All Openers struggle on the Trampoline of Wimbledon, as Roehampton Bat just ever so slightly better than The Road and take the spoils in the first match of the London Premier League 2019 campaign.
The Vice Skip, Jamie Keats, gave Skipper Skip, Chris Brown, his mystical “Lucky Coin”. Lucky for the oppo, who duly put The Road into bat on a wicket that was a currently being rained on.
Chris MacNicol and Matt Small trudged out, the wicket glistening in moist sunshine. The plan clear: “SEE OFF THE OPENERS”. Ball number 1 – CMac yorked for a Diamond.
None of the top 5 fared well to be fair. The wicket was sprung from both ends, the ball flying through in the face of The Bats very tidy bowling. Adam Paterson, bowled. Matt Small, bowled.
Peter Jackson Eastwood cast his rod far and wide and even given the fact he’s 7ft8 managed to nick a SHORT BALL to 3rd slip. Yes, they had a 3rd slip. Daniel Sherman made a friend at Point (more of that later), but for all his tinkering at the crease, he came and left for 3. By this point, King’s Road were 32-5.
Time for a classic rescue job after drinks. Jamie Keats came out like a Bear possessed, clubbing off the front foot and defending on one knee. A brisk 19 was the ignition to the innings. Sam Castle and Andrew Day set about mopping up the innings, turning the tables on the Bats’ change bowlers, dragging The Road from the brink.
By the time Day turned to night, and Skipper Brown was at the crease, three figures was the light at the end of a long, long tunnel. Chris employed his favourite lofted On Drive to good effect, before he was bowled by Jake Kumar Shaw (who was fielding at Point, there’s call-backs coming).
2 in 2 for Kumar Shaw as Ali Tyzack does a lap of the stumps, and Michael Rossi sees off the hat-trick ball with all the confidence of a cat on a surfboard. The trusty number 11 hung around though for Mr Castle to get to 50* off the last ball of the innings. Batted, Sir. Kings Road 140-9 off our 35ov at Tea.
As important as cricket, The Road put on a top class spread for Teas, there were Cheese and Pickle Sandwiches, Home-Baked Bread, Saltfish Fritters, Mini-Sponges and a Millionaire Cheesecake. My word, we were carrying some extra weight into the field.
We’d have to bowl well to defend this, but we’d batted on the trampoline already. Things didn’t start well for Roehampton Bats either, as Snakey Tyzack and Skipper Brown set about clocking up their wickets tally.
A day of ducks for for both teams as Tyzack pegs Sam Nelson in front for 0. A Patz takes flight like his native kiwi, pouching a sharp chance at slip for Tyzack’s second, before El Capitan gets involved bowing Dan Webb for 0.
Spiiiiiinnnnnnn, as a freshly kebab-legged Rossi, sporting fine football shin-pads to protect his prime assets, is introduced and doing what he does best, taking a wicket in his first over.
Dawn of the Day, and Andy bowls a bit faster than the medium PJE says he bowls, rattling a couple of batsmen and picking up a brace. However The Road get stuck in the mire, dropping a number of chances, particularly off Alistair Maitland, who ended up not out on 44*
Now, remember Sherman’s friend at Point, Jake Kumar Shaw? Well, throughout Daniel’s innings he was chirping something indistinguishable in the field. Now, in centre stage with Sherman behind the stump, the chat was all in surround sound
Sam Castle runs into bowl, and Jake isn’t ready and pulls away. Fair enough. Sam is in his deliver stride and lets the ball go. Fair mistake. Jake dead bats the ball, then calls YES. Now, not sure this is on. And Sam lets him know it. Handbags ensue.
Not one to miss out on some banter, Sherman has some advice for Kumar Shaw, who also isn’t one to back down. “YOUR MUM” was mentioned a few times, a query about the handsomeness of girlfriends and/or wives was mentioned, ever a question around the legitimacy of children was said. Now now. It was all too much when they LITERALLY went head to head. There’s really something about Haydons Road.
Nevertheless, Jake had the last laugh, flaying the winning delivery over the top for 4 and Roehampton take the spoils in the first LPL match of the season, finishing on 143-8 off 32.5ovs. A fine find for the competition and wishing them well in their campaign (until we meet them again)
Full Scorecard: http://kingsroadcsc.play-cricket.com/website/results/4050262