8/07/13 Edwardstone vs Sudbury After a rather strange ‘victory’ in the precious encounter between these two teams, both sets of players were keen and hungry for a win. After losing the toss, Edwardstone were put into bat, on a green pitch that was imagined to be slightly difficult to score runs on. This was proved with the removal of both Edwardstone openers Jack Clark and Brian Bloomfield, each for 0, within the first 5 overs. After such a precarious start, it was important for batsmen Fergus Mckay and Brett Crisp to calm the innings, but in the 8th over Crisp was removed after a brilliant reaction catch in the slips. In form batsmen James Thorogood was next to the crease, and he and Mckay prompted to put on a good partnership together, both playing attacking shots resulting in a flurry of boundaries for both players. At the 15th over mark, Edwardstone were 64-3, and both players had scores on excess of 30. Unfortunately just 2 overs later McKay lost his wicket after being caught, ending his afternoon with a very good score of 40. Thorogood, now partnered by Will Dodd, continued to play some good shots, but he too was soon out after an excellent innings of 45-his top score of the season. As with many Edwardstone performances this season, a slight lack in batting depth led to a score lower than what could have been achieved with a better tail end. After Thorogood’s exit from the crease in the 22nd over, the innings lasted just another 5 overs, with a wicket lost nearly every six balls. The bottom 6 batsmen contributed another 33 runs…a total that could be easily improved on with more concentration from the lower order. After the final wicket fell, and 13 overs still remaining, Edwardstone’s innings ended on 128 all out; a small total that would be tricky to defend, but the bowlers were encouraged by the large amounts of swing achieved by the Sudbury bowlers, and were keen to get stuck into the Sudbury batting order. Edwardstone had a breakthrough almost straight away, Tom Whymark getting a wicket with only the second ball of the innings. Whymark and fellow opener Harry Young continued bowling well, both benefitting from the swinging conditions. It took until the 8th over before the second wicket was claimed, Whymark again claiming a wicket caught behind by Keeper Crisp. Young also claimed a wicket, this one LBW, leaving Sudbury on 49 runs for 3 wickets after the first 10 overs. The run rate was slightly worrying for Edwardstone, but the players were encouraged by their ability to claim wickets at regular intervals. The 11th over proved to be somewhat pivotal to the outcome of the match. Whymark, high on confidence after his earlier two wickets, bowled perhaps his most outstanding over of the season, claiming 2 wickets in 2 balls. He couldn’t quite get a hat-trick, but with 4 overs of his spell to come, a 5-wicket haul was certainly feasible. Young continued to back up Whymark at the other end, and it was in the 15th over when Whymark had his moment. With one ball of the over to come, the batsmen chipped a loose ball straight to Archer at cover. As the ball flew through the air, there was a collective gasp as the whole field held its breath. With such an easy catch, the pressure was on for Archer to pocket the catch. For a brief second, the ball seemed to have passed the fielder before, unexplainable, and quite remarkably, Archer stuck a single hand up to snatch the ball out of the air, thus completing Whymark’s first ever 5-wicket hall. Needless to say jubilant celebrations followed. (NB that description of the catch may have been slightly over dramatic but I think it was necessary) At the 15 over mark Sudbury were 55 for 7. Clark made the tactical decision to replace Young with Archer, who bowled steadily and consistently (much improved on the week previous). Whymark finished his spell of 10 overs with a maiden, allowing Ray Gibbons to come into the attack. Wickets somewhat dried up, but with only 3 needed to win there was an urgency in the Edwardstone players. Gibbons got his first wicket within his second over, Crisp taking another good catch behind the stumps. Archer also got a wicket in the following over, after an LBW decision. Only one wicket was now required, but this proved elusive to obtain. Sudbury’s final pair put on a partnership of 14 over 4 overs, but eventually the experienced Ray Gibbons claimed the final wicket giving Edwardstone a 33 run over. In conclusion a good performance from Edwardstone gave them their second league win on trot. Special mentions must go to Fergus Mckay (40) and James Thorogood (45) for 2 excellent batting performances. The bowling of Ray Gibbons (2-16-6) should be commended, of course the truly remarkable bowling performance of tom Whymark (5-22-10) will surely celebrated deep into the night. It is hoped that Edwardstone will continue their winning streak throughout the rest of the season.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 21:50:20 +0000
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