Team: Jordan J. (capt.), Harry D., Jamie B., Alec B., David W., Liam H., Alex B., Callum B., Jamie C. (w/k), Adam B., Andrew G.
On a bright and sunny Sunday morning we turned up to play our first home game of the season. With 11 players. Ben M-J had been away on holiday, got back too late to say he was available so turned up on spec. As a reward he got to field for Eastwood since they only had 10 players. So first gold star to Ben for keeping his enthusiasm throughout the game.
Jordan was selected as captain (again with no notice) after three or four others turned down the chance. A trifle unfair on him to be dropped in it since I was not that familiar with the boys playing. So second gold star for having a go.We lost the toss and were put into bowl, something we would have done anyway. Second match in a row this has happened so either our tactics are wrong or we are very lucky.
Alec and Harry opened the bowling with Alec taking two wickets in his second over. A great start with him ending up with 2-11 from his 4 overs. Eastwood were batting well given the conditions and, in particular, were looking for quick singles. However no-one got on top of any of the bowlers as wickets kept tumbling.
Liam and Jamie were the next bowling combination. Jamie took a wicket first ball as the Eastwood player tried to belt the ball over deep square leg and was bowled on the top of off. Possibly the wrong shot given the conditions.
Jordan and Adam B were the next pair. Both were a bit generous in their first over and whilst Adam didn’t get another chance Jordan delivered in his second getting a wicket, an edge and beating the bat.
The final bowler (Alec and Harry both coming back on to finish their spells) was Alex B. A revelation. He was very solid, stared with a wicket maiden, took wickets in each of his other overs and finished with figures of 3-2. That is 3 wickets for 2 runs.
After 20 overs we had restricted Eastwood to 74 runs for 8 wickets. A pretty fair performance with some good ground fielding and backing up from everyone.
Half time meant juice and drinks in the pavilion on the other field. Next time I’ll bring the requisite. And like the last match no hot breakfast for the manager. Something to work on.
For our batting innings Jordan and Harry opened. Conditions were still difficult for stroke play so the runs came slowly. The pair put on 41 in 10 overs before the first wicket fell.
The run rate was about right but without much room for slowing down. Unfortunately neither Alec or Jamie B lasted long and we were 44-4 quite quickly. That Mr. Boycott is proved right again – two wickets can fall really quickly.
Jordan and David tried to keep the score moving with David getting some lusty swipes in but the balls went for 1 or 2 rather than boundaries. David finally managed a 4 (the first of our innings) and was then out the next ball he faced.
Between the 11th and 18th overs the runs dried up despite our best efforts – a sign of good bowling and fielding from Eastwood. On the final delivery Liam came out and hit a single helping his lifetime stats slightly. Jordan carried his bat.
Our final score was 62-4 meaning we lost by 12 runs.
There are some areas to work on and the first will be me telling the relevant person before the morning of the match that they are captain. It was a close game with Eastwood’s better fielding being the main difference between the sides.
Onwards to Benfleet on the 17th, away.