Cumnor Challengers 245-4 (Lux 67, Lee 50, Jerry 2-40) vs Plastics XI 202 all out (Alex 71, Mark 28, Rishi 4-40ish)
A record-breaking batting performance wasn’t enough for the Plastics to chase down the (probably) record-breaking target set by Cumnor Challengers. Communication and Uber issues meant that the Plastics arrived late, with the captain later still. Undeterred Mark, as vice-captain, lost the toss on Charlie’s behalf. This didn’t sit well with the squad, mutterings began which suggested that the VC should be the club's highest run scorer, or if he isn’t available, net champion. This will surely be actioned at the next AGM. The 30-over affair began promptly at 13:34. Jerry opened the bowling from the football pitch end, bowling with impressive pace and generating exciting bounce. He was pumped, bowling as if he had been listening to Eye of the Tiger on repeat for the past 3 hours. He grabbed an early wicket from a bouncer bottom edged onto the stumps by the batsman. This proved to be a bad decision as it brought in the next, better batsman - Lux. In the meantime, Jamie was bowling accurately and left handedly from the Tractor End, opening with a maiden and finishing his 3 over spell in economical fashion. Both could have got more wickets, had the catching from debutant James Heis or the calling between ‘Not Mine’ Robert, Peter and a third player been better. Maithri and Peter (Bish) came on as 1st and 2nd change bowlers and kept it tight for the next 4 overs, meaning that after 10 overs Cumnor were on a solid, but unspectacular 58(ish)-0. The Plastics players were then fed squash by the opposition, this proved to be the turning point in the game. The (alleged) ecstasy laced in the squash caused Pete (Bish) to bowl an 11-ball over, followed by a 9-ball over. A player who usually bowls with the accuracy of Glenn McGrath was bowling with the accuracy of Glenn McGrath - but whose arms had been replaced with those of a tortoise. Simon got a wicket with his first ball - an apparent slower ball, but the fielding from that point deteriorated further, even for the Plastics. This 10-over period went at over 10 runs per over. Things could have improved had a certain LBW been given following an outstanding ball from Charlie, but it wasn’t to be. Drinks were taken, a period of reflection was required. In the last 10, Cumnor looked to up the run rate further. But impressive bowling from Jerry, Jamie and Maithri (who together, in the match, conceded just 105 runs from their 18 overs) limited this. Jamie pulled off an impressive catch to help Maithri to a wicket, while Jerry questionably got Lux caught behind - perhaps the umpire’s attempt to make up for his earlier mistake. The last 10 overs went at around 8 an over, meaning a steep target of 246 was set. The players went to lunch. Football was on, food was out - what wasn’t to like? The cricket then restarted. Peter and Robert opened for Plastics - their aim to take the shine off the new ball and get some early runs on the board. Peter and Robert started brightly against Cumnor’s best bowlers before the runs started to dry up a little. Peter got out for 11 of 21 balls, bowled in the 7th over, trying to push for faster runs. When Alex came out to bat the score was 18-0 off 7 overs. The Plastics needed to go at 10 an over for the next 23. Robert (12 off 31 balls) started to try to hit the cover off the ball, but too, got bowled by a good one. James Heis, a ringer, then came out to bat. Fresh from not playing cricket for the last 3 years, he looked in excellent touch - stroking 3 glorious fours through the off-side. Alex too had started to hit the ball well, with a number of above-waist no balls being slogged for six. An impressive partnership had been formed, even the running between the wickets was good! These two scored 70 runs from their 7 over partnership, before James (20 off 16) was cruelly bowled by a good ball. The non-striker was partly to blame, stating incorrectly the bowler was a leg-spinner. In fact, he was a leg-spinner who sometimes bowls off spin. Mark came in and helped to continue the momentum of the previous partnership, stroking four 4s and a fantastic 6 on the offside. Soon after, Alex (71 of 47 balls) got out caught and bowled. This was largely due to overconfidence caused by a successful off-side shot earlier in the game. Mark soon followed, getting caught in the deep. This was despite hearing Lux state he was going to go to deep mid-off as he expected Mark (28 off 21 balls) to hit a catch there. When Mark was out with 7 overs left, 75 runs were required. Despite cameos from Charlie, who hit a quick fire 15 off 11, Jerry Jerry Jerry Jamieson (who scooped every other ball in his 12 of 8 balls), and Maithri (9 off 9 balls) the scorecard pressure resulted in too many wickets. The Plastics achieved 202 all out. This was a record-breaking batting performance in a number of ways:
It was therefore an admiral performance, just not a winning one.
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THE TEAMFormed from a collection of players who met on the internet via social cricket at Archbishop's Park, Plastics XI represents the foolhardy members of that group who decided they wanted a bash at proper cricket instead of playing with plastic balls. The team's ability is best described as "weak-weak". Luckily, our social media game is much stronger. Find us on: Archives
October 2021
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