Match Report: Hyde Heath - 14th June

Hyde Heath CC v Southwell Ramblers CC – Sunday 14 June 2015
Result: SRCC lost by 72 runs

Grey skies hovered over much of the south-east on Sunday morning which carried with them a sense of foreboding that was apt given the usual strength of the side the Ramblers were up against. Hyde Heath always bring with them a steely competitiveness, several strong individuals and a wily skipper which makes them very hard to beat.
 

The Ramblers started poorly before a ball was even bowled, going into Sunday with only 10 men.  Hyde Heath kindly provided a ginger fella to make up the numbers called Gus, though this one dispensed with any self-reference to princeliness. Just as the Ramblers eyed up a contest with even numbers, Russ circulated an apologetic and deeply graphic email that suggested he had been up all night through a marathon innings of his own that yielded plenty of runs but sadly none that would count towards the Ramblers total. Russ was concerned that he was in possession of the new kit for many of the team but since it was Russ who had them there was no grounds for concern. Each member of the team had packed 3 spare sets just in case he forgot.

The Ramblers took the field and what appeared to be a pretty stodgy track with a large patch of mud in the middle and a slow outfield was in fact full of runs. Macca and David Fitt bowled well, pitching it up and always posing questions of the batsmen. The lefty looked in dreadful touch and with his timing set to Paris not GMT, spooned one tantalising in the air. The confluence of eager fielders left it to David who in turn stopped to leave it to the fielders. Groans all round.

A missed run out in the next over and suddenly the Hyde Heath openers smelt blood and started smoking the ball to all parts. Home knowledge played its part with full value on offer for aggressive strokeplay. One such full blooded drive was hit hard back at chest height to David who got a good hand to the ball but sadly it left him with bad one. A dislocated finger was one outcome, the other was a trip to A&E and suddenly the Ramblers were staring at playing the rest of the match with 9 men, on the wrong end of 100 odd for 0, although Heath graciously supplied another fielder.  

A change of bowling at both ends had the desired effect. The lefty chipped a half volley to Jim at square leg before Hyde Heath’s reputed danger man, fresh from 150 not out the week before, succumbed to a ball that was probably in the high 80s mph and must have swung in at least a foot to bowl him clean. The next batsman looked pretty agricultural and before long was ploughing a lonely furrow back to the pavilion; Heath were 115 for 3 and the Ramblers tails were up. Jim Owen the man with the wicket which was just rewards in what was a really good spell that contained a good mix of spin, flight and changes of pace.

Sadly this was as good as it got for the Ramblers in the field with the next pair putting on lot or runs, the opener reaching 3 figures and the number 5 batting with some real class to make an unbeaten 50. When tea came the Ramblers had been set 250 and in a time game it meant well under 40 overs to do it in. Credit must be given to Dave Bosomworth who must have saved 20 runs through committed out-fielding and will be praying that Russ brings the new kit to the next match. 

Out they went for the second innings and Hyde Heath immediately took the initiative with Tiny being clean bowled in the second over to one that moved off the pitch. Dan Scrase and Ali Turner didn’t flinch though and a fantastic stand of about 90 runs in quick time meant that the Ramblers really started to believe. Both players were punishing the bad ball well in a partnership that contained 4 maximums despite taking few risks and or offering many chances; the chase was on. Two quick wickets ensued however and to make matters worse it wasn’t just the momentum that was broken. Ali’s splendid new bat came a cropper as the ball looped off the outside edge to gulley and he was out for a promising 32. Dan was bowled for 63 with the score on 104 the 20 over countdown having just begun with about 8 an over needed. 

The rate soon jumped to nearly 9 as Mac and Jaggers both scratched around at the crease searching for form. The shackles were lifted soon afterwards when Mac unleashed a stunning slog sweep and cover drive in an over which yielded 14 runs. Mac played over an off stump Yorker and the Ramblers were 130 for 4. Jaggard started to get his eye in with a back foot drive and a flick off the legs the Ramblers  were on 166 odd for 4 and staying in touch of the run rate. 

The opening bowler then came back on for the definitive spell which more than anything demonstrated just how well Scrasey and Ali T played. Dave B hit a few lusty blows but soon succumbed to accurate, pacing bowling aimed at the batsmen’s toes. When Jim Owen came to the crease Jaggard was convinced the win was still on and played some pretty horrid shots, forgetting that the draw was an option. It was pretty academic because he chipped a ball in the next over to mid-on and it was left to Jim, Barlow and Angus to try and save the day against some high quality bowling which with well over 10 overs to go was always going to be a big ask. The Ramblers ended up reaching 177, rueing another game against Hyde Heath that got away from them.

Dan Scrase was a deserving Man of the Match for an excellent, standout 63.

JJ

Toss: Won by Hyde Heath

Yellow: Dan Scrase: 63 runs

Top 3 Batsmen: Scrase 63, Turner 32, Jaggard 30 
Top 3 Bowlers: Jaggard 2-49 (8.4 overs), Helby 1-14 (2 overs), Owen 1-58 (11 overs)
 
Team in batting order:
Dan Scrase, Tim Powell, Ali Turner (c),  Ali Macleod-Smith,  Jamie Jaggard,  Jim Owen, Dave Bosomworth, James Helby,  Angus Robertson, David Fitt (absent injured)