Scorecard

Springfield Cricket Club Saturday I v Rettendon on Sat 23 Jul 2016 at 1pm
Springfield Cricket Club Lost 1 run

Match report It was a flashback to 2006 at the Corra as Springfield welcomed back the Chronicle headline writer’s favourite, Simon Dance, and we were lead out by Symonds Jnr. Unfortunately, we could not have a ‘merry Dance’ as flashing back that long ago meant that we also fell to shortcomings with the bat in the middle overs to ultimately end up seeing defeat in the dramatic final over at Fortress Corra by a mere single - our first loss here since July 2013.

On what looked like a good pitch, Hunts won the toss and gleefully chose to bat. With Sven running late because of “work”, it was down to Northy and Maz to open the bowling with any loose ball quickly being despatched to the boundary. An early reprieve for Hunts luckily did not cost Springfield (and Frosty) too much as he fell, caught at cover by Clarky off the bowling of Northy the next over. With this wicket, and the introduction of Sven, the run rate fell, and a decent battle between bat and ball ensued with neither side getting the upper hand.

The introductions of Si and Chalky swung this the bowler’s way however, as Dancey removed opener Lees, and the number 4 Wall in quick succession – rumour has it, the ball that removed Lees even spun a bit… Chalky got in on the act, removing King for a well-made 37, and from then the middle order started to come out swinging as the score seemed to be behind par. Chalky, profiting again, picking up a further two wickets to finish with 3-32, and Dancey another scalp to end with 3-21 from their 10 overs. The spinners could have ended with more had it not been for some less than average catching – a.k.a. drops.

Bryant (29), Bowring (21), and Snelling (13) all capitalised on some lax fielding to add some runs at the end, but a couple of runout ensured Rettendon were 181-10 in the 44th over giving us 46 overs to chase 182. We left the field in high spirits having chased successfully in the previous 4 weeks.

The Springfield innings got off to a decent start reaching 50-1 after 10 overs, and 80-1 after 20 overs with Colin Frost and Mani rebuilding after the early loss of JLJ. However, as with the Rettendon innings, the introduction of spin changed things dramatically. 80-1 quickly became 90-3 as Mani (24) and Frosty (35) fell in quick succession. Scoring soon became difficult with Spooner (2-27) and Simmons (1-24) bowling tightly and the batsmen seemingly unable to rotate the strike and / or hit out, constantly being made to play shots to their weaknesses. Luckily for Springfield, however, we were not losing wickets, and still required 50 runs from the final 10 with 6 wickets in hand, and the experience of Symonds at the crease.

With the senior spinners bowling out, Huntingdon turned to his 3rd and 4th choice spinners for the final 10. With the required run rate increasing, the batsmen still seemed unable to rotate the strike effectively, or get the boundaries when required, and when Symonds was caught on the boundary for 44, we needed 32 from 4 overs. Enter Matt “the finisher” Chalks. With Andy Ovel the two managed to keep getting the required boundary an over in order to set up a very tight final 6 deliveries. 13 from the final over became 3 from the final ball, but Carl Lees (2-18 from 5) held his nerve and Chalks could only dig a yorker out for a single to get the win for Rettendon by the narrowest of margins.

Overall, we were behind our expected standards in 2 out of the 3 disciplines with only the bowlers making a good account of themselves. Our fielding in general lacked energy with silly mistakes being made throughout giving away the odd runs here and there. Whilst it didn’t seem crucial at the time, I’m sure everyone can think of a way they could have saved one run. Our middle order batted in a disappointing manner (although maybe this is being unfair given the level of bowling) and were unable to keep the runs ticking (batsmen 5-7 scored 20 runs from 63 balls), and we were all put to shame by the ease at which Sven and Chalks scored their runs.

Rettendon Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
181 (43.1 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Springfield Cricket Club Saturday I Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Ben Marrion9.1040140.004.36
Dan Northfield4.0015115.003.75
Andy Ovel10.005900.005.90
Simon Dance10.002137.002.10
Matt Chalk10.0232310.673.20

Springfield Cricket Club Saturday I Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 13w 4b 2lb 
for 7 wickets
20
180		        
James Latimir-Jones Caught  6 1
Chris Frost Caught  35 6
Manpreet Singh Bowled  24 3 2 1
Jim Symonds Caught  44 4
James Clark Caught  8 1 1
Charlie Prudence Caught  8 1
Dan Northfield Bowled  5 1
Matt Chalk Not Out  20 1
Andy Ovel Not Out  11 1 1
Ben Marrion   1 1
Simon Dance  

Rettendon Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.