1st XI
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Sat 22 Jun 2019  ·  1st XI Division 3
Ewhurst CC - 1st XI
67
75
Roehampton Cricket Club
1st XI
20 wickets - 142 runs

20 wickets - 142 runs

Josh Bloom24 Jun 2019 - 19:54
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1s somehow defend 75 to win

I’ve seen some strange games for the 1st XI side in the past years but this game was the strangest of all. After this, I truly believe anything is possible.

Ewhurst away was the fixture and the longest drive to the location so far in the league for us, we arrived to a picturesque ground with a really good looking wicket after a few days of sun.

Talk was to bat first and this time with all the hope in my heart, I finally won the toss and elected to bat (it was a strange day indeed - Ed). Phil and Harry went to the middle and Harry returned back very quickly, JP followed suite. Max and Phil tried to calm things down and bring normality to our RCC batting line up only for Max to loop it to short mid wicket and Phil giving it away leaving us on 22/4. Harry went in and came back quickly too leaving me rushing to put my pads on. Joe and I once again tried to steady the ship but that didn’t last long as Joe gifted their opening bowler the easiest 5 fer he will ever get. In fairness to Ewhurst they caught everything in their sight.

Ron and I then tried to calm things down but the accurate bowling from their first changes from both ends put pressure on us and Ron crumbled too. ‘Never seen before blocking Mo' tried doing what Ron did for a bit but didn’t last long too whilst me on the other side was seeing a maiden after maiden. I fell to a long 76 ball inning for not that many. Umer and Jonno, our last pair put on 13 between them which all belonged to big Bear Umer, a single and 2 sixes saw our innings finish on 75 all out.

As I was changing to put my keeping gear on, I was thinking if this was going to be the most hardest loss to ever take for me, everyone around me sounded positive apart from myself.

Max and I had a quick chat and I wondered if it’s worth taking the old ball and my man Max called it correct as he has throughout the season, new ball for Mo and Umer gave us a dream start, after 4 overs of some great line and length bowling, the oppo were left at 1/3, I was as stunned as they were. Belief kicked in as the 4th wicket went down, 17/4. Ewhurst skipper then came in and played some shots and took them to tea at 33/4.

Straight after tea, we got another wicket and once again we started making inroads to the tail. JP, Ron with a 2 over spell and Max gave the batsman some serious difficulties to make runs but our fielding as usual was on point and took some great catches when it really mattered.

The scoreboard was still slowly ticking as wickets were being taken too, it started becoming nervy for both teams when it got to 52/7, 2 quick wickets and we started seeing the 20 points in sight. The last pair batted quite sensibly until we decided to make a quick change and brought back the Sialkot express Mo to take the winning wicket for us, Ewhurst 67 all out.

Scenes as we celebrated a win which I never believed we could do it, unbelievable stuff and the strangest win I have been involved in, one that will live with me for a very long time. Mo and JP got 3 wickets each and Umer and Max finished with 2 each.

Back at the clubhouse after an hours drive only to find Mods on the BBQ duties signed the day off nicely for us.

Man of the Match: Mo Mo Saleem

Match details

Match date

Sat 22 Jun 2019

Kickoff

13:00

Competition

1st XI Division 3
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