Telling Tails: Ravens vs Leg Rovers
After a successful year to date with our midweek T20 friendlies, one final push would see us complete a full house of wins. The target... do what we've never done and beat Leg Rovers both home and away in the same season.
The visitors put out one of their stronger sides, most likely, after we punished them earlier in the year and therefore being determined not to lose to their local friends.
We lost the toss and were put in to bat. Nick and Jamie opened up with a fast paced array of boundaries. Including a couple of 6s which landed on the top of each practise net. Smashing start... literally. Like a bullet, and with some help from the scorers Jamie retired first (for those not in the know, in T20s we retire at 25 but can come back if required later). Nick would need to score a few additional boundaries to make it home too.
As I walked out to the middle in the unusually high position of 3rd, we were around 52 for no loss after 5 overs... some would say a solid start. Nick said he was struggling to see the full tosses, so we moved the sight screen into a usable position and I sent one down the ground to strike said sight screen and bring home another 6 runs to the total. Nick kept plugging away and left the field retired not out too, and as Lee arrived at the crease, I hit a single to follow Nick (a proud moment as I've never hit this milestone before... a beautiful feeling to both high score and retire, I could get used to it). By this point we're racing through the runs and the overs, we nearly reach 100 without loss and Lee is greeted by Will after Malcolm was unfortunately dismissed caught off what could have been a no ball.
Both Will and Lee keep up a great pace as Will shows all his 'Last Man Stands' shot making and Lee continues his season not out in all formats. Both retired, although Will limping off, after a beautiful cover drive went for 4 runs, with a calf strain in contradiction to the one that was hurting when he arrived at the crease. Eeek.
Bart looked to make a quick impact but got unlucky pushing his luck as Happy Harry brought out more big shots but eventually got caught 'by the one man in the Leg Rovers side who can't catch anything'... at least not until now... the reaction from Leg Rovers said it all.
As we closed out, all those onlooking thought Ian had completely missed his first delivery, not an ideal start to your T20 debut. As it later transpired, Ian was informed by the opposition that the bowling was quick... so quick in fact that Ian was left stunned and unmoved at the crease.
Warwick and Ian added a few final runs as we hit the halfway mark 182 / 4 off 20 overs. Thats just over 1.5 runs a ball. Shows what's possible!
A quick change over and it was dark and begining to get wet. Leg Rovers came out quickly. Smashing boundaries even quicker than we did as the first handful of batters matched our efforts and retired not out.
During this period we dropped the ball every time we got a hand to it, we had misfields and we struggled to see it... not ideal as we were also playing with a pink ball to try and make it less like a needle in a haystack. Warwick, Ian, Sean, Will and Bart bowled beautifully to tighten up towards the middle overs, but at over 100 on the board for Leg Rovers after the first 10, it was getting tight. That being said, we were starting to close the visitors down. Ian did a sterling job 'on the leg-side 1' to help drag down the run rate and pin the batters at their crease.
Will, hot off a double calf issue, got perfectly inline to back up an outfield throw, only to decide that stopping it with the side of his nose would be beneficial. A break, realignment and wicket later and it seems only the calves were the concern post game. Legend.
As the ball got wet, wetter and then soaked, things were getting dangerous. Beamers flying in, a ball so soaked it slipped out the hand, Pete umpiring with a hood up and a ball feeling like a fairground sponge meant that alongside the fading light (and no stadium quality floodlighting yet... maybe come 2043) it was time for a beer or two instead.
As the Leg Rovers captain said, the game was in the balance. Concerned they hadn't hit the big runs with their best batters quick enough before the tail was in meant he didn't feel confident they'd done enough to secure the win, although Duckworth Lewis might have said otherwise. Nevertheless wonderful opponents once again and maybe a good reason to bring in a game of the Hundred at this stage next season to try and help with the fading light.
Nevertheless, unbeaten in our debut year, the 2024 Ramsbury Ravens will go down in local folklore. Remember this season, for it will be the mighty unbeatable class of 24 which can live long in the memory. Tell those grandkids, let the legend live on.
As we close out our midweek games for the year, if you have any thoughts, feedback or ideas for midweek games and events in 2025 and beyond, please let me know... this new format works best when it works for everyone playing and we're always open to ideas!
Later this year will be the awards dinner (keep a look out for the date) and a full season review will be provided then.
Finally with two Sunday games to go, one away and one at home, a message to all. Our oldest club photograph dates back exactly 100 years ago from 1924. On the final day game of this season (our festival day against W.A.N.C.C), whether your playing or not, please bring your Ramsbury kit down to the club and join us for a photograph all together to celebrate this milestone.
Until then, go well, cheers!
