|
The thirds, a little changed due to squad rotation, faced up to Oundle in a pairs match which provided some fresh tactical challenges but gave some invaluable batting experience to the lower orders. The match began from a positive score of 100 to allow for wickets being taken without disappearing into negativity.
Oundle batted first and were immediately put on the back foot through some great bowling by Burgess who took two wickets in the first over (he went on to take 5 wickets, Keith and Allhusen took the others later on). The openers were restricted to a total of 6 runs but complacency even at such an early stage started to set in just as their strongest batting pair took to the field. What followed was textbook fielding - straight out of the Chuckle brothers' coaching manual! Catches were dropped, ridiculous appeals went on and on, balls went through legs and the 'no ball' tally mounted. In actual fact the extras performed remarkably well for Oundle, quickly notching up their half century and finishing on 64 runs. Ironically the nine wickets taken cancelled out runs scored by batsmen (each wicket reduces the total by 5) and their final score was 164 (for nine).
Maidwell took to the field after tea as the openers took to the crease, a positive start was quickly hijacked by poor decision making and between them three wickets were lost virtually cancelling out their runs. This left Captain Burgess and Allhusen with some work to start building towards what should have been an easily reached total. They set about the bowlers in confident fashion and despite a late wicket loss managed to notch up 22 runs (27 minus 5) off their 24 balls (not including extras). Other pairs kept the total building but some nervous and hesitant running between the stumps kept the run rate very low. The final pair of Olowogboye and Munoz arrived with Maidwell 16 runs ahead but three wickets in quick succession gave the opposition hope. Thankfully Oundle ran out of overs and a few good strikes from the pair maintained a gap, Maidwell (after detailed score tallying by the umpires!!!) winning by 6 runs. If the Thirds are to gain results in their remaining matches there needs to be much more focus and concentration in the field - seven easy catches were dropped and two half chances - and definitely more urgency when batting to maintain a positive run rate.
|