Detail: 28-06-2009 -
Result:
Sam Selleck
Marcus Jansa
Mick Berry
Rob Baldwin
John Howell
Tom Jordan
Simon Brading
Stuart Selleck
Michael Corcoran
Jeremy Way
Leo Selleck
Blues 191 for 5. Shackleford 192 for 9. Lost by 1 wicket
Blues Fail to Break The Last Shackle
After being on the wrong end of a convincing thrashing the previous week, the Blues were determined to prove at Shackleford that they were a force to be reckoned with in Surrey village cricket. After a typical arrival schedule (BST - Blues Standard Time), we defaulted to bat on a pitch that had the bowlers rubbing their hands in anticipation whilst leaving the batsmen wondering how many helmets they should bring out.
Jansa and Selleck (Stuart) opened up and from ball one, they struggled to find a scoring rhythm. The accurate Shackleford openers put the ball on the spot and the pitch did the rest with the ball cutting viciously both ways. Both concentrated well however and set a very solid foundation on which the Blues could build; Selleck (Stuart) rolled back the years with a steady 22 (he'll pay for it this evening) which then allowed Tom Jordan to press the gas and take the scoring rate above 3 an over. It was what the Blues needed and with Jansa expressing himself more freely (though to quote "never feeling in"), the pair put on a fantastic 88 before Tom Jordan was bowled for 41. Leo Selleck then knocked it around for a while whilst Jansa was finally gone for an excellent 68.
Calypso cricket then ensued with Brading getting run out on a suicide mission and Berry and Way carting it around as much as possible though still not fully on top of the bowlers. The Blues ended on 191 for 5, a respectable total but probably 20 runs short of total required on a small ground
A delightful tea (pate was a revelation), and then Cocoran opened up with a good spell of medium pace, accurate and using the slope well. Way opened up at the other end, got a few to pop and generally had good shape. They did all a skipper could ask for by dismissing the openers and leaving Shackleford at 34 for 2. The Blues had the momentum but were pressed back by Shackleford's middle order who managed to defend the good balls and take full advantage of the shorter deliveries.
At 154 for 4, the match was creeping away from the Blues; Selleck (Sam) put in a tight spell and nicked a few wickets, and with some excellent keeping by Tom Jordan, and Berry and Brading making the batsmen think, Shackleford were left on 165 for 9, 26 to get off their last wicket. The Blues were on the brink; unfortunately one strong Shackleford batsmen remained having been put down the order because of a nightmarish hangover; he managed to eek out runs and keep the strike as much as possible; there was some very close moments (two catches went up just short of fielders) but Shackleford scrapped home, winning by one wicket.
After last week's abomination, it was a relief that we proved that we weren't a bunch of muppets but disappointing that the match slipped away.
The spirit was excellent and a big thank you to all - everyone contributed in some shape or form (Selleck senior even took a slip catch). However, Selleck's match management record (P2 L2) is left in tatters; he is comforted nonetheless by club rules which stipulate jugs only for drop catches and run outs. Onwards and upwards, and on this trajectory of improvement, the second half of the season looks very promising indeed.
[updated 30 Jul 18]