Grace's lost to Judd St Tigers by 13 runs
The Sunday of the bank holiday saw us travel to Winchmore Hill for our traditionally close game against Judd Street Tigers. A wet Saturday resulted in a very green strip with a beautifully manicured outfield. Having lost the toss we were invited to bat with Dom and Leo seeing off some straight bowling from the Judd Street attack. In the 8th over Dom was caught and bowled (was it a bump ball!) with the total at 8. This brought in our secret weapon Regan who had previously blasted opponents attacks to all corners. However he was soon bowled edging onto his stumps for 1 walking back to the stunned Grace’s players who had been awaiting fireworks! Mahender came in to join Leo – the bowling was changed with Judd St’s veteran spinner , Bignall , coming on. He produced very looping deliveries that were missed at your peril as we were about to discover – Mahender soon succumbed to temptation playing a big airy drive and was bowled for 2.
Leo had played very patiently and was growing in confidence with some sweetly hit fours – however he mistimed a defensive stroke which resulted in a simple catch back to Mr Bignall. Stuart entered the fray and was respectful of the bowling putting anything lose away – sadly a lofted drive into the outfield put the ball down a fielder’s throat for a tidy 14 – Bignall once more. At the other end Mendis was also patient until he was another batsman tempted into a big shot that resulted in his being bowled by the loopy spinner. Newton came in and soon provided Bignall with his 5th wicket mistiming a simple catch to the keeper.
We were now in big trouble at 66 for 7. Niroshan joined Scott at the crease and managed to add a bit of stability, Scott batting very sensibly. After a few nice fours Niroshan was bowled and after Jonners hit a long hop straight to square leg we were 94 for 9. A few lusty hits from Anosh saw us to 109 before he was bowled in the 36th over.
We didn’t have much luck but Judd Street bowled very straight and took their chances and the ball wasn’t really coming on to the bat on the green strip.
After a yummy tea Newton and Regan opened the bowling and kept the scoring down – Regan (nursing an injury) bowling tightly with some hostile bouncers bowling their opener Delanian for 12. Soon after the other opener , Herhily , took a risky single to Regan who whistled the ball back over the stumps to be run out for 16. 35 for 2 became 40 for 3 when Jonners caught fellow keeper Pinfield off a thin edge off Mendis.
This raised Grace’s spirits but number 4 Dane aided by Burgess ,the number 6, took up the attack. Sensible batting with some fortune (Chinese cuts!) accumulated Judd Street’s run total bringing up the winning runs in the 30th over. – Our bowling was good with Anosh pinning an end down (7 overs for 19 runs) but our total was at least 50 short of being defendable.
This was the second innings that we didn’t use up the overs and this combined with some rash shots made it difficult to give the bowlers something to aim at. So some more batting stability is needed for our next match.