Played at Parliament Hill

By Rafe Smallman (skipper)

Is there a better feeling than remembering there are a few cricket games left of the season following the August break - probably, but it still felt good to be playing again. And this game against the Old Ranwellians proved quite a tustle and another one that went down to the wire.

The Ranwellians decided to bat on what turned out to be a good pitch with a fast outfield. They started well, with some aggresive shots against a Fallopians team not bowling at their best. The batsmen proved to be vocal, and when they opposition started laughing as the score hit 69, it told us all we needed to know.

And yet the Fallopians were unable to maintain the control with the ball we have come accustomed to. While we were able to strangle their number three for a large part of the innings, their batsmen at the other end were able to take them to a score of 235 after 35 overs, a score that appeared to be very competitive.

A wonderful tea managed to revive a slightly defalated fallopians team and it was with renewed vigour that they went out to bat.

However, amongst the poor balls, the Ranwellians were able to put in enough good ones to take three early wickets to leave the Fallopians in a precarious position. Mark Venables and Matt Wales steadied the ship and started to up the pace of the scoring, all the while frustrating the Ranwellians with dogged defence (Mark) and unorthodox hitting (Matt).

Yet when Matt W fell we still required 150 ish runs in about 17 overs. Matt Asquith joined Mark and immediately looked ready for the challenge. The partnership started to knock of the runs with shots all around the park, and the Fallopians went from feeling an impending doom, to a slight chance, to a possibility, to a distinct probability of winning.

And with the scoring of runs at more than the required rate, another miracle - the quieteneing of the fielders, and even better - the start of any number of dropped catches. This was a monumemtal change of momentum through a partnership that probably will not be bettered by the Fallopians this year.

By the time Matt Asquith fell, the job was all but done - giving Simon the chance to get his 3rd (4th?) golden duck of the year before Jon Idle saw us home with Mark, who remained unmoved and unflustered throughout.

With one game to go, can we make it 7 wins for the season - surely history of some sort is being made! 
 

The finger: Jon Idle takes aim as John Shaw waits in the field                         Photo: Tim Castle