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Sat 2 August 2008 Aldenham vs Rivets
Reporter: Robin Tavere Russell
The dank drizzle settled against the windscreen en route to the club like wind against a sail, the miserable weather having been relentless all morning and entirely "un-cricket". The frustration in the teams was almost tangible as the Parish sat in the pavilion waiting for a clearing in the cloud cover (several false calls from Matt Bazeley worthy of note).
The game eventually got underway more than half an hour late. "Skip" Morgan - predictably enough - lost the toss and the Parish found themselves attempting to set a worthwhile target on a wet pitch, on which the ball was likely to do all sorts. Tavare (off the mark with an inside edge after 22 balls) and Bazeley went about the task gamely enough, the latter getting into his groove with a couple of authorative pulls over midwicket. Despite predictions, no further rain was forthcoming and the opening pair eventually looked comfortable against the pair of Rivets left arm seamers - even Tav was getting it off the square occasionally, a straight drive along the ground for 4 being particularly satisfying. A Flat six from Bazeley brought up his second hundred of the season, and a scintillating one at that. Rustler meanwhile had faithfully kept to his traditional role of anchor (with a capital A) until he succumbed to an ill judged swipe outside the off stump, edging straight to gully for 29. A quickfire thrash from Chris Munroe (23) added vital runs on a rapidly quickening outfield, until both he and Bazeley contrived to get themselves castled whilst going for big shots back over the bowlers head. Skip (46*) himself also got in on the act in a big way, hammering two particularly large sixes into the cornfield, and (somewhat less impressively) jug avoiding with a scuffed attempt at another maximum, trotting a single instead and declaring at the end of the over with the score on 253/3.
Tea was a shoo-in for tea of the year (new award to be created, anyone?) from Munroe-Pierre White (Chris), catering for all sorts, be they uncomplicated meat scoffing thickies, cream tea and tart nibbling gentry, or (heaven forbid) vegetarians. Not many parishoners felt like taking to the field after this, suspecting that this may well be a high point of the afternoon - unfortunately our total would not defend itself, so out we had to go.
Sen and Charlie set about their task with the customary zeal, but despite their efforts honours remained even for the opening spells - every wicket or chance that befell Aldenham was more or less negated by the fact that the outfield had dried and quickened to such an extent that any shot that penetrated the infield would likely speed to the boundary. As has happened so often in the past, the scales were tipped in Aldenham's favour by the introductions of Morgan and HtO (Colin) to the attack. Despite the pace and penetration of yesteryear now apparently gone, Skip has nevertheless retained the accuracy and innate ability to make the batsman play. The long run came and went in the space of four balls, clearly having been made a sacraficial lamb in exchange for his earlier cavalier innings. HtO was also on the money, inducing a skier (well caught Karan) from the first of Rivet's three musketeers (make that three slap-happy batsmen of Asian descent) which was almost dropped, due to the first of the day's three "Knobhead Moments" - Charlie shouting "Sen's!" even though Karan was directly beneath the ball with his hands ready.
The second "Knobhead Moment" of the day came a couple of overs later when musketeer no.2 skied another well flighted HtO delivery towards long on. Charlie again (although correctly this time) called the fielders name, and Chris Munroe came running in to take it. No worries, we all thought... until it was noticed that Mayuren "Juggles" Bala was running in too. Eventually neither fielder took charge, and the ball hit the ground with a sickening thud of disappointment to the consternation of all. The final "Knobhead Moment" arrived within another couple of overs when Tavare found himself guilty of woefully poor positioning and turned what should have been a bread and butter catch into four runs. These indiscretions perhaps denied the Parish a comprehensive win - Rivets were left on 108/8, and we were ultimately left wondering what could, nay, should have been.
Man of the Match: An obvious one here - Matt Bazeley deftly negotiated the difficult early conditions, eventually hitting a sublime 117. Quote of the day: "For **** sake!!!" - a world weary Colin Hewett rues yet another dropped catch off his bowling.
For more reports for the 2008 Season please click here