Richmond Leg Breakers Cricket Club

Scorecard

Surbiton Imps v Richmond Leg Breakers Cricket Club Sunday XI on Sun 07 Jun 2009 at 2pm
Richmond Leg Breakers Cricket Club Won by 69 runs

Match report RLB v International Rescue then Chudley Ales then Surbiton Imperials
Venue: Fishponds, SW17

An away match that became a home fixture, thunder, lightening and sun, RLB batting for the full 40 overs. Curiouser and curiouser.

To paraphrase Denis Thatcher, the lead up to the match was high on the buggeration factor. The original opposition pulled out due to lack of players, the intended replacements didn’t answer their phones and it wasn’t until Friday that the CCC came to our rescue in the form of the Surbiton Imperials.

Further complications arose from the fact that we were playing at Fishponds in Tooting, a ground that meant nothing to anyone. As it turns out it is owned by Wandsworth Council, who in turn outsource the running of it to a company called Fountains. Fountains are a plc and I can only assume that by not marking out a boundary, leaving the thistle that was growing in one of the batting creases and not providing stumps and bails that they are keeping costs to a minimum and therefore maximising shareholder value. I’ve a mind to buy a share and go to their next AGM….

Anyhoo, come 2pm the weather was holding, the pitch and outfield dried by a light breeze, twigs were marking the boundary and RLB won the toss. Despite the fact that the wicket was guaranteed to play shabbily batting first is always the only option and John Sanders and Charlie ‘Trixy’ Rix opened the innings. It was soon very clear that anything straight needed to be played off the front foot and with a straight bat. The bowling was not out of the top drawer but shooters were followed by ones that popped off a length rendering a good eye as useful as sound technique. Charlie hit the non-straight balls powerfully and John played a comfortable containing game until undone by a very good in-dipper. Will made a quick 10 before failing to get on top of one that popped and then had to go and buy the teas from the local Tesco Metro – another point that I will bring up with Fountain’s chairman. The middle order collapse is therefore unrecorded but by the time I had swept the shelves of 2 for 1 quiches and reduced to sell sandwiches we were 66 for 6 and Jon Southey was in a position to cement the number 6 slot. Trusting to the old maxim of ‘if you’re going to flash, then flash hard’ Jon set about restoring sense and pride to the Breakers’ scorecard with some hard and demoralising hitting. He was ably backed up by JB and Andy Angel and it was a shame that there was not one more over for Jon to get the ton he deserved and incidentally overtake brother Marks own highest score.

After the scratch tea, we took to the field expectant that our superior bowling should do the trick. The two Marks opened up with a burst of 3 overs each and Mark S was soon into the wickets with some straight bowling. Bowling changes came thick and fast with all but Jon Southey, Justin Caple and John Sanders having a go. Changes bought regular wickets with both Rich H and Andy Angel getting their first wickets for the RLB. Catches were mostly held and a run out was contrived too. To the Imperials credit though they stuck at it and a decent 6th wicket stand turned from commendable to frustrating especially as black clouds were threatening. In the end though, the game was closed out and the RLB coasted to a first victory of the season.

Man of the match;
Jon Southey; a fantastic innings but I doubt he was able to get out of bed this morning.

Champagne Moment;
Open to suggestions on this one. It was a dogged performance all round but not a game that produced a moment of true flair.

Pip pip
Will

Richmond Leg Breakers Cricket Club Sunday XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 8 wickets
0
199		        
John Sanders Bowled  2
Charles Rix Caught  10
Will King Caught  10
Mark Anderson Caught  10
Justin Caple Caught  0
Jon Southey Not Out  89
Richard Harland Lbw  0
John Botha Caught  12
Andy Angel Stumped  24
Mark Southey Not Out  1
A.N. Other  

Surbiton Imps Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Surbiton Imps Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
130 (0.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Richmond Leg Breakers Cricket Club Sunday XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Mark Southey8.04832.671.00
Mark Anderson8.011829.002.25
John Botha5.011800.003.60
Andy Angel1.00818.008.00
Richard Harland2.0020120.0010.00
Will King5.4030215.005.29
Charles Rix3.001400.004.67