Match report courtesy of the Journeymen
match report
By Uday Patel:
It was another fine day out for the Journeymen as we made it two wins in two, this time away at the lovely Broxbourne ground, playing against the ever welcoming Graces CC.
Graces won the toss and opted to bat first. Their openers walked in the middle among shouts of encouragement from teammates. Meanwhile, JM were doing things in classic Journeymen style: two players stuck in traffic, running on hope and Google Maps. Thankfully, Graces kindly lent us a sub fielder to plug the early gaps.
Marlon Hayes took the first over, giving away a boundary straight up. It was enough to wake up any JMers still mentally stuck in warm up mode. But once the opening nerves were out the way, both Marlon and Hiran Prashant settled in and tightened the screws. Hiran struck twice with two dead-straight LBWs, sending their top order packing and putting JM in control at 26 for 2 after 10 overs.
First change saw James Axford and Peter Jarman come on. Peter bowled with some good deliveries and picked up the wicket of their batter who was looking dangerous. James, who hadn’t bowled much last season, took a couple of overs to get into gear. Once the rust came off, he bowled a good first spell. At drinks, the score was 83 for 3 and things were nicely poised.
Post-drinks, ball was handed to debutant Sam McMahon and James Griffin. Griffin made an instant impact, nicking three wickets in a four-over spell that caused chaos. Sam, back after a two-year cricketing holiday, grew into the game nicely. Although the final over reminded him that match fitness is not just a concept, it’s a lifestyle.
Rudra Patel came on to bowl some cheeky leg-spin and made the ball talk. Three wickets bowled, all clean as a whistle. Mark Hope bowled a tidy spell too, and James Axford came back to deliver a fiery yorker to finish the innings. Graces CC all out for 172 in 39.4 overs.
With Rudra back, we had the luxury of our usual opening combo of Rudra and Nigel Bloch. The pair got us off to a smooth start, keeping the scoreboard ticking. But just when things were cruising, Nigel was given out LBW on 20. Paddy Cox and Uday Patel came and went quickly, scoring 1 and 4 respectively, leaving us wobbling slightly at 43 for 3.
In stepped James Griffin, who joined Rudra to stabilise the innings. When James eventually fell, in came Mark Hope and let’s just say, he wasn’t hanging about. He smashed five consecutive boundaries in one over, and then clearly outraged at not hitting the sixth he retired himself on 54. Match was almost won by then.
A bit of late drama followed as James Axford wandered off thinking he was bowled, only to find out he was actually stumped, or was he? The umpire reckoned his foot was still grounded, but by the time the confusion cleared, James was halfway to the dressing room. No review system here.
In walked Hiran, faced one delivery, and watched the ball go to four byes towards fine leg to seal the win. Job done, 173 chased down with overs to spare.
Post-match, both teams gathered at the bar for a few drinks, laughs, and stories. A cracking day in the sun, great hosts, great banter, and the JM bandwagon keeps rolling.
Next stop: Enfield CC, more runs, more wickets, more chaos.