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1. Tom James Says:
   August 19th, 2009 at 2:14 pm

   Having won the last two games we arrived to Marlay Park feeling reasonably confident of our chances. I lost the toss and we were put into bat. Marguerite has been batting brilliantly of late so she was always opening and I decided to try yet another partner for her in Kev James. Both looked comfortable and batted conservatively as per my instructions! Their opening bowler was by far the best I’ve seen this year in Junior C and the only reason he didn’t get any wickets was because to most he was unplayable. His 8 overs went for only 12 runs.

   One of the Sandyford fielders had to go to A&E with a split eye having dived to stop a cover drive from Kev when the treacherous Marlay outfield popped the ball onto his eye. Thankfully he arrived back some hours later in goods spirits without stitches supporting a nice shiner. Kev fell soon after a ball that bounced up as if from nothing off the mat and was caught. He had made a very nice 19 and looked every inch the opening batsman.

   Brian Cotter fell soon after which brought debutant Matthew Butler to the crease. He joins the ranks of many youth players who have made their junior cricket debuts with the 6ths this year. He looked quite comfortable before falling on 6 runs. A few more wickets fell cheaply before myself and John Watson steadied the ship (aka scored slowly) to take us onto 127-8 off our 40. The batting could have been a lot better as extras made up 40 odd of our total.

   Star bowler Rory Kirk continued his excellent bowling with good support from Brian Cotter from the other end. Their opening batsmen played quite conservatively as they knew just over 3 an over would do it for them. Ian Smilie had a breakthrough in his first over and at drinks they were 40 odd for 1. I decided to give Kev James a bowl after drinks and he duly took his first wicket (ever) getting a nice caught and bowled.

   There was a bit on an “incident” in the game. Brian Cotter came back onto bowl and with his worst ball of the day (well wide of off stump) their opener stretched to play a shot and I took the ball in the gloves. Now anyone who has played with me will know I never appeal unless I’m very sure I heard a nick. There was a sound and as their skipper was reaching out with his bat it couldn’t have been anything else. He told me he’d walk if he was out and in some strange “club rule” in Sandyford, umpires don’t give batsmen out – its up to the batsman to walk! With all due respect to their skipper who batted well, with this particular effort he ended up on his rear end and I don’t think he was best placed to judge if he was out or not. Some would say perhaps I’m not best placed to judge it either – which is why the umpire is there to make the decision. However, such is life in Junior C and so we got on with the game as best we could.

   Kev James got another wicket, brilliantly caught at first slip by Brian Cotter. After that there were a lot of edges that seem to land safely. Their opening bowler, batting at number 4, was just as accomplished with the bat (finished 34 not out) as he was with the ball. Kev got his third wicket (3-19) when their skipper played across the line and missed but the damage was done at that stage with only one run required and they reached the total required in the 38th over.

   A very frustrating day at the office and as I said to the very disappointed lads (and lady) afterwards sometimes things just don’t go your way. I’m very pleased with the progress then team is making in its first year in terms of winning a few games and being competitive in the ones we lose. Its Knockharley away this Saturday and we’ll be looking for a win there to complete the double over them this season.

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