info@wollatoncc.co.uk

Founded 1884

Wollaton II C.C.

v

Bottesford I C.C.

 

South Notts Division C

 

Saturday 10 July 2010

 

 

Oh dear, against a side Wollaton had convincingly beaten earlier in the season, overall Wollaton put in a pretty woeful performance and yet nearly pulled off an unlikely victory.  Crossers won the toss and after a lot of deliberation decided to bat first.  He gave a talk beforehand regarding his view that the running between the wickets had been poor and that they need to be more positive, although he ended the lecture by saying “No doubt after this there will be a number of run outs”, more on this later.

 

Another new opening partnership of Jawaid and Will were cautious against some accurate if not that threatening looking bowling.  Will then got going with 3 boundaries in one over but would go for 17 playing on and Jawaid soon followed chipping one up.  Ratters was joined by Sunil 2 and the predicted run out occurred as Sunil hit it behind square, Ratters called but Sunil never responded and Ratters was run out by the country mile.  Sunil would shortly follow him and Bayles having threatened to cut loose was another batsman caught, and when Paddle went for a blob, Wollaton were 84 – 6 and right in the mire.  

 

Wollaton’s not out specialists of Fishy and Crossers then came together and put on 43 by just batting sensibly and at 127 – 6 with 10 to go 180 – 190 appeared possible.  However Bottesford’s leg spinner came on and using a technique more accustomed to Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium i.e. not pitching many, he would get rid of Fishy and Cobbler with full tosses and would snaffle Kieran caught and bowled, and Wollaton were 137 – 9 with 6 to go.  Saq came to the wicket and after a few overs of blocking then produced 2 crackerjack shots, 1 belting the leggie straight back over his head for 4, then followed it up with as they had brought 3rd man up he late cut the seamer for 4 to howls of delight from the Wollaton players.  Crossers kept accumulating without ever looking like his best, as has been the case all season, but scraped upto 168 and 3 batting points, Crossers ending up unbeaten on 45.  Crossley Senior had turned up due to an umpire cock up and with typical down to earth Yorkshire attitude spoke to his son with the phrase “Well batted, pity you didn’t get 30 more”.

 

Unlike Bottesford who had conceded 1 run from the first 3 overs due to accurate bowling, Wollaton were the complete opposite conceding 27 from the first 5 overs, 9 wides and 2 no balls.  Saq had ripped out 2 in his second over but Bottesford kept ticking over helped by inaccurate bowling.  At the first drinks break at 16 overs, they were 62 – 2, 25 were extras.  Fishy and Cobbler replaced Saq and Paddle, and were less scatter gun but did not appear to get the break through that was desperately required.  After 22 overs, and 94 - 2 the tandem that was to change the game around was brought on.  First Kieran with left arm spin and a few overs later, Dr Death bowling far earlier than expected.  Kieran took a while to get going, but he picked up 2 in the deep caught by Tuna and bowled another with a cracker.  He may have had a 4th, but Crossers fielding at silly mid off couldn’t hang on to a full bloodied drive, although he did pretty well just to get his hands anywhere near it.  Dr Death showed the other seamers that by bowling straight and hitting a length, that runs are hard to come by.  After his first 3 overs he had the figures of 1 – 1, and would pick up 2 more, 1 through a brilliant piece of stumping by Bayles.

 

Wollaton were sensing that the impossible may just happen, but Bottesford had enough batting to get over the line by just 2 wickets with 5 overs to spare, Kieran taking 3 – 47 in 11, Crossers 3 -22 in 9.  This was a bad result against a side on paper who were inferior but did the basics far better than Wollaton.  Onto Attenborough next week and a victory is needed to avoid being drawn into the relegation dog fight.

The Sage