Scorecard

Worlington II v Eight Ash Green Cricket Club Two Counties 1st XI (Saturday) on Sat 01 Aug 2015 at 13:00
Match was Tied

Match report It was a ridiculously long journey for the result.

The 1s set off in the hope of another victory to help with their promotion push, but faced a tricky away fixure at Worlington. The journey made Frodo's trek to Mount Doom look like he'd taken a Japanese Bullet train, but the team arrived and Ali decided to be tactical and have a cheeky bowl.

Oliver bowled beautifully. As did Mark. And that was very much the story for the first 18 overs as good lines and solid fielding kept them tied down to 37 off 18 overs before they lost their first wicket. After that, however, catches went down, and what was always a sound batting track proved it's worth as batsmen got in and started scoring freely.

It was only until skipper Ali Hammond came on to bowl his filthy no-balls that the flow of runs seem to stem slightly. Figures of 5-35 off 7 overs meant that the innings ended with Worlington on 225 for 8.

A strong chase was needed, and looked positive when Luke Keeble hit what was described as 'the shot of the day' through the covers early on off the most angry village cricketer. Quickly followed by the worst shot of the day, Keeble's departure meant that man of the moment Wayno joined Keith at the crease.

After some frustratingly well-timed shots hit fielders, the wickets kept falling, with Wayne and Rituccio failing to capitalise. With Keith still in the picture, there was always hope.

Oli Firmin tried to up the pace but struggled as 13 of his 15 scoring shots were singles, and the run-rate kept increasing. Ali Hammond came and had a crack, but swung at a straight one and was bowled cleanly.

It was getting nervy.

Ed Lambert-Clarke entered the fray, and followed the captain's example of swinging and getting bowled. Ali Hammond - an inspiration to some, the downfall of others.

But wait, Keith was still there. And he was now joined by Mark 'Boom Boom' Goodall. With a history of potent agricultural hitting ability, there was always hope. 76 needed from the last 5.

And we were not disappointed. Single, four, single, then boom! Out the ground. More of this hitting left the Green with a phenomenal 41 off the final 2 overs.

Goodall had a few things to say about that. Boom, Boom, Boom, and the target was narrowed to 17 from the final over.

Somewhere in all of this Keithy hit his 100 and bowed out with a brutally well-timed hit over a tree, to leave him so giddy he was run out next ball. This left Jamie Murray to come in with 8 needed to win off the last 2 balls.

Sensibly seeing that Mark was on a mad-one and probably fearing what explicit words would follow if he missed the ball, a single was taken to leave Mark with a simple equation. 6 to tie.

Boom.

The crowd went wild and the points were shared, but what an effort all round from all who played and for those who watched. A celebratory pub lunch was needed after a day of so many ups and downs.

Worlington II Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
3nb 4w 9b 7lb 
for 8 wickets
23
225 (45.0 overs)		     
B How ct  Hill Bowled Firmin 43
T Baugh ct  Murray Bowled Firmin 11
J Peachey ct  Hill Bowled A Hammond 78
I Roberts ct  and Bowled A Hammond 24
O Vaughan ct  Ax Hammond Bowled A Hammond 5
A Watson ct  Hill Bowled A Hammond 0
B Bowens Run out  19
C Manels st  A Hammond 13
S Lister Not Out  6
G Downey  
B Cole  

Eight Ash Green Cricket Club Two Counties 1st XI (Saturday) Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Mark Goodall15.044800.003.20
Oli Firmin15.0547223.503.13
Tom Aston3.002800.009.33
Alastair Hammond7.013557.005.00
Alex Hammond5.004800.009.60

Eight Ash Green Cricket Club Two Counties 1st XI (Saturday) Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 5w 7b 10lb 
for 7 wickets
23
225		        
Keith-Henry Hammond Run out  107
Luke Keeble lbw  Cole 6
Wayne Hill b  Mannells 0 3
Ritesh Bisoi ct  Watson 9
Oli Firmin b  Downey 19
Alastair Hammond b  Mannells 10
Ed Lambert-Clarke b  Mannells 0
Mark Goodall Not Out  40
Jamie Murray Not Out  1
Alex Hammond  
Tom Aston  

Worlington II Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Mannells15.0260320.004.00
Cole7.0117117.002.43
Watson10.0065165.006.50
Downey13.0264164.004.92