Match Reports 2017

Match Report N2CC v RTCC 2017

Sunday 9th July 2017

at Rowley Lane Sports Ground

RTCC 148-7

N2 109

RTCC won by 39 runs

Two last minute dropouts threatened to reduce the travelling Taverners to nine but the good news as we left the Railway Tavern for somewhere the other side of Barnet was that two last second recruits had brought us back up to eleven.

Somehow however only seven of us arrived. Both late recruits had disappeared. One apparently even going so far as to arrive at the ground by taxi, think better of it, and turn around and go straight home again. Two others, new Taverners both, had not been seen or heard from at all since putting their names down to play. So, in the absence of our usual captaincy duo, I strolled out onto the spacious acres of Rowley Lane for the toss, explaining to N2 skipper Abdul that we had 7 and were hoping two more might turn up. Winning the toss it was an easy decision to bat and hope reinforcements would arrive.

The early overs were spent negotiating some fairly tight bowling on a slow pitch with some eccentric bounce, scouring the horizon for arriving Taverners, and negotiating terms on borrowing a N2 player or two if we remained with seven aganst eleven. It didn't help losing Andy P bowled by Nage after just one of his trademark drives. AJ replaced him and restrained his usual attacking game for the sake of the team, breaking the monotony with a series of chipped shots just out of the reach of fielders. He was undone by a slow full toss that hit him in front, high but dipping and up went the finger. Dave G then joined me with the score a sorry 27-2 off 13 of our 40 overs. We resolved to tick things over till the drinks break and reassess from there.

Oddly, Arif and Naveed, who had turned out for us on the Friday, were now lining up against us, and eventually, with helpful input from Shai, N2's non-playing skipper, it was agreed during the drinks interval that the two of them should switch sides making it a nine-a-side game. Generous.

With two fewer fielders now on the field the runs started to flow more easily. Five runs an over from here would get us to 150, not a big score but enough to give us a fighting chance. Game on.

Dave and I took the score on to 90 at a good rate then both fell in quick succession. Dave S carried on the work with increasing confidence, then Guy came in to push it along nicely in the final overs. 148-7 with our last pair at the crease at the end.

Hoping to build a little pressure on the N2 openers we started with the lesser pace but, it was hoped, accuracy of Arif and Barrie. Neither bowled badly but nor were the openers troubled until Arif bowled Anderson with the score at 33. Andy Pacey replaced Barrie but the number three soon started unleashing some worryingly powerful leg side shots. With D Parker looking solid as ever at the other end it was now or never, and time to unleash our strike bowler.

After an over or so to find his line and rhythm, Dave G bowled beautifully. When he bowled number three Davids for 36 we were relieved. When he then yorked Parker for 43 we actually realised we were in with a chance. Having never seen Naveed bowl I was more than a little wary of his offer to bowl legspin, but with two new bats at the crease now was the time. He was a revelation, turning the ball sharply at a good pace. The N2 middle order simply didn't know how to play him.

It is always fun in the field when the bowlers are on top. With so few runs to play with we simply had to attack anyway. So in we came, close fielders clustered closer and everyone (all nine of us) got right into the game and behind the bowlers. The N2 batsmen were now purely in survival mode, and not exactly succeeding at that. Dave bowled the number five, then won an lbw next ball. Next ball, yorker edged onto the stumps and the hattrick. Also a well-earned five-for. Then Dave S held on to a mistimed pull off Naveed and 93-2 had become 103-7. Last pair together. We had to wait a few more overs before Naveed took the final wicket and an improbable victory was complete.

Man of the Match honours to Dave G for his five wickets including a hattrick, and some useful runs as well. Thanks to Arif and Naveed for switching over to help us out, and especially to N2 for generously offering to let them do so to make a game of it. It cost them the game and they were understandably gutted by the end, but they will have a chance for revenge at our place in a few weeks. Finally thank you and well done to the seven Tavs who went to Barnet and came back with the spoils.

skip-for-the-day Simon