Scorecard

CF Mini-league (vs Met Office) v Erratics Cricket Club Erratics on Thu 03 Aug 2017 at 6.00pm
Erratics Cricket Club Won by 59 runs

Match report After three games cancelled on the trot, every Erratic set to play this Thursday would have breathed a deep sigh of relief to witness the sun shining throughout the day. However, I doubt even the sunniest of August days was going to dry out a somewhat spongy ground as we arrived for this must-win fixture against the Met Office.

Looking out at the pitch, you could well have thought we were playing on an artificial pitch as the grass appeared lush and plentiful, surely offering plenty of assistance for the bowlers. After the toss, openers Krupakar and Bennett-Hughes padded up to go and try to combat everything the pitch (and bowlers) had to offer. Ian Lisk started with the new ball; what followed was an immaculately tidy spell of consistent swing bowling which limited the batsmen’s scoring options.

Afterwards, Krupakar hit a quick-fire, boundary-laced 31 before having to retire, giving way to Danny Williamson. Bennett-Hughes’ innings had been a somewhat sluggish affair after some tight fielding from the Met Office, but Williamson and his penchant for aggressive running injected some much-needed urgency into the innings, albeit at the expense of their well-being. Eventually, the need to get hard-hitting batsmen Wright into the middle led to, after a grand total of 16 overs, some boundaries from Bennett-Hughes followed by a run-out. Williamson selflessly ran most of his innings, however a lovely sweep for four featured, but he was judged lbw which brought the hard-hitters to the crease.

Wright needed no time to get his eye in, with an impressive and imperious display as he hit three sixes and a four before shortly retiring for 30, with a single of all things! Walding, though, was sadly run out before being able to exhibit his favoured slog-sweep for none. After Wright’s retirement, there were only a few balls left for Oughton and Crawford to make their mark. After some confusion between the two, Gareth was reprieved of a run-out by some commendable and gentlemanly fielding.

A comfortable total of 119 was there to be defended by the bowlers, now that it was their time to shine. Oughton was caught metaphorically salivating over the seam-ingly (apologies…) bowler-friendly wicket. And bowler-friendly it was. Opening pair Oughton and Walding demonstrated excellent control throughout their three overs. Only a single run and two maidens, and a wicket from Oughton’s penultimate swansong (for now, at least) twinned with Walding’s similarly economical spell, resulting in two well-deserved wickets from his favoured end down the hill. Although, no-one noticed Walding’s first wicket, as the ball barely kissed the bail before it toppled off inconspicuously.

Fantastic opening spells were backed up by Krupakar and Hailwood. Krupakar made superb use of his slower ball to pick up two wickets along the way as Mark forced several mistakes from the batsmen which sadly fell between fielders. Some guile and drift from the spin of Power induced similar mistakes which earned him, again, two wickets and it was from this moment that victory was all but sealed. Crawford was introduced and consistently had everyone else on edge as his deliveries drifted past the batsmen’s bat, each looking like a wicket was looming. Bennett-Hughes and Youngman finished off. Youngman, when he wasn’t bowling to Lisk jr. (little in stature, but not in enthusiasm and heart), looked dangerous as well. The younger of the Lisk pair, even though it was his first game, didn’t fear charging down the wicket and held off until the final delivery.

The must-win was won, and the Erratics will now feature in the Cheriton Fitzpaine finals day next Sunday against favourites Newton St. Cyres. So, whatever the result, we have finally managed to shirk a T20 losing streak with a thoroughly enjoyable performance from everyone.

Tom Bennett-Hughes

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 3 wickets
0
119		        
Tom Bennett-Hughes Run out  27 1 1 1
Jayakrupakar Nallala Retired Not Out  31 5 1 1
Danny Williamson Lbw  18 1
Martin Wright Retired Not Out  30 1 3
Nick Walding Run out  0
Matt Crawford Not Out  1
Gareth Oughton Not Out  0
Mark Hailwood  
Phil Power  
Sivaraman Subramanian  
Ben Youngman  

CF Mini-league (vs Met Office) Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Ian Lisk3.01400.001.33
Perry3.001700.005.67
Huggett3.001200.004.00
Elms3.001500.005.00
Donnellow3.002400.008.00
Mitchell2.001000.005.00
Jones2.002200.0011.00
Barrett1.0015115.0015.00

CF Mini-league (vs Met Office) Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 9 wickets
0
60 (20.0 overs)		     
Mitchell b Walding 0
Jones b Oughton 2
Barrett b Power 14
Langston b Walding 0
Webster b Power 9
Huggett b Bennett-Hughes 7
Perry ct Bennett-Hughes b. Krupakar 7
Dunelow b Krupakar 2
Elms Run out  4
Ian Lisk Not Out  2
A Lisk Not Out  3

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Gareth Oughton3.02111.000.33
Nick Walding3.01824.002.67
Mark Hailwood2.00900.004.50
Phil Power3.001427.004.67
Jayakrupakar Nallala2.00623.003.00
Matt Crawford2.00900.004.50
Tom Bennett-Hughes3.00414.001.33
Ben Youngman2.00300.001.50