The scene was set, Underriver CC fresh off a convincing beat down of Farningham CC were looking to beat a league-leading Limpsfield Chart side. Could the momentum be with the visitors? Could this be the story of the little village side that could? The bookies would favour the undefeated league leaders, but our plucky group had other ideas.
After declaring today as a "heads day" our skipper continued his good form in the coin toss (very different to his batting form) and elected to field. Wiles and Close Sr took the new ball. After the initial overs highlighted the interesting nature of the pitch's bounce, Limpsfield looked confident. The league leading "biffer" being in good form, placing C Close into the local gardens. However, as the sun reflected off the crown of his head, a wry smile came across Close's face. From out of the bag of tricks came a delivery that bested the star bat, tempted into a rash shot. Watson safely pouched the chip shot and the game was on.
What followed from the initial dismissal was a cagey affair. However, Close's economy and Wiles' attacking lines kept the home side in check. It was up to the birthday girl Osborne to make the breakthrough. Bowling from the pavilion end, Underriver's Kolpak player had batsmen completely tied up. Leahy stepped up to take a brace of catches, with Wiles also joining in on the fun to break the deadlock.
After hobbling along for 25 overs, Limpsfield, feeling their total was not enough, began to "chap on". It was only the sure hands of our fieldsmen and some accurate bowling from Watson, Carpenter and Ashfield that kept the total under 160. Particular praise goes to Limpsfield's number 8, who managed to swing and miss at every ball in the last over, before getting himself stumped.
With a total set of under 4 an over, Underriver sniffed the chance for another upset, but the pitch still had its game to play. The opening pairing of Simon and Simon looked all at sea. Eventually, Leahy became set and began to score at normal pace, while Carey was turned inside out, like Close Sr's cricket whites, unable to get the ball off the square. After toiling away for ten overs, Leahy fell to one that stuck in the wicket. At this point it became evident why the home side were so successful at home.
In came Watson, who proceeded to place his first two balls over the boundary, lifting the supporters' hopes. His flurry of blows ended after a swift 33, but the visitors looked in a strong position after drinks. Matt Baines continued where Watson left off, dispatching balls with ease. Just as all began to look comfortable, Carey fell on 30 after missing a straight one. The author has been told the ball failed to rise above his shoelaces, other sources are fake news.
Close Jr steadied the ship, with a tremendous new league high score of 15. He then proceeded to hit a full toss as hard as possible into the hands of an awaiting fielder. Here began squeaky bum time.
Carpenter joined Pinder at the crease in order to see UCC to victory. Carpenter delivered powerful blows to the LCCC spinners to bring victory into sight. Limpsfield begin to panic, with misfields, byes and buzzers aplenty (overthrows to those not akin to Aussie slang). UCC took advantage of them all.
With 2 overs remaining, the visitors required 8 more runs. Up steps Carpenter who smashed the first ball of the over over midwicket. "Start the Car!!" screams Hawkeye from square leg umpire, in David Lloyd fashion, as the ball sailed into the ferns. However, the game still had twists, as Carpenter heard the death rattle of falling bails when he aimed to finish it all with one final big shot.
Up steps the Ice-Man Wiles, who calmly opens the face and runs his first ball to third man for 1. 3 required from 8. I am unable to comment on the ongoing stewards' enquiry into 'umpire' Pendered's counting, but after all confusion was resolved, UCC were awarded the sixth delivery in the penultimate over. Pinder did not waste this delivery, slashing the ball through backward point. He scampered to the other end, not knowing he had already done enough to seal victory for the boys from the rock as the ball rolled over the boundary. Cheers and applause echoed around the trees and the Stellas were decanted, as Underriver celebrated more spoils of their mid-season run of form. We now look forward to Hadlow in a week's time, always a contentious fixture.
by Simon Carey
After declaring today as a "heads day" our skipper continued his good form in the coin toss (very different to his batting form) and elected to field. Wiles and Close Sr took the new ball. After the initial overs highlighted the interesting nature of the pitch's bounce, Limpsfield looked confident. The league leading "biffer" being in good form, placing C Close into the local gardens. However, as the sun reflected off the crown of his head, a wry smile came across Close's face. From out of the bag of tricks came a delivery that bested the star bat, tempted into a rash shot. Watson safely pouched the chip shot and the game was on.
What followed from the initial dismissal was a cagey affair. However, Close's economy and Wiles' attacking lines kept the home side in check. It was up to the birthday girl Osborne to make the breakthrough. Bowling from the pavilion end, Underriver's Kolpak player had batsmen completely tied up. Leahy stepped up to take a brace of catches, with Wiles also joining in on the fun to break the deadlock.
After hobbling along for 25 overs, Limpsfield, feeling their total was not enough, began to "chap on". It was only the sure hands of our fieldsmen and some accurate bowling from Watson, Carpenter and Ashfield that kept the total under 160. Particular praise goes to Limpsfield's number 8, who managed to swing and miss at every ball in the last over, before getting himself stumped.
With a total set of under 4 an over, Underriver sniffed the chance for another upset, but the pitch still had its game to play. The opening pairing of Simon and Simon looked all at sea. Eventually, Leahy became set and began to score at normal pace, while Carey was turned inside out, like Close Sr's cricket whites, unable to get the ball off the square. After toiling away for ten overs, Leahy fell to one that stuck in the wicket. At this point it became evident why the home side were so successful at home.
In came Watson, who proceeded to place his first two balls over the boundary, lifting the supporters' hopes. His flurry of blows ended after a swift 33, but the visitors looked in a strong position after drinks. Matt Baines continued where Watson left off, dispatching balls with ease. Just as all began to look comfortable, Carey fell on 30 after missing a straight one. The author has been told the ball failed to rise above his shoelaces, other sources are fake news.
Close Jr steadied the ship, with a tremendous new league high score of 15. He then proceeded to hit a full toss as hard as possible into the hands of an awaiting fielder. Here began squeaky bum time.
Carpenter joined Pinder at the crease in order to see UCC to victory. Carpenter delivered powerful blows to the LCCC spinners to bring victory into sight. Limpsfield begin to panic, with misfields, byes and buzzers aplenty (overthrows to those not akin to Aussie slang). UCC took advantage of them all.
With 2 overs remaining, the visitors required 8 more runs. Up steps Carpenter who smashed the first ball of the over over midwicket. "Start the Car!!" screams Hawkeye from square leg umpire, in David Lloyd fashion, as the ball sailed into the ferns. However, the game still had twists, as Carpenter heard the death rattle of falling bails when he aimed to finish it all with one final big shot.
Up steps the Ice-Man Wiles, who calmly opens the face and runs his first ball to third man for 1. 3 required from 8. I am unable to comment on the ongoing stewards' enquiry into 'umpire' Pendered's counting, but after all confusion was resolved, UCC were awarded the sixth delivery in the penultimate over. Pinder did not waste this delivery, slashing the ball through backward point. He scampered to the other end, not knowing he had already done enough to seal victory for the boys from the rock as the ball rolled over the boundary. Cheers and applause echoed around the trees and the Stellas were decanted, as Underriver celebrated more spoils of their mid-season run of form. We now look forward to Hadlow in a week's time, always a contentious fixture.
by Simon Carey
