EMCC have to
fight Tooth and Nair for tough win
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|
Date: |
20th June 2009 |
Opponent:
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Roehampton Bats |
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Attendance: |
12 |
Result: |
Win by 38 runs |
|
Scores: |
EMCC: 177 for 8 (42
overs) Macintyre 48, Ash 37
RBCC: 139 all out (39
overs) Chapman 60, M Darke 3-12 |
EMCC secured
their sixth win of the season, in an absorbing (timed) match at
Gibraltar Rec.
It was the
inaugural fixture for the two teams, and Roehampton's decision to
bowl first soon looked vindicated as the excellent Tooth put
pressure on the Epsom top order. An intelligent and disciplined
opening spell (one run was scored off his first six overs), and some
terrific ground fielding (particularly from the athletic Nair) soon
saw EMCC reduced to 26 for 3.
Thankfully
for Epsom, they were fielding one of their strongest batting
line-ups of the season, and Rich Darke (24) and Chris Ash (37) went
about clawing them back into the game with a fifty-seven run fourth
wicket partnership. Ash looked in particularly good form, punishing
anything over-pitched on the leg side. He was disappointed to be
caught at slip thirteen runs shy of a half-ton.
After
another flurry of wickets Doug Macintyre (48), and Mark Johnson
(20) compiled a match-changing eighty run stand. Doug looked back to
his fluent best, driving fantastically and running intelligently
between the wickets to up the Epsom rate. He also looked set for a
half-century, but was bowled unselfishly looking to hit big in the
last over before tea.
While EMCC
were pleased to reach 177 after a sluggish start, with around forty
overs to bowl, it was still a chaseable total.
For the
second successive week, Paul Pennock went about restricting the
opposition top order with a tight opening spell. His three early
wickets included a gorgeous inswinging yorker to bowl Brad, and a
wonderful away swinger to see Evans caught behind (the skipper
deserves credit for walking on the faintest of possible nicks).
After those
three wickets Simon (25) and Chapman (60) compiled an excellent
partnership to bring Roehampton right into the game. The opener
Simon battled patiently, picking up runs on the off, while
Chapman punished anything short on his legs, and looked very
dangerous down the ground. When drinks were taken, the opposition
required 113 runs in twenty overs. A tense finish beckoned.
Simon was
dismissed shortly after the break, unfortunate to pick out the
tallest man on the field at mid off. Richard Darke's first catch of
the season was worth the wait, as he clung on left handed at full
stretch. A second wicket two balls later from Doug bought Phil to
the crease, and he and Chapman soon went after the Epsom attack,
knocking off thirty runs in three overs to tip the balance of the
game.
Skipper Mark
Johnson then bravely threw the ball to the elder Darke brothers to
try to spin EMCC back into the ascendancy. After Chapman had reached
a richly deserved fifty, Rich Darke trapped him in front. It proved
to be the decisive moment. Despite the dismissal of the danger man,
Roehampton commendably continued to chase the required five runs an
over. Phil (29) kept the win a possibility with some strong shots
off his legs, but three wickets in an excellent death spell from
Mike Darke saw the home team seal the win. There were only six overs
remaining.
This was an
excellent match played in great spirit. It was a shame that either
team had to lose, but it is testament to the slightly meaner streak
(albeit in a very polite way) that we've developed this season that
the win was squeezed out.
UNINTERESTING FACT OF THE DAY:
157 of
EMCC's runs came in three of their partnerships. S.Darke/
M.Yelland 20 (1st), R.Darke/ C. Ash 57 (4th), D. Macintyre/ M.
Johnson 80 (7th). The other partnerships were 2, 4, 3, 4, 4
and 3.
UNINTERESTING FACT OF THE DAY 2:
Rich
Darke had been in the field for 246 overs this season before he
took his first catch.