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Theale & Tilehurst vs Crowthorne 30th August 2003

Report by Chef

Well, another game that warrants a report.

We turned up to the game thinking it was just another game.  However Crowthorne needed to win to go up, we weren't particularly bothered, just wanted to play cricket.  Walking out to the pitch it was an horrific sight.  Somebody had rolled a strip on a marsh and tried to dry the top with a blow torch, it either cracked or moved depending on where you stood.  Perhaps it plays better that it looks.  Not a good day to lose the toss, so that's exactly what I did.  Crowthorne put us in to bat.....mainly so that they could control the game as they had to win.

Upon seeing the first delivery rear up it was quite apparent that the pitch would play worse as bad as it looked.  What was more apparent was the atmosphere in which we would be forced to play in.  Mouthy does not even begin to explain it, perhaps a combination of us beating them earlier in the season, the problems on the Sunday fixture and the need for them to win was too much for them.  Anyway this had an amazing effect on the team.  From being not too fussed about the game, we were now intent on spoiling their party.  Everyone of us wanting to teach them a lesson.

The two Eds managed to hang around for 6 overs before finally getting out to the pitch.  Sri then came in and played like the pitch was a road. Managing to knock up a partnership of 31 with Osman (10) and finally being dismissed for 36.  Mark stepping in later for valuable 11.  Things really went down hill as wickets started to fly.  We were finally bowled out for a measly 79 off 32 overs.  We were keen to go straight back out but Crowthorne used the rule that they can have tea if 32 overs have been played.  Teaching them a lesson would have to happen another day perhaps.

Not much of a total but the pitch wasn't going to help them.  Things started off well, one of the openers playing a defensive shot was out to the diving Ed Choules at silly mid off.  Shortly followed by a their number 3 whose shot spooned into the air and snaffled by Imran.  Atkinson pulled a short ball from Osman and hit it like a bullet straight into the box of Ed, who to his credit didn't flinch.  Unfortunately as brave as this was, this still has to go down as a drop but fortunately not costly as he was soon out bowled by a yorker.  We distinctly had a chance.  Sadly Atree who scored 160 on the Sunday against us was looking in good form. Another wicket went down, a masterful piece of fielding from Rags.  Rags bowled an atrocious half volley to Atree, who promptly spanked it straight, Rags got a hand to it and just enough to redirect it into the stumps to run out Elrick.  He then followed up with another wicket with the batsman again spooning it up, this time to myself (and a marvellous catch it was too).  Next wicket just clipped the off stump bowling Stent.  Things were looking rosy but Atree was still there and now scoring more freely.  However Atree, playing a forward defensive got bat and glove on the ball and it looped up to Ed who snapped up his 100th catch for the club a magnificent feat.  Congratulations Weasley.  This was the turning point.  It was just a case of finishing them off.  Brack and Cole put up a briefly concerning partnership but both eventually getting out.  It must be said that Brack is a hard man.  I bowled a bouncer that he tried to pull but missed.  It hit him in the head (with no helmet) and went for 4 leg byes.  As it went over the boundary he was celebrating the fact he had scored 4 of his noggin.  Weird!  With 72 on the board it was going to go down to the wire.  Gibbings went for the finish but hit it high in the air for Imran to take a great running catch in the deep.  We had won.  What a feeling.  To see a team so confident and mouthy to buckle under the pressure of good bowling was amazing.  It is a game I will never forget.  A fitting end to the season with our bowlers winning the game, having performed well all season.