Scorecard

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday v Sonning on Sat 08 Sep 2012 at 12:30pm
Thatcham Town Cricket Club Lost by four wickets

Match report Well…we didn’t get promoted. In case you’ve been away from social and the written media. We did, however, succeed in keeping Sonning in Division 2B. No need to thank us boys; it’s a service we will continue to provide in the 2013 campaign. And err before we get excited about next season; Tring Park have been promoted from division 3. We may have lost a long drive from this year but my word; we could have inherited an expedition for next. Don’t know about you guys but I’m booking a hotel room.

You could be forgiven for thinking that you are in fact reading the report for a previous home game; I’m loathed to say, you’re not. This was the final game of the season and yes, we again got rolled over for less than 150. Going on reputation alone, as the first meeting was flooded out, we still looked at promotion and believed the best option was to bat. A decision that, an hour in to the game, seemed fully vindicated as we cruised to 70 without loss and in relative comfort too. Whiskas looked in good touch throughout his pleasant 41 but when you hit the ball that hard, fielders will stand and watch in appreciation; well, apart from one guy, as a gentle chip over the ring for one somehow sailed down deep mid-wickets throat. Unlike previous weeks the platform was set, all we had to do now was build on it and smash through the 200 barrier. Ah, we must have been reading the wrong script; I’m sure the right one was attached to the envelope containing Stoney’s ‘jug money’.

Garvey settled in well with Den and drifted nicely towards the 100 mark; so much so that the tail end (for a change) actually contemplated not getting a bat on the final day of the season. Never fear guys, never fear…right on cue the collapse came. 97-2, in the blink of an eye, became 127 all out - a proper batting failure; a new feat that even managed to stun most of the Thatcham contingent in to total silence. Well…until we realised that we could have tea before we field, then things lightened up a touch.

Thankfully, Sonning decided to start their innings the way we finished ours; except with a bit more style and flair. I kid, Gibbo and Ceej reduced the relegation fighters to 10-3 and, despite the odd boundary, the visitors’ chase followed the trend set earlier in the day. Hit one, miss ten. With survival now seeming a distant dream and Gibbo fully committed to swinging on the cricket field, we sensed an opportunity to really exert some pressure. Again the script went walkies as Sonning eased through 50 and on past the half way point without us even looking like picking up another wicket. Three more did come our way but by the time the sixth was taken Sonning were pretty much home and hosed, with the best part of 20 overs remaining. Apologies if it looks as though I’ve glazed over Sonning’s chase but to be honest with you, nothing much happened – it was really as it reads. No fuss, no controversy – just a straight forward run chase. Gibbo and Willo picked up two wickets each but with only 127 to defend, it was realistically never going to be enough. Who knows, 160 possibly 170 on the board and we could have been in business. Funny thing, hindsight.

A disappointing end to a pretty mixed season for us; but we maintained a mid table position for the majority of the campaign and I don’t think many would have had us down as title contenders entering the final round of fixtures. Ok, so we managed to succeed in getting bowled out for very little on a good few occasions but until our failure at the hands of Sonning we’d only lost to teams ahead of us. Batting was difficult this year – one week a green seamer and the next a dry turning sub continent minefield…but our top order did make the best of it. The bowlers stuck to their plans well, all four of the main strike bowlers bagging at least 20 wickets and a five wicket haul each. We did also learn crucial thing…Gibbo is an absolute hero.

So, in a year that started off with us all losing a true friend we stayed strong throughout and ended on a high. With a club atmosphere back at the heart of everything we do on a Saturday so many came back to enjoy playing and it really showed in the performances from the 1s down to the 4s. Next year will bring us new challenges as a team and as a club but the future is bright; the futures Orang…sorry, well you know where I’m heading with this.

Winter well everyone, see you next spring.

Ra Ra Thatcham

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
2w 2b 1lb 
for 1 wickets
5
127		        
Matthew Denness Caught  32
Felix Hartley Russell Caught  40
Simon Gale Caught  23
Duncan Johnson Caught  4 2
Josh O'Flynn Bowled  1 1
Arthur Edwards Bowled  11
Chris Rochfort Caught  0
Paul Jenkins Bowled  3
Callum Johnson Not Out  2
Scott Gibson Lbw  6
John Williams Run out  0

Sonning Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Sonning Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 2w 1lb 
for 6 wickets
4
131 (31.2 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Scott Gibson8.0137218.504.62
Callum Johnson6.0114114.002.33
John Williams7.0029214.504.14
Paul Jenkins3.001400.004.67
Duncan Johnson6.2036136.005.68
Felix Hartley Russell1.01000.000.00

  • Umpire :
    Panel
  • Scorer :
    Ian Martin