Detail: 07-06-2015 - Odiham
Result: Won by 6 wkts
Odiham 9-165. Blues 4-168 (cc 40 Overs) - 7 June 2015
10 Blues were on display against Odiham CC at lovely ground at Lord Wandsworth College (where Jonny Wilkinson went to school apparently), easiest the best ground I?ve played on in England. We were all little late getting there but snuck in a toss at 1:59pm. Tink called incorrectly and we were sentenced to bowl first.
Freeman (with a swollen hand, don?t ask why) and Drinkwater opened up the bowling with some good heat. The ball was doing a bit and Blues kept things very tight. Drinky (1-30) bowled an absolute ripper to knock back off stump of the young opener and Freeman (1-23) quickly followed suit smashing one into middle this time. The boys were great in the field and Das dynamic behind the stumps. A direct hit from Tinks (stationed at first slip for most of the day, the joys of match management) also brought about an unlikely run out and Odiham has it all to do being about 3-50 at drinks.
Still seething from being told to warm up by Ellen but then not actually getting a bowl at Shackleford, Tink (2-22) bowled with excellent heat (probably around 145 kph), snicking up their gun batsman before taking an astonishing caught and bowled. Seabass (2-29) bowled a lovely spell of off spin (some saying he is the now undouble the Blues Premier Spinner ? move over Zubair ?with his new name now Zu-bass) keeping things tight and picking up a few along the way. Git (1 for something) and Blues debutant Damo (2 for 30 odd, who stuck around all day despite receiving a panicked call form his girlfriend on the trip down to say they were being evicted ? a true gentleman left his girlfriend to deal with it) while we were in the car to the game) also bowled well and chimed in with a few wickets as well. Some late hitting got Odiham a respectable score that would surely test the Blues, and In a funny twist our 11th fielder from Odiham caught out his father on the last ball of the game. Great commitment from the youngster.
Came time for our favourite part of the day and we reflected on a good session over a cup of tea and some sausage rolls. Cormac took a few on the body but bravely fought on and Das (28) spanked a few through the covers before skying one. Truelove and Cormac continued the fight, with Odiham bowlers bowling some nice line and length to dry things up. The pressure paid off with Odiham quickly snaring Truelove (0) and Cormac (8) to have Blues 3-40 odd. That brought Freeman (33) and Rolfe (62*) together for an excellent partnership of around 80, both playing some lovely shots and showing what the Blues is all about. When Freeman departed Tink strode out to the crease with only a few runs left to tick off. A few final swings from Matt and Tink (15*) the game was over with a number of overs to spare.
Special shouts out to the bowling of Freeman, Drinkwater and Seabass who excelled before the great partnership between Freeman and Rolfe that truly was nice to watch (especially when you?re next in). Freeman will be sore today. Man of the match though was Rolfe who looked in great nick, and also took some good catches in the field (but admittedly did spill a few as well) . Ronnie was spectacular in the scoreboard all evening, never missing an update and getting his maths right most of the time.
Numbers look low for this Sunday v Warnham so please get in touch with Metto(?) asap If you want to play that one.
Thanks to all who made themselves available, was a pleasure to manage and play with you all.
Tinky
Ratings
Ground - 9.5/10 (pitch played a little low so doesn?t get a 10)
Changing Facilities - 6 (no chairs in change room)
Showers - 7 (clean although water pressure could be improved)
Tea - 7 (not their best effort)
Scoreboard updating - 9.5 (Ronnie refused to stay in the actual scoreboard the whole time like a hotdog vendor so loses half a point)
Village Talent n/a (as we were in a school, best to probably leave this one out)
[updated 23 11 2015]