mike Gatting but it was too good for batsman and wicket keeper! Mat couldn’t keep the same control as Jack and with only limited runs to play with we moved to the experienced Paul Hedge after 6 overs. After an initial loose over Paul settled into a nice rhythm keeping the batsman tied down while Joe continued to take wickets at the other end. The opposition were well ahead of the run rate but 4 wickets down for 54 overs, all courtesy of Joe Button. Paul Griffiths came on to keep the other end tied down and with 19 overs to go we took drinks with the opposition needing 50. Needing wickets Mat Robinson was bought back on to shake things up. He struggled to control the amount of turn and bounce he was getting but did his job and made the 2 breakthroughs to keep new opposition batsmen coming to the crease and slowing the run rate and it continued to be game on. After 14 overs Joe finally took a breather and Simon Atkins patiently came on bowling perhaps the most controlled spell of the past 2 seasons taking 2 wickets while seemingly bowling maidens every over – given the situation an amazing effort and perhaps a 20/20 England call up looms. Meanwhile the bowling at the other end was changed quickly in an attempt to vary the attack and take a much needed wicket with Mat being replaced by Paul Hedge and then Joe Button at the other end. I perhaps stretched the ICC ruling on 13 year olds bowling when Joe ended his amazing 16 overs spell for a jug avoiding 4 wickets (although his Dad did accept this and bought the rest of us a jug). In the penultimate over with just 2 wickets to fall the penultimate Old Suttonians batsman gave a fine edge to me at keeper but did not walk. He hit a 4 off the next ball and we entered the final over with the scores tied. 3 balls later the scores were still tied. The 4th ball was smashed for 4 and the game was over. But the type of game we all agreed we’d play in every week if they could be guaranteed to be like that one.
A final thanks to Linda for making all our lives easier this year.
See you all next year.
Match Report by Mark "Robbo" Robinson