A black tie and blacker clouds
Headley 236 for 9 (Rollings 3-35, Knapp 2-55, Chase 2-58) drew with Old Cranleighans 102 for 3 (Chase 36*)
Click here for match photos
Click here for Headley's match report
Despite drizzle which brought an early end and consigned a match which was evenly balanced to a draw, the OC Veterans had an enjoyable day out at Headley.
Boosted by two or three younger players - including one who played throughout in a DJ – our pre-match concerns about the weakness of our bowling attack were eased by the evergreen Peter Rollings. His son opens the attack for the School and the trim Rollings senior borrowed his trousers for the day and turned back the clock with a virtuoso display which came to an abrupt end when he pulled up lame after being smacked into the woods. By then he had removed the top three in the Headley order and showed enough pace to cause more than a few hurried strokes
He was replaced by David Knapp in his first outing since 1985 and he proceeded to take two wickets – both bowled – in as many balls. Sadly either side of those pearls there was quite a bit of swill, but he more than made up for that with puppyish fielding in the deep.
Damian Hill – our one fully-firing young gun – had opened with Rollings but failed to take a wicket and was replaced by Mike Chase. Chasey had an eventful day when he finally turned up. His first act was to take a stunning catch at first slip despite the best efforts of a flapping Rob Merry to put him off. His last was an equally impressive running over-the-shoulder catch off Steve Bailey. In between he bowled.
He came on as Mitch Pickering arrived in the middle. Two years ago young Pickering smashed our bowling – mainly Henry Watkinson’s actually – for a 33-ball hundred. His main, almost singular, stroke is a brutally effective smite over midwicket, so armed with this information a plan was hatched for Chase to bowl moonballs outside off stump. Five times the ball went high, five times Pickering swished and missed by a mile. Once Merry whipped off the bails but the ball had such little pace that Pickering had time to fall over and still scramble back. The sixth ball was the killer. A little less flight, the guile of half a century. Pickering limply chipped back to Chase. Who dropped it.
To the undisguised amusement of Pickering's team-mates in the pavilion this battle continued for several overs. Once or twice the ball went AWOL in the woods. When presented with a replacement after a Knapp beamer had been heaved halfway to Dorking, Chasey told the umpire it was unacceptable and marched into the pavilion before re-emerging with two of his own which were more to his liking. He later – unsuccessfully - tried to gain exemption from his match fee claiming he had provided the spare balls. He did gain two deserved late wickets to keep him smiling.
At the other end Bailey took a wicket with his second ball and finished his first over with 1 for 1. Three balls later, when the declaration came, he had 1 for 12. He also took a skied hit from Pickering which was in the air forever. His desperate call of “yours” only resulted in those OCs within hearing range to move ever so subtly away from him.
Nigel Radbourne took a wicket in his first over, while the welcome return of his brother Richard, who positively thrived on jogging to long leg at both ends, ended with a loud twang from his upper leg which confined him to first slip for the rest of the innings.
Set 237 and with plenty of time to get them, we opened with Hill and Tristan Rosenfeldt. As part of his Twenty Twelve Century of Challenges Headley had kindly agreed to allow Rosenfeldt to play the entire day in his DJ. With rainclouds gathering, he had to open for full comedy effect. He played one or two nice over-the-top strokes before Headley’s opening bowler found his Achilles heel – the fast straight one.
Hill looked rusty, but Merry started breezily before chipping to cover, angry at not only his shot but also because not one person on the opposition had thought to suggest he looked too young to be a veteran. Bailey came and went, bowled while still gasping for air after Hill had lapped him running a three.
Chase strode to the middle as the drizzle started and unleashed a series of cracking drives, encouraging Hill to finally find second gear himself. But the ball started getting greasy and two inadvertent beamers caused the players to head off. The decision proved sensible as within 15 minutes the heavens had opened.
A good day out – as always at Headley – and a pitch which was a real credit to the groundsman given all the rain in the days before. It was also good to see our old friend Richard Pollitt down to support his son – playing for Headley - and his contemporaries. Our best wishes go out to him.
Click here for match photos
Click here for Headley's match report
 |
| Tristan Rosenfeldt's back tie day comes to an end |
Boosted by two or three younger players - including one who played throughout in a DJ – our pre-match concerns about the weakness of our bowling attack were eased by the evergreen Peter Rollings. His son opens the attack for the School and the trim Rollings senior borrowed his trousers for the day and turned back the clock with a virtuoso display which came to an abrupt end when he pulled up lame after being smacked into the woods. By then he had removed the top three in the Headley order and showed enough pace to cause more than a few hurried strokes
He was replaced by David Knapp in his first outing since 1985 and he proceeded to take two wickets – both bowled – in as many balls. Sadly either side of those pearls there was quite a bit of swill, but he more than made up for that with puppyish fielding in the deep.
Damian Hill – our one fully-firing young gun – had opened with Rollings but failed to take a wicket and was replaced by Mike Chase. Chasey had an eventful day when he finally turned up. His first act was to take a stunning catch at first slip despite the best efforts of a flapping Rob Merry to put him off. His last was an equally impressive running over-the-shoulder catch off Steve Bailey. In between he bowled.
He came on as Mitch Pickering arrived in the middle. Two years ago young Pickering smashed our bowling – mainly Henry Watkinson’s actually – for a 33-ball hundred. His main, almost singular, stroke is a brutally effective smite over midwicket, so armed with this information a plan was hatched for Chase to bowl moonballs outside off stump. Five times the ball went high, five times Pickering swished and missed by a mile. Once Merry whipped off the bails but the ball had such little pace that Pickering had time to fall over and still scramble back. The sixth ball was the killer. A little less flight, the guile of half a century. Pickering limply chipped back to Chase. Who dropped it.
To the undisguised amusement of Pickering's team-mates in the pavilion this battle continued for several overs. Once or twice the ball went AWOL in the woods. When presented with a replacement after a Knapp beamer had been heaved halfway to Dorking, Chasey told the umpire it was unacceptable and marched into the pavilion before re-emerging with two of his own which were more to his liking. He later – unsuccessfully - tried to gain exemption from his match fee claiming he had provided the spare balls. He did gain two deserved late wickets to keep him smiling.
At the other end Bailey took a wicket with his second ball and finished his first over with 1 for 1. Three balls later, when the declaration came, he had 1 for 12. He also took a skied hit from Pickering which was in the air forever. His desperate call of “yours” only resulted in those OCs within hearing range to move ever so subtly away from him.
Nigel Radbourne took a wicket in his first over, while the welcome return of his brother Richard, who positively thrived on jogging to long leg at both ends, ended with a loud twang from his upper leg which confined him to first slip for the rest of the innings.
Set 237 and with plenty of time to get them, we opened with Hill and Tristan Rosenfeldt. As part of his Twenty Twelve Century of Challenges Headley had kindly agreed to allow Rosenfeldt to play the entire day in his DJ. With rainclouds gathering, he had to open for full comedy effect. He played one or two nice over-the-top strokes before Headley’s opening bowler found his Achilles heel – the fast straight one.
Hill looked rusty, but Merry started breezily before chipping to cover, angry at not only his shot but also because not one person on the opposition had thought to suggest he looked too young to be a veteran. Bailey came and went, bowled while still gasping for air after Hill had lapped him running a three.
Chase strode to the middle as the drizzle started and unleashed a series of cracking drives, encouraging Hill to finally find second gear himself. But the ball started getting greasy and two inadvertent beamers caused the players to head off. The decision proved sensible as within 15 minutes the heavens had opened.
A good day out – as always at Headley – and a pitch which was a real credit to the groundsman given all the rain in the days before. It was also good to see our old friend Richard Pollitt down to support his son – playing for Headley - and his contemporaries. Our best wishes go out to him.
 |
| A fine bunch |
posted by Admin at
14:47
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home