Date:
23rd May 2009
Opponent:
Kingston Methodists
Attendance:
24
Result:
Lose by 59 runs
Scores:
KMCC: 218 for 8 (40 overs) Ritchie 70, G Morris 2-28
EMCC 159 all out (38.5 overs) M Johnson 57, Hart 3-23
EMCC’s unbeaten record was bought to an end, but the team can hold their heads high after a spirited performance against strong opposition.
Fielding first for the third successive game, Yelland and Pennock again took early wickets to leave the opposition 42-3. The undoubted highlight of the early dismissals - and probably the match itself - was a stunning left-handed catch from Mike Darke. M Hayden’s kitchen-sink cut off the bowling of Jim Yelland was worthy of his namesake, but Mike somehow managed to dive full length, and grasp the ball just centimetres from the ground.
Unfortunately, the catch bought the almost anagrammatical Ritchie and Tricher together at the crease, and it was their fourth wicket partnership of 113 that proved decisive. Ritchie’s assured knock of 70 was almost chanceless, before Steve Darke plucked a difficult opportunity on the leg-side boundary. Tricher soon followed to give the impressive Geoff Morris his first wicket of the afternoon.
If Epsom could have broken the partnership four or five overs earlier, it might have made the difference, but despite some tight death bowling from Morris, McIntyre and Richard Darke, the lusty late blows of Harry and Alder took the visitors to a chaseable, but daunting score of 218.
The total was made to look even more daunting by the unerring accuracy of Kingston’s opening bowlers, Fells and Harry. Steve Darke was dismissed without scoring, before Mike Darke (10) and the returning Chris Ash (18) began chipping away at the target. Wickets soon fell however, and it took an excellent knock from EMCC’s calm-headed captain to steady the ship. Mark Johnson found gaps in the field, and ran between the wickets cleverly, to secure his first fifty of the season.
When Mark was joined at the crease by Paul Briggs, an unlikely Epsom victory became a possibility. Briggsy’s quick fire 22 runs from 28 balls may not have been his highest club score, but was probably his most impressive innings in an EMCC shirt (his back foot push through the covers was undoubtedly his best ever shot, and the champagne moment of our batting exploits). With Paul’s dismissal however went Epsom’s hopes, as (despite some late boundaries from Paul Pennock and Jim Yelland,) the required run rate steadily increased.
Missing our two previously highest averaging batsmen, it was a determined effort from an improving Epsom outfit. The team will look to return to winning ways in a tricky trip to Old Dorkinians next week.
Uninteresting fact of the day:
The last time an opposition team scored in the two-hundred-and-teens against EMCC was on the 26th May 2007 (Burgh Heath 213-3). That afternoon, Shrewsbury lost the League Two Play-Off final to Bristol Rovers. This year, Kingston Methodists scored 218-8, and Shrewsbury again missed out in the League Two Play-Off Final, losing 1-0 to Gillingham.
Something a lot more exciting:
Colin ‘the crab’ Smith married his fiancée Fiona on Saturday afternoon. Everyone at EMCC would like to wish them a long and happy future together.
And something else exciting: Mr and Mrs John Rivenell have introduced a new honorary member to EMCC. Gemma Anne was born last Monday, weighing 7lbs 9oz. Congratulations from everyone at the club!
