B.O.C.C.

Match Report

Barnes Occasionals vs. Effingham CC

Score Card    Match Report

1st August 1999 at 2:30 P.M. at Effingham

Captain: Mark Lichfield (chose to bat).

Result: Effingham won by 8 wickets.

Score card:

Match Report:

This fixture was a last minute emergency replacement because Grmisdyke pulled out due to a shortage of players. Barnes had a similar problem being without the two regular opening batsman, and with only one mainstream bowler.  Even so, the 'regular' Occasionals had managed to field a full team by calling on Nigel Saperia, John Hanmer, and for some reason the banned Alex White.

Effingham,  the replacement team,  had announced themselves as "weak", and although they appeared to have a couple of serious looking players, about half the side was made up of youngsters.  Bearing this in mind along with the hot conditions, when Lichfield won the toss, he elected to Bat first.

Given the seemingly strong middle order available to him, Lichfield chose to open with himself and Hogg Minor.  As soon as the first ball was bowled, the sky began to cloud over, and the ball began to swing, at which point Effingham's captain suggested jokingly to Lichfield, that perhaps fielding would have been a better option.

Lichfield offered two chances during his innings of 12, the first was nick which should have been caught by the keeper, but instead went for 4 runs, the other was a an easy chip to mid off which was dropped.  In both cases the mistakes were made by the youngsters, which gave a small measure of confidence to the captain.  He was finally bowled by an extraordinary ball, which pitched outside leg and came back, from Cook, the first change bowler. 

Hogg Minor once again challenged for a regular opening spot,  making 18 before being bowled, also by Cook.  Saperia looked to be in fine form, striking a superb straight drive for 4.   Mad Hanmer came to the crease to replace Hogg Minor and stayed for a while whilst the rest of middle order collapsed : Saperia was soon caught attempting to add to his 4, by Cook (in the action again) in the covers off   G.Norman. Price attempted to play across the line first ball and was bowled by Cook, and he was quickly followed by Dunlop who was unlucky to be given LBW by Hanmer Junior, this was to be Cooks last wicket off the day, but he had helped to reduce a reasonable start from 34-0 to 43-5 in the space of a few overs.

At this point, the opposition took pity and put on the slower bowlers. and Barnes managed to scrape to a poor total of 104 (at least 120 short of what was needed). 

Entertainment was offered at the end of the innings with the splendid run out of Haddow (instead of the usual LBW).

Lichfield's strategy for fielding was simple - use Dunlop and Pettit for the first 15 overs or so, and if enough wickets were down,  keep one of them on at all times, with the weaker bowlers having a couple each, and finally having them both back on at the end. If the wickets didn't fall, he would give everybody a go.

Dunlop made the first breakthrough, bowling G.Norman for 9.  This was not to be repeated, and by about 60 for 1, Lichfield decided plan B was in order. 

The only other wicket to fall was that of P.Hughes who was run out for 42 by a direct hit from Dunlop.

The only consolation for the poor performance was the setting of the ground which was a great improvement on the municipal tips upon which we all to frequently play.

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