Theale & Tilehurst 2nd XI vs Peppard 2 23rd June 2001

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Report by PK

After the dismal weather of the previous week where none of our teams managed to get a game, it was extremely pleasant to turn up to the ground amidst glorious sunshine, the heat softened by a gentle breeze made it a perfect day for playing cricket.

After winning the toss I decided to put the visitors in thinking that they would need at least 200 to beat us - and not for the first time this season I was wrong.

Peppard started solidly, reaching 50 in the 19th over for no loss. Osman Mahmood again bowled his opening spell of six overs with a maturity that belies his young years, going for only 16 on a perfect batting wicket. Roger Puri (that's me) opened from the school end bowling 11 overs straight off for only 35 runs albeit for no wickets - and in the context of the match this seemed quite miserly.

It was not until the 25th over that we finally made our first breakthrough getting the old campaigner Evans run out for 27. It has to be said that just prior to this there had been a flurry of ones and twos and the comments from Evans about being totally knackered were heard by us.

At Evans demise, the opposing skipper decided to change the batting order and promoted Green from 6 to 3. It proved a good move as for the next 10 overs the run rate was upped to about 8 per over. The 35th over saw our next wicket with the promotee being bowled by Dermot Healy for a well batted (although brutal at times) 57. This was some small measure of revenge for Dermot as he had taken much off the carnage that Green had caused.

The opponents were now on 161 for 2 from 35 and although we knew more wickets would come our way it was more a case of damage limitation that was order of the day. Osman was brought back on and bagged a couple in overs 2 and 3 of his return - well bowled and fully deserved. Lee smith at the other end had taken over from Puri at the 24th over and after a dodgy 2nd over was bowling well - finally getting his just rewards with a wicket in his penultimate over. Everybody fielded well for these last ten overs and we managed to keep the Peppard down to 60 from the last ten with a total score of 222.

T&T's reply began with Derek Partridge and Alan Pyke opening the batting. Derek in the second over taking the bowler for three glorious four's, a cover drive and 2 sublime square cuts. 14 runs from the first 2 overs had set the tone. Alan was a little unlucky in the 5th over when he was caught at 2nd slip by a ball that lifted more than he had expected and coming off the shoulder of his bat was dollied to the waiting hands. Enter Mark Mason - as we all know the faster the bowling, the better Mark likes it. The first ball received was rather nonchantly despatched to long on, reaching the boundary in what seemed a nanosecond. Unfortunately for us Mark tried the same with one that again had more lift then expected and was out shortly afterwards, caught behind.

Steve Pyke was next in - and after a couple of dot balls opened his account with 2 consecutive fours - typically struck with beautiful timing and sent through to the boundaries with rapidity. Steve and Derek then set about consolidating the innings after the loss of the 2 early wickets and whist doing that also kept the runs flowing. We reached the 50 in the 14th over but had lost another wicket when Derek was bowled for 24. The next batsman Stuart Pendleton, was the beginning of the quartet of U17's playing and immediately opened his account with a two. Both batsman set about the bowling taking boundaries with ease and never forgetting to get the singles in also. The 20th over saw the next wicket fall, that of Steve who had just got under one and skied it to mid-off - the score was now 89 for 4 from 20 overs.

Alex Moore duly walked to the middle and upon taking his guard the comments were heard by all from one of the Peppard stalwarts - "come on lads - were into the the tail now"...... little did they know !!

The 2 U17's took it to the fielding side - Stuart was flowing - using every shot in the book and fours coming from this young man with effortless grace. Alex to begin with settled for 1's and 2's, supporting Stuart who reached his 50 with a marvelous shot through extra cover for 4. Alex also opened up with a rather large 6 into the car park. I wonder if the "into the tail comment" acted as a spur for the lads as they never gave a chance until Alex was finally stumped off the bowling off dobbler Peddell. The score was now 171/5 of 32 overs and we were looking good. However the fall of the next two wickets came rather quickly and all of a sudden we were 182/7 from 35 overs. 10 overs to go and 41 to get seemed to be difficult as only myself, Lee and Dermot were remaining. I was next in and promised to myself that I was not going to give my wicket away - there was always a good chance of winning this game whilst Stuart was at the crease - unbeaten and somewhere in his 70's.

My word was good - apart from a rank bad ball on the leg that was smashed past square leg for a 4, I was content to take 1's and 2's supporting Stuart who was guiding us to a very creditable victory.

The key over came in the 37th - the one 4 from myself then a single to leave Stuart on strike for the last two balls. Stuart smashed the first for 4 and despatched the second for 6 - the score now was 202/7 from 37. 20 runs from 8 overs were required - the batsman spoke in the middle and decided that we would take them in singles - no attempting fours - unless it happened to be a bad ball. That's how it turned out with no more boundaries being hit and the winning runs coming with 21 balls remaining. Stuart deservedly took the plaudits - with 14 fours and 1 six in an unbeaten 94.

All in all - a good victory for us against the team lying second in the league.