Detail: 05-05-2007 -

Result:
v Crossbats

Saturday 2pm at Hampton Wick

Match Report

The Blues (152-4) beat the Crossbats (151 all out) by six wickets.

The Blues opened their 2007 campaign in style, winning this 35 over match by six wickets and with a couple of overs to spare.

After a successful pre-season net program, the Blues were further buoyed by the presence of three debutants in the side – Dean Wilson, Dan Williams and Jason from Johannesburg all made significant contributions to the Blues victory and we certainly hope to see more of them over the coming season.

On winning the toss the Crossbats elected to bat and the honour of getting the season under way fell to Ellen and Corcoran, the Blues opening bowlers. After an untidy first few overs, with nerves undoubtedly playing a factor, both bowlers settled into a decent rhythm. Corcoran as ever brought all his tricks to the party and was happy to unveil his new, improved slower ball - the layers of disguise added over the close season were too much for the Crossbats openers who were twice well beaten only for the ball to run out of momentum before it reached the stumps. It was Ellen who broke through first clean bowling the Crossbats opener. Corcoran responded the next over, also skittling his man and the Crossbats were looking shaky.

The first change bowlers made matters worse for the home team. Appleton bowled beautifully and, coming down the hill, worked up a real head of steam allowing him to fully exploit the variable bounce and terrorise the Crossbats’ middle order. He was good value for his three wickets, the last of which came after he had switched to spin. Of his three wickets the key scalp was the no.5 batsman who, after comprehensively failing to trouble the scorers with his orthodox strokes decided to unfurl a rather impressive series of reverse sweeps. As with the orthodox shots these yielded few runs but certainly kept the fielding team entertained.

From the other end debutant Jason (from Johannesburg) bowled a super first over, picking up a wicket with his second ball. Cruelly injury struck before headlines could be grabbed as Jason twisted his knee in the field and was forced to stop bowling.

Shane Metson picked up the mantle and twirled merrily away for seven overs. As ever Shane had a strong female following amongst the spectators and there were frequent high pitched squeals of encouragement from his entourage. Metson was rewarded for his consistent line and length with a wicket and a tidy economy rate.

From the other end Appleton was replaced by Rich Mullet. Unfortunately for Rich his spell coincided with the innings of the Crossbats two best batters (at 8 and 9) and his figures took a slight hammering from this late onslaught. However the Mullet man held his nerve and produced a couple of beauties to remove the number 8 (caught at slip!!! by Selleck) and the number 10 (caught behind by Porter). It fell to Selleck to take the final wicket enticing the number 9 into one swipe too many – the resulting skier being excellently taken by Metson at long on to wrap up the Crossbats innings on 151 all out. Given the state of the outfield it was a good fielding performance from the Blues – Alan Porter coped very well behind the stumps, conceding only a few byes whilst Simon “the cat” Blay dominated the midwicket region as per usual.

Selleck and Wilson opened the batting for the Blues and both applied themselves well, allowing the Blues to get off to a solid start. Selleck (12) hit a couple of dreamy off drives before being undone by one that cut back off the pitch. At the other end Wilson (19) looked set for a big score, happy to take a few blows for the team in order to ride out the inconsistent bounce, but punishing anything over pitched with some punchy hits through the “V”. It was some surprise when he departed caught on the drive from one that stopped in the pitch.

With the score at 40-2 and two new batsmen, Williams and Appleton, at the crease the match was in the balance – especially given the fiery nature of the pitch. However thankfully for the Blues a partnership of 85 ensued, all but assuring the victory. Williams was the prime aggressor in the partnership seizing on anything short / wide and pulling and cutting his way to an impressive run-a-ball 58. Meanwhile Appleton was more reserved, his stubborn defense perfectly complementing Williams’s languid stroke making.

Fitness eventually got the better of Williams and he was out with the score on 125. This allowed Metson his moment in the sun and once again he did not disappoint. His cameo innings of 8 included all the usual features of a Metson innings – no defensive shots, a couple of cracking boundaries, and some comical calling / suicidal running between the wickets. Even his method of dismissal, bowled whilst trying to hook a yorker, was familiar to all those who have watched Metto in action before.

It was left to Appleton (28 not out) to bring the Blues home, hitting a couple of lovely leg glances to complete an impressive batting display on a wicket that was always hard to score runs on.

Given this was the first match of the season it was really pleasing that we were oversubscribed on the numbers front and that there was a healthy number of supporters at the game itself – long may it continue. Please keep checking the website and updating Aidan / Tom with your availability.


Team details

Tom Ellen (c)
Steve Metson
Mitch Corcoran
Rich Mullett
Alan Porter (w/k)
Simon Blay
Steve's mate
Sam Selleck
Ben Appleton
Daniel Williams
Dean Wilson

[updated 30 Jul 18]