Greetings cricket lovers – here’s my report for Sunday’s game
Friendly fixture home to Village CC – Broxbourne
Graces second again!
So after being frozen out the previous week Graces returned to our new base at Broxbourne to take on Village CC.
Thankfully Spring had returned and it was sunny and around 15 degrees – also with lockdown restrictions lifting our loyal band of spectators were able to come along and enjoy the game and the bar!
We were on the splendid main square again – this is one of the many benefits we now have as we have been privileged to be invited by Broxbourne to be part of their club setup – another stage in our development.
A late injury to Archie resulted in Niroshan making a welcome return as skipper Stuart won the toss and elected to bat on the fine surface. The Village CC are a friendly wandering side made up of university friends with some able cricketers.
Adam and Scott opened our innings against medium / fast bowling (Thomson & Archit) – we didn’t get off to the best start with both openers back in the pavilion in the 4th over for 12 runs – Scott unluckily drilling a long hop straight to mid off. Stalwart Noddy together with Mahender steadied the ship against accurate bowling.
In the 11th over Mahender was caught for 15 (score then 42) bringing Niroshan in at 5 who took the attack to the visitors with some nicely timed drives. Our recovery took the score to 99 when Noddy was LBW for a patient 26 – 99 for 4 after 23 overs.
The Village’s change bowlers didn’t give too much away but Leo in at 6 batted with a perfect combination of sound defence together with putting anything lose away – With him and Niroshan together the watching Graces thought a good total looked on until a first lose shot saw Niroshan bowled for an entertaining 47 – a great knock considering he’d not picked up a bat for a couple of summers.
12 overs left – 134 for 5 – Ari and Dom chipped in with Leo but some accurate bowling meant we were restricted to 53 off the last 10 overs finishing on 196 for 8 , Leo totalled 43 not out. Our guests were generous with the extras which added 40!
After a BYO tea in the sunshine skipper Stuart led us back onto the field opening with Ari and Mahender.
Opener Bosch was soon bowled by Ari in the 3rd over with the total at 3 – this brought skipper Olly in who together with the number 1 Graham steadied the ship until in the 13th over when the opener edged onto his helmet. Alert keeper Adam caught him out – a rare dismissal. When the number 4 was bowled by Noddy for a duck our tails were up – 47 for 3 after 13 overs.
Our guest’s beefy skipper Olly however took the game to us with some attacking strokes – change bowlers Mamun and Noddy restricted the runs but our lack of a recognised 5th bowler was exploited by Olly and all rounder Thompson (in at 7 after Noddy bowled their number 6 for a patient 8 runs)
To the Graces team the field seemed to get bigger as we did a lot of chasing – the outfield was quick with the ball racing to the boundary as the now in batsman put the loose deliveries away unerringly.
The return of our openers slowed the rate down but the damage had been done with Olly reaching his century and the winning runs arriving in the 38th over with 7 wickets down.
We never gave up in the field – a highlight being Mahender’s great throw to run out their number 6. Noddy (8 overs 2 wickets 19 runs) and Mahender (8 overs 1 for 19) returned the best figures – Ari moved the ball nicely beating the bat.
After the match our guests stayed for drinks – we look forward to hosting them again as they play the game in the right spirit. Thanks again to Colin making it along to score after starting work horribly early and also to our fab supporters.
Next week we travel where the cabs don’t go – south of the river to Brockley!