Goodwill Lost
the Toss and were requested to field
Goodwill Total
Little Kingshill Total
2 for 0
334 for 6
Match Abandoned due to rain
Match Report
And so to Little Kingshill, a trip to leafy Buckinghamshire after
playing them last year and having a great game with 2 runs the
difference between the sides. The Goodwill were weakened by the
absence of Chris Westwood, Andrew Callanan, Priyesh Patel and
Gareth Hughes, the return of Mike Allaway to the USA and the
return of Peter Aplin to family duties. Ranjan and Steve made
themselves available despite injuries not 100% cleared and Darren
stepped in at the last minute to give us XI.
What was to unfold was quite spectacular. After a rain delay, the
match was scheduled for 32-overs per side. Little Kingshill
stacked the top of the order with first XI players, and one in
particular who had a good eye and the luck. We spent an afternoon
chasing leather. When the opener reached 100, he was to retire,
but their captain decided that as we had had the gall to take 2
wickets, matey should stay out. So he did, and although we then
dropped a couple of catches, he proceeded on his merry way to a
double hundred. One of the middle order joined the fun to hit 76
not out off not many balls, and the farce was complete when Little
Kingshill DECLARED in a limited overs game! A long time before,
this had ceased to become a game.
However, the thoughts of everyone were diverted after the
sickening blow taken by Ranjan in the outfield. When attempting to
try and take a difficult chance running to his right at deep
mid-on, the ball struck RJ in the face, coming down with snow on
it. His glasses smashed instantly and great concern abounded.
Thankfully, I'm delighted to report that Ranjan returned after a
trip to hospital without major damage. A fractured cheekbone and
and eye that looked like a heavyweight boxer after 12 rounds was
his rewards for his drop. Although I haven't spoken to him since
the game, it will be interesting to see if his injuries
accumulated at the match are worse than his injuries when he sees
his mother (sees her out of his left eye).
Anyway, we then batted and the first ball went for two wides. The
second ball resulted in a swing and a miss from Trigger. And then
in rained, and rained hard. The match was abandoned as the
captains shook hands on a draw, although our scoring rate was
12-an-over which would have seen us win the game! Trigger also
then claimed, in true Trigger fashion, he'd carried his bat. Work
that one out. If my innings at Holtwhites (where I batted the
whole innings) doesn't count as carrying the bat, he's got no
chance.
So, an interesting and testing day for us. There were positives
out of the day. Darren I thought bowled well again, the commitment
of the field was good, and people kept going. This type of game
was more regular a few years back, partly because we were weak as
a club. On Sunday we kept going, and kept working, and the banter
and spirit was good. And the other positive is Ranjan wasn't
seriously hurt considering the horrible blow he took. Fractured
bones will heal in time.
And so the roadshow moves on and we prepare for a (rare) local
fixture at Kenton next week. Our record there is not good,
although it's usually a pretty decent, fair game. Questions
abounding the dressing room at the moment surround whether Marcus
is really an award-winning author, whether Trigger really is going
to be Cricket Direct's next model, and whether people will
actually be able to read this season's various match reports this
season.
[Cheeky sod]
