Scorecard

Old Parkonians v Ongar Cricket Club Saturday 2nd XI on Sat 30 Aug 2008 at 1.00
Match was Drawn

Match report Upon arriving at the ground the early consensus was that batting first was the way to go on the hard beige (well compared to Epping the week before) pitch. Therefore Tom promptly called heads and lost and so Old Parks had first use of the wicket.

They justified the decision and made good use of the pitch with the affable F Yusaf and his son quickly racking up the runs. They weren't entirely without risk however with Yusaf junior playing and missing repeatedly at Ellis, and when he wasn't missing he demonstrated that his bat has a very good edge. The runs flowed however with the short boundaries and hard outfield giving full value to most attacking shots.

With Rob swinging the new ball but not finding the control he craved he was the first to be changed with Rupert taking the ball from the football pitch end. At the other end Peter was toiling and very unusually failed to take a wicket.

Rupert made the first breakthrough inducing F Yusaf to chip one to Rob at square leg for his first catch in Ongar colours while Rupert celebrated his first wicket for Ongar.

Paul Gill replaced Peter at the other end and was unlucky to see a chance go down in the outfield. Rob's catch and Tom Hartington's all action ground fielding excepted Ongar's fielding was a little scrappy at this stage and it took an unlikely source to turn things round. That source was none other than Nelly who had found himslf down at long off. With Old Park's number 3 targetting the straight boundaries Paul had come in for some stick but when on 11 Singh tried a big shot that wasn't big enough and the ball went high to Nelly. A stunning catch it was not as Nelly fell backwards clutching the ball to his stomach and banged his head. It took fully a minute to convince Singh that Nelly had held the catch such was the ungainly fall that accompanied the catch.

Old Parks number 4 didn't look comfortable against Pauls medium pacers and was turned inside out on several occasions. It wasn't to last and he chipped one back to Paul for a deserved caught & bowled.

Rupert had a great spell of accurate bowling and followed it up with a second wicket and had F Yusaf smartly caught over his shoulder by Rob running back from mid on leaving both Yusaf openers Ct Fisher Blwd Reed (one to confuse Mr Vandome at the results centre). Paul took his third wicket with a good catch by Tom at long on. Old Parks put this behind them with a late flurry of runs to declare on 249 for 5 off 36 overs.

It this stage tea would normaly be taken but due to the late arrival of the tea lady tea became supper and Ongar were quickly out to the wicket.

With Powelly due to leave at 5 in search of a big fare for a trip from Gatwick he was back in his familar opening position albeit with the unfamilar pinch hitting role. This suited Ongar, who after 4 games unbeaten and some disciplined and resilliant batting displays in recent weeks were up for the run chase.

Tom went quickly however as his recent good form lead to a little too much confidence as he miscued a pull and was caught at square leg for just 4. Batting coach Powelly went next after what was a encouraging start to his pinch hitting role (we saw him unfurl all kinds of shots that he often keeps hidden in his locker). Ongar were soon left at 19 for 2, a situation that earlier in the season would have soon lead to an early beer in the pavilion. These days however the two's are made of sterner stuff and Peter, promoted to number 3 after a heated dressing room debate revelled in his new role.

The hugely promising Jamie "Broady" Watson was in at four and for once failed to trouble the scorers as the ball flicked off his pad and rather unfortunately took middle stump. Another promising junior 'Textbook' Tom Hartington was in at 5 and kept Peter company with a dogged and determined display of disciplined defensive shots (a little aliteration for you there). Peter kept the runs flowing and was particularly brutual on anything short, marmalising the ball to the midwicket boundary on several occaisions.

After a lovely innings that had got the opposition and Ongars travelling support purring with admiration Tom H departed for 14 as he chipped one to Square leg.

This brought the rapidly improving Samuel Sweeting to the crease and he continued to give Peter the same stoic support that Tom H had provided. Peter reached his 50 with the last ball before the 20 over mark (a landmark that was missed by the scorers who decided to clap Peters 52 instead).

Sensing that Ongar were crusing to the draw that would leave them 5 games unbeaten the Old PArks skipper Thorpe brought himself on to bowl. It proved an inspired move as he got one to cut back sharply as Peter made room to cut through the offside and so Peter was bowled for a pleasant 62, his best of the season.

Big Rob Fisher was next in and with the best part of 20 overs remaing had plently of time to force himself further up the batting order for next week. At this Stage Ongars targets were mixed - batting out for a draw would leave the satisfaction of being unbeaten but points are important and the team needs to get into the habit of picking up more when drawing or even losing.

Rob and Sam found the right mix between defence and attack as both played themsleves in and started to add the big shots. Sam found value through the legside with his trademark lofted on drive but also treated the crowd to a sweetly timed on drive that will live long in the memory. Rob favoured the off side and was particulary brutual on the spinners hitting both Thorpe & Chowdury for huge straight one bounce fours.

Sensing Rob's hunger for the spinners Old Parks brought back their opening bowlers one of which tempted Rob into a a big shot two far which saw him bowled. Paul Gill was in next and its fair to say that Paul finds it hard to curb his attacking flair and after a rapid 9 was out LBW trying to whip one over square leg.

Another new face Rupert Reed was in next. Sensing that Rupert's last trip to the crease didn't bode well for a long innings (he was out first ball versus Orsett) Sam decided that he should start attempting to farm the strike. It was a very good idea, if poorly executed as Rupert, perhaps not backing up as far as he should, managed to go one better (or worse) and was run out with out facing a ball.

With Ongar's squad system being stretched to the limit with holidays and work commitments taking their toll Nelly Hartington was last man in at number ten with 5 overs to go. Sam by now was frantic and underestimating Nelly's batting technique continued to farm the strke even more frenetically than before which lead to some frenzied running from Sam and Nelly. As it happened Nelly faced the final over from the Old Parks opening bowling with no real concerns and with the help of 5 penalty runs from Old Parks (awarded after Chowdury had attempted to keep Nelly on strike by kicking a dead ball over the boundary)Ongar reached 176 for 8 to accrue an extra batting point. Onwards and upwards!

Botham

Old Parkonians Batting
251 for 5
Player name Runs
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Ongar Cricket Club Saturday 2nd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Peter Ellis10.015600.005.60
Rob Fisher7.003100.004.43
Rupert Reed9.0050225.005.56
Paul Gill8.0065321.678.13
Tom Hartington2.003000.0015.00
Jamie Watson0.20600.0018.00

Ongar Cricket Club Saturday 2nd XI Batting
176 for 8
Player Name RunsCatchesStumpingsRun outs
David Powell Bowled  13
Tom Stock Caught  4 1
Peter Ellis Bowled  62
Jamie Watson Bowled  0
Tom Hartington Caught  14
Sam Sweeting Not Out  30
Rob Fisher Bowled  20 2
Paul Gill Lbw  9
Rupert Reed Run out  0
Neil Hartington Not Out  1 1
A.N. Other  

Old Parkonians Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.
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