Theale & Tilehurst 1st XI vs Shinfield 3rd September 2005

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Report by Fingers

Going in to this game there was an outside chance of us winning the title but in reality our main objective was to get the seven points we needed to confirm promotion.

Cat won the toss and elected to field. In the earlier game we had played against Shinfield Amit Ghandi had good fortune in getting their innings off to a quick start, again here he had some good fortune as edges either went wide or over the slips. However, once he had got to thirty or so he started playing with the middle of the bat and playing some fine shots. At the other end Chris Marcon was playing a supporting role as the opening partnership went past 100. When the score reached 125 Shinfield got the three bonus points they needed to confirm them as champions and congratulations to them on that. You can tell this report is written by Fingers and not Chef...cheating fatherless children- Chef

We had not been helping ourselves to this point as both batsman had been put down off fairly simple chances and it was Lemmy who showed how it should be done when he took a good catch diving forward at mid wicket to dismiss Marcon. Ghandi went to his 100 and then top edged a pull shot to be caught at short fine leg.

Dave Aust and Tim Marcon got another partnership going before Marcon went the same way as his brother, caught by Lemmy at short mid wicket. Prashant Ghandi went to the next ball caught by Tim at deep mid wicket and at this stage we hoped to keep picking up wickets and therefore bonus points. However, another couple of chances went down and Getgood was able to take advantage and hit some lusty blows on his way to a brisk 43.

He was eventually bowled by Lemmy off the penultimate ball of the innings at which point Shinfield declared depriving us of the opportunity of taking a sixth wicket and a third bonus point. This meant that the equation was simple, we had to score 175 to guarantee promotion.

Now I'd like to point out how modest Brian is being as he reached his first ton of the season. He was ably assisted by both Phil's who were fielding like Brighton (shells everywhere). It was noticeable how much Brian gave them to drink out of his jug, I don't think it was celebrating, more an attempt at drowining them. - Chef

Cat and Chilly put on 34 for the first wicket before Chilly went caught at backward point. Meady then joined Cat and played his best knock for the firsts with a very well compiled 47. Just as we were re-adjusting our sights on the winning total rather than just 175 Meady was dismissed in an odd fashion, a ball from Ahmed bounced a bit more than expected and the ball hit Meady on the elbow before bouncing down and trickling in to the stumps.

Cat had been playing as fluently as he has done all season and had gone past fifty for the seventh time in the league. However, he went soon after Meady and all of a sudden sights were back on 175. Jamil made a useful 27 but eventually it was Lemmy who struck the runs to take us to 175 and guarantee the seven points we needed.

From then on the innings had something a surreal air with both teams having achieved their objective for the day.

So ends our best ever league season and promotion to the premier division. Well done to Cat on leading the team so well in his first season and achieving promotion. With the seconds guaranteeing their promotion as well there was definitely an air of celebration for the remainder of the evening.