Detail: 21-05-2017 - Shamley Green


Result: Lost by 111 runs
Sunday saw the blues done the whites again against a young Shamley Green side.

Traffic on the A3 meant a delayed start but it was agreed at the toss that the blues would bowl first. In true blue tradition and really looking to scare the opposition our opening bowlers with a combined age of 102 no less set about their business.

A sticky green pitch offered some variable bounce and movement for Messer's Mullet and Moore with the Shamley Green openers looking a bit shaky and a number of balls whistled past the outside edge. An economical start then turned into a bit of a run fest after the Shamley Green overseas pro arrived in at 3 and county reject lefty at 4.

The blues with a man down in the field and a number of chances being shelled were on the back foot and looking to reduce the damage. Some tidy overs from the Blues slinger Zahid and the new premier spin twins Amir and Aman, with the odd one gripping and going at right angles, limited the total to 228 for 4.

A confident Fitz took a look at the scoreboard and declared that total very chasable what with the short boundaries?..

Das and Ian Winton (first game back for 10 years) opened up for the blues against a tidy opening attack of dibbly dobblers and some left arm medium off a gratuitous run up. Some accurate bowling and a bit of rust meant it was difficult to get the ball away and the blues starting to see the required run rate creeping up. Winton departed for 8 and that brought Rolfe to the crease with his exemplary Millfield schooled technique. The run rate picked up a bit but we were still struggling to find the boundary. Rolfe then departed to a solid catch and that brought in Skips and later a confident Fitz. Hollywood fully expecting to score 0 because of his father being on the boundary (this has happened nearly every time he is there) dually obliged, wafting an edge to the keeper. Then Fitz clubbed one straight to square leg who somehow held on to it. Both big guns failing to trouble the scorers.

That brought Moore and Zahid to the crease with the run rate approaching double figures. Some lusty blows from Zahid saw him top score with 41 and Moore finished up with a dogged 23 but the game started to drift as the target became unreachable.

Once these two departed that brought in Aman and Amin to the crease which coincided with an increase in 'chat' directed at our lower order. Aman responded in true blue fashion and looked to take on the opposition. He then played the shot of the day which was an exquisite leave that unfortunately was a touch too straight knocking middle stump out of the ground.

That left Mullet stranded without facing a ball.

All in all an enjoyable game but I think the fact that a number of their team have been netting since Christmas may have been the difference??.

Next game is on June 11 against Warnham. I am not sure we have a match manager for that one yet so tbc

[updated 26 11 2017]