Captains Report
Vs Thorpe Arnold CC 24/06/2023
This week our opponents were Thorpe Arnold Cricket Club, local rivals from Melton Mowbray. It was an absolute scorcher of a day at MOCC and I winning the toss I chose to bowl first on a wicket which appeared to offer something to the bowlers.
Starting down the hill was Will Abbott who bowled with pace, venom and bounce and at times had the batters in trouble with a sharp chance through to me at gully which I felt I should have caught but didn’t and their opener who went in to get 80 runs. Will bowled a strong 6 overs without a wicket for 36 runs, George Knight bowling up the hill bowled a very impressive opening spell of 5 overs with no wickets for 18 runs. We needed a change in the heat so brought on spin from both ends with Minkley & Peveritt.
Minkley generated something from his third ball which was smashed out to deep square leg to Tom Goodliffe, a usual safe pair of hands, but unfortunately, it went to ground. This started a rot of dropped catches, miss-fields and poor fielding which didn’t help us to restrict the opponents on a good batting wicket. We also gave away 45 extras, which didn’t help, and Thorpe set us a target of 244 to win from 40 overs. A target that was certainly achievable with our batting lineup.
Will Abbott & Callum Hull opened the batting with Will getting us off to a flying start again with some good support from Callum scoring a quick-fire 36 in no time before Callum fell on 12, bowled by Redwood, Will continued striking the ball well before hitting a shot to long on where the fielder caught the ball close to stepping over the boundary but then threw the ball across the boundary rope in front of the sight screen to a supporting fielder and Will was given out, much to mine and his disappointment.
Out came Joe P with a positive swagger and got off to a good start with some positive shots. I was the next one to fall to Redwood, adjudged LBW which I certainly struggled to grasp considering I was batting 1.5 meters out of my crease, to cut the swing down and cover the ball, and it hit me on the knee roll. Hey ho, thanks Dale for triggering me for the 2nd time this season albeit the 1 one last week was plumb according to Coops. This week elements of doubt could have prevailed but did not.
Goodliffe & Mabbott both came in and began to stroke the ball around before falling for 13 & 15 respectively. This brought Ryan Sharpe to the crease for a short stint before being bowled for 1 run. George Knight came in and supported Joe P well as he brought up his 50. Both were pushing on with a positive mindset but the rotation of the strike was costing us dearly with using up deliveries for no runs. Something we must work on.
George fell for 8 runs and this brought Minkley to the crease while Joe P continued to drive the game forward which was getting towards 7/8 runs an over needed. They were keeping up with the run rate needed before a miscommunication caused a runout with both Minkley & Joe P at the non-strikers’ end. Minkley was standing firm in the crease meaning Joe was out. An opportunity for Minkley to sacrifice his wicket to the on-form Joe, by it wasn’t to be.
Chris was then dismissed a couple of balls later with Jack Adams also falling without putting runs on the scoreboard. Amongst all this Mo Ali came in at 11 carrying his bat with only one useable hand.
We finished on 182 just 36 runs shy of the target.
In my opinion 3 kegs things lost us this game. Dropped catches, poor fielding and un-disciplined bowling giving away 45 extras. Onto next week and we go again.
Cheers
1st Team Skipper
Maka
Thanks