Theale & Tilehurst 1st XI vs Welford Park 7th July 2001

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Report by Fingers

As soon as the fixtures were published we should have known it would rain. It's difficult to think of a game we've had against Welford Park where rain has not been an issue, even if it hasn't rained the threat of rain has been present.

Once the away team had confirmed that the pitch was the correct length and the lines at the correct angles and the home captain's lucky coin had arrived the toss could take place. Welford Park won the toss and thinking it was such a good batting track Ian Herrington put us in.

With James Codd and Clyde Cutting opening the batting there is always the danger that the team is going to get bogged down at the start of the innings. So it proved again with the opening partnership of 80 taking up 13 valuable overs, James' fifty including 11 fours and 3 twos The 1st XI batting seems to have settled down in to a bit of a pattern. A good quick start followed by mid innings wobble followed by a late middle order recovery. This pattern maintained itself with Dennis Robertson going for a duck, Cameron Coldman for four to what looked from side on like a bump ball and David Cumming for a second duck. Fortunately Martin Pyke and Andrew Johnson with 30 and 27 respectively kept the innings moving forward.

Mo Iqbal and Chris Lemm, the opening bowlers, have also struck up a useful partnership with the bat this season. Mo is not a great one for running between the wickets (his 38 included 9 fours and 2 singles) so he must enjoy batting with Chris who despite the fact that he can run prefers to score in boundaries anyway. Following their partnership of 91 last week they managed to put on a further 75 in ten overs this week. Having enjoyed batting together they obviously decided they couldn't bat without the other so were both out in the same over. This allowed the final pair to add 29 off the last three overs with some fine blows coming from Phil Jenkins who maintained his record of not being out in the league this season.

The threat of weather had been ever present all afternoon with dark clouds around the ground and the sound of thunder getting nearer. Going out after tea it was likely that the game would not go the full distance. With this in mind the initial target was to get through twenty overs to secure the winning draw. Mo Iqbal bowled a fine opening spell to take all three wickets and was well supported by Chris Lemm who was working up a decent pace. One ball from Chris which pitched just short of a length cleared 'keeper Jenkins by a good six feet to demonstrate the variable bounce in the pitch.

With rain starting to fall twenty overs were completed to secure the winning draw. Soon after the rain forced the teams from the field. At this point the option of putting out Welford Park's new metal covers was offered but volunteers were in short supply with lightening all around. Within minutes the pitch was completely under water and a quick escape to the pub agreed.