Rayleigh visited Ingatestone last weekend with a resurgent team strengthened by the ever dependable Cook and Walsh. IB won the toss (calling tails) and decided to field. It was freezing.
Everyone contributed with Law taking two in two balls (again) and Walsh, Bryant and Cook all getting in on the act. Highlights of a good fielding display include: Baird wearing a hoodie under his top, Williams diving like he’d been shot, and yes Cornish letting the ball go under his hands for 4 (were we to rue that mistake later in the game??) We restricted them to 134 taking 8 overs from their allowance — loads of time, start the car and all that surely. Not with Rayleigh though, we made a thrilling game out of it, taking it to the wire.
Early wickets left Rayleigh up against it with Cook being the only man to make a decent contribution (58). LBW decisions went against us with 3 batsmen triggered on what was an unpredictable track. Cricket however is a team game and every run counted even Baird’s 1, Williams 3, Bryant’s 4 and Extras who had a fine innings.
Cook played well, within out him it would have been embarrassing but with only 16 runs to score he was bowled leaving Walsh and Law at the crease. It was spare pants at the ready as anything was possible. The old timers played crafty cricket nudging for 1s and putting away the bad ball with Law (senior old timer) taking the majority of the strike. Law ran a quick single with us still needing 4 to win putting Walsh on strike. It was all on Walsh and he came up with the skills to pay the bills! Bowler running in from the church end, pitched short; Walsh tips the ball over gully out of the fielders reach and trickles to the boundary — It was sublime, Roy of the Rovers time, calypso cricket … and Cornish’ earlier misfield was forgotten.
Rayleigh grabbed a nervy win, but they all count.
Man of the match Cook, Shot of the match Walsh, Asbo of the day Baird.