Potterne [H] Match Report
A game of two teams. 11 v 11. 30 overs each. That's about as even as it got. 🤣
Being a new fixture for the Sunday side (we've not previously played Potterne) this could go any which way. Being Fathers Day, we had a full team (even with Alex's last minute drop out, cue Dobbo stepping up) as most players exercised their Father's Day wish to be out in the middle with a fair few other Dads.
This also resulted in an almost capacity crowd, as the clubhouse pitch sides were awash with picnics, parents of all ages and a series of children attempting to improve their cycling skillsets.
Nothing much beats hearing the cheers of onlookers when your out in the middle, a thanks to all who encouraged them to come down.
The match got underway in humid conditions, with rain a constant threat. Al and Jeremy got us started with some encouraging signs in the early stages. However the batters soon got their eyes fixed firmly on the ball and produced a few boundaries to tick the scores over. Jeremy found the pad of one batsmen on several occassions, all with no reward... but maybe this is Sunday rules after all.
Then came the reward... a frustrated batsman took a swing only to edge it backwards towards Chris who took a brilliant catch in the edge of his glove and held on to give Jeremy the wicket he clearly deserved.
Runs came thick and fast for Potterne as they started to add pace to their innings. With a new batsman at the crease, I found a toe-edge of a fishing batsman (similar to my own batting style, except they at least got bat to ball) and Chris's reactions were on the money again taking a second from behind the stumps.
We pushed on and the second half (after drinks) showed promise. A few half-chance catches brought about through good positional fielding could have put more pressure on them if they'd stuck... any of them would have been exceptional catches. Nevertheless their innings stalled towards the end with Al's second spell holding them down at one end and Sean swing balls any which way and knocking leg stump to clean bowl the batsman for our third wicket.
With 221 on the scoreboard at 30 overs we knew we had to dig in and push hard for every run. At 7-3 it didn't start quite as we may have dreamt. After playing a blinder in the field, Captain Chris came out to hit a 50-dodging 41, a true skipper's innings when we needed it. Will had a good start but lost his wicket when basically facing his own bowling, Si tried to go over the top, Paddy edged one to slip, I thought I was batting on astro and Sean edged one to his leg stump. Some positive shot play from Laurence gave us a chance to get over the 100 mark, smashing 22*, but not to be, their bowling was great and they held us to 95 all out.
Despite their score, we had another good session in the field, leaked very few runs and put bodies on the line... one day this will pay off!
Despite the result there were plenty of positives, not least the support from the sidelines and getting a team photo too.
We keep searching.
Collingbourne next Sunday.