Scorecard

Springfield Cricket Club Saturday I v Old Chelmsfordians on Sat 11 Jul 2015 at 1pm
Springfield Cricket Club Won 18 runs

Match report Revenge – Oh, the sweet taste of revenge.
A beautiful hot and sunny summers day was the setting at The Corra, for what could be the defining game in the 2015 Cricket season.
The groundsman had prepared what he described as a “Road”, a rock hard, dusty looking track with a smidgen of grass on top, was our wicket for the day. I’m assured the smidgen of grass was to keep the new ball bowlers interested.
Things got off to a typically humorous start, with Brooksy & I making catching practice look particularly difficult in the pre game warm up. Younger and more agile fielders such as Lats, Sven and Chalky (More to follow), made the high catches look like a mere inconvenience, rather than a challenge.
Then we had ‘Sightscreen gate’, not quite as comical as our dear deceased former presidents sight screen incident at High Roding a few years back, but far more destructive. Whilst trying to move the sight screen from the Police Headquarters end (only filth reference), one of the wheels decided it didn’t like holding the heavy screen any longer and rather inconveniently split prior to shattering. This made moving the bloody thing very difficult, and to be frank a right royal pain in the arse.

Once the pre game shambles had finished, the skipper headed out to the middle to toss. It looked like a small child walking out alongside an angry nightclub bouncer as the two captains joined the umpires at the wicket. Brooksy tossed the coin only for Damo to call wrong. Thus handing a very difficult decision back to Brooksy. The cat that got the cream came to mind, Brooksy with the world’s biggest smile walked back to the changing room and informed the league’s best batting unit, they were to do what they do best and set a big target.

Lats and Cp took to their pre game rituals, (no music, chewing gum and throw downs). Once completed they walked confidently out to the wicket.
A tight opening over from Wickham was well played by Lats, who looked calm, controlled and determined. Cp down the other end, decided he fancied a bit of Bird and played two excellent lofted drives for four back past the despairing bowler. Cp was undone by a decent delivery from Wickham (who hit his leg stump, not removed it as a certain other report states). Comment about something of the broad or haricot variety removed!!! (Ed).
Anyway the result was Cp heading back to the pavilion to be replaced by the ever smiling Mani Singh. It was business as usual for Lats, who was dispatching the ball to all parts with the calm distain that only he can. Mani rotated the strike well for an over or two, until he got a decent delivery from Wickham, which rose big on him and was gloved to the grateful Damo behind the stumps. Some have said that Mani claimed the ball hit his elbow and was nowhere near his glove, I personally can’t believe he would say such a thing. He always walks......................

In came the only, T-Rippon Premier League double centurion. Symo, fresh from a remarkable knock last week, was sure to fancy carrying on that form albeit against a tougher challenge in Wickham, who had his tail up finding his rhythm and bowling with pace and aggression. Symo’s first ball was a decent one from Wickham and found the edge of the bat. Jim’s heart must have been in his mouth, until he heard the groan from the bowler. The catch had been dropped behind by Damo. Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, Symo along with Lats put the Old Chelmsfordians attack to the sword. An excellent display of controlled hitting and excellent running quickly moved the Field onto 130-2 off 20 odd overs. Then disaster struck, Lats was caught by a very ungraceful, yet excellent catch from the high spirited Eva, gone for an excellent 59 ball 66. No sixes this week, I suppose we can let you off as you hit 11 last.

The loss of Lats bought Springfield’s favourite annoyance to the crease. (We all love Clarky, but he seemed to get under the skin of the opposition, I say, good work.) Clarky and Jimmy continued to tick the scoreboard along, until Rahman struck, removing Symo for an well played 53 and Clarky for 17. Both were caught and bowled by slow deliveries, sticking in the pitch. Khalid was the next to go, as he gave mid wicket some high catching practice, departing for 0. Pollinger and Chalks then attempted to stem the flow of wickets. Chay playing a very uncharacteristically patient innings, Chalks not so much out of character, but very much needed all the same. The Pair batted together for several over’s until both succumbed to rash shots, Chalks caught behind for 5 and Pollinger bowled trying to hit a Wickham full pitched delivery back to OC’s.
Sven came in and was joined by Brooksy, Sven attempt to track the impressive Rahman, missed and was stumped. This brought yours truly to the crease, with shouts of “bat the overs out” and “get the tea ready, this wont take long” coming from the home and away supporters (just the home, Ed.) Several sensible and calm chats were had between Brooksy and Marrion (righteo Ed.), and three overs were passed, the plan to try and trickle to 225 and get the remaining batting point. Brooksy, ignoring his own instructions decided to do the Hokey-Cokey, with a slow loopy one from Rahman. Yes folks, Brooksy really did, put his left leg in, then took his left leg out, put his left leg in and shook it all about, he did the Hokey-Cokey, very nearly turned around and was bowled on the second bounce having attempted 17 shots and played none.
In short, it was a disappointing effort with the bat, on an excellent track. A good platform was set by Lats and Symo, but the rest of the line up failed to capitalise on this. However we are nothing if not confident and everyone looked fired up and determined whilst devouring the excellent tea.

A quick team talk was given and it was brutally honest. Lads lose this and the season is done. Lesser men may have crumbled under the pressure, but not this side and we soon set about proving this to a very confident opposition.
The Springfield nemesis that is Ahmed opened up with the quieter and more reserved Meer for OC’s. Ahmed batting the way he does, (not pretty and not normally effective) settled in and tucked Sven for a couple of boundaries through the leg side. Meer looked confident and playing consistently through the V hit Marrion back past him for a couple of straight boundaries. Svenny, a little less controlled than normal kept at it and bowled a spirited 6 over spell from the Top end.
The Batsman's scoring slowed and I picked up the wicket of Meer caught by Sven at backward point. Wasim had been moved out of there due too some fielding mishaps over the past few weeks. Sven was replaced by the pacey Pollinger, who bowled some “sweet chin music” and set about roughing up the OC’s batsman. Both Ahmed, who had quietened down somewhat and the chirpy Eva struggled with Polly’s pace and the flight and guile of myself from the other end. Eva was playing an interesting array of shots and he tried to hit his way out of the mire, but to no effect and was eventually bowled by my replacement, Wasim. (note I did not moan or throw any sort of hissy fit when taken off this week, I was knackered, plus it was the right call skip)

The excellent Khalid looked to be back to his best, and when he is on form, he is the best spinner in the league. This brought McNeil to the crease, who decided to have a real go and was playing shots from ball one against the spin twins, Brooks who had replaced Polly after his pacey burst and Khalid. McNeil was caught on the edge of the ring by a decent catch from Clark, having tried once too many times to hit Khalid over the top. Ahmed was then joined by his brother and OC’s best bat Rahman. The brothers then rotated the strike as best they could against the Field’s spin attack but when Faz tried to hit Brooksy for a straight six and only ended up providing Symo with catching practice at Long off we could sniff an opening. Wasim then removed Ahmed in the next over, bowling him neck and crop. The game had know turned in Springfield’s favour. Cook was the next to succumb to Khalid who finished with an Excellent 4-28 from his 10.
The OC’s innings was then rebuilt by Damo and Wickham. Damo looked comfortable against spin and although not scoring at a great rate looked set and confident, which is never a good thing for the bowling side. Cp was called upon to loosen his shoulders and bend his back. He came on and after his first couple of deliveries, which were a bit loose and put away by Wickham for four, bowled fast, nasty and accurately. Cp has a habit of getting Damo out and again did the trick. He bowled Damo with a excellent yorker/low full toss which his the base of middle stump. Removing the danger man and putting Springfield closer to victory they so desperately needed.

Wickham was still at the crease and was joined by Bird, Chalky and Cp were bowling, Chalks bowling excellently with control and flight. Cp then picked up another wicket to remove Bird. The field could smell victory, just two more wickets needed, surely a forgone conclusion, you might think. Cant who joined Wickham had other ideas and hit a breezy unbeaten 18. It was hearts in mouths for the field until the returning Sven bowling with accuracy and pace variation eventually proved too good for Wickham, who lofted one back for a return catch. This bought Tiger to the crease. Joe always fancies a challenge and with just 30ish needed with 3 overs left, OC’S still had a chance. Cant who had batted well, was undone by Sven and lofted a dolly to mid wicket, Chalky who had looked so assured under the high ball in the pre game warm up made this chance look very difficult (it wasn’t), and unfortunately the ball fell safely to the ground and not into Chalks usual bucket hands.
The final over saw OC’s needing 18 to win, Chalks was the bowler, he quickly forgot about the Indian musical instrument he'd left laying on the floor and bowled an excellent final over to finish a quality spell of spin bowling. Wasim, Brooksy and Chalks all bowled excellently, Marrion economically, raw pace and aggression provided by Polly and Cp, with Oval coming back superbly for his second spell.

The result was a fantastic one for the boys, all involved showed good concentration and calmness. The result is one which will set us in good stead for the remaining games. We owe High Roding a beating this week boys. Long may this collective team spirit remain.

Constable Marrion






Springfield Cricket Club Saturday I Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 13w 11lb 
for 10 wickets
26
203		        
James Latimir-Jones ct Eva b.Ahmed 66 59 9 111.86
Charlie Prudence b Wickham 9 19 2 47.37
Manpreet Singh ct Westwood b. Wickham 7 7 100
Jim Symonds ct & b. Rehman 53 61 3 2 86.89 1
James Clark ct & b. Rehmen 17 21 2 80.95 1
Chay Pollinger b Wickham 11 35 1 31.43
Wasim Khalid ct Cant b. Grant 0 6 0
Matt Chalk ct Westwood b. Wickham 5 18 1 27.78
Andy Ovel st Westwood b. Rehman 5 5 1 100 2
Lee Brooks b Rehman 4 10 40.0
Ben Marrion Not Out  0 6 0

Old Chelmsfordians Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Wickham10.013849.503.80
Bird6.014400.007.33
Ahmed7.0025125.003.57
Grant10.0064164.006.40
Rehman8.312145.252.47

Old Chelmsfordians Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
14w 9b 5lb 
for 9 wickets
28
185 (48.0 overs)		     
Ahmed b Khalid 56
Meer ct Ovel b. Marrion 9
Eva b Khalid 11
McNeil ct Clark b. Khalid 7
Rehman ct Symonds b. Brooks 4
Cook lbw Khalid 3
Westwood b Prudence 21
Wickham ct & b. Ovel 23
Bird b Prudence 1
Cant Not Out  18
Grant Not Out  4

Springfield Cricket Club Saturday I Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Andy Ovel7.0039139.005.57
Ben Marrion8.0414114.001.75
Chay Pollinger4.001800.004.50
Wasim Khalid10.022947.252.90
Lee Brooks9.0132132.003.56
Charlie Prudence4.001929.504.75
Matt Chalk6.021500.002.50