4th XI vs Catford & Cyphers

The 4s tough start to the season continued with another defeat. However, this time the margin was a lot closer with Catford & Cyphers scrambling home by 3 wickets.

On arriving at New Ifield, the opposition raised concerns that the damp pitch was unplayable. The Heath players politely pointed out that the pitch was never playable. After an hour delay, a reduced overs game of 25 overs a side was agreed.

With bowling options very limited (despite dragging Vijay out of a garden centre at 12.15 to become a late replacement - sorry Ryan), M&M (acting skipper for the day) managed to win the toss and chose to bat. The decision looked inspired as the 4s raced to 9 off the first over largely thanks to five penalty runs. In the process, the wicket keepers helmet became one of the 4s leading run scorers for the season!

However, batting soon became the usual challenge with wickets falling at fairly regular intervals and no particular scores of note. Dave Paine hung around for a bit (despite trying to walk for an LBW decision that Neil had given as not out) and there were late contributions from Steve Wilkes & M&M batting at 10 and 11 respectively (both had concluded their game was not best suited to a slog fest).

A score of 78-9 didn’t look especially challenging but there was always a sense that a couple of early wickets would make it interesting. Unfortunately despite some lucky escapes, the early breakthrough never came and C&C moved to 30 odd without loss. However, Vijay made the breakthrough in his final over with the opener holing out to a juggling nelly in cow corner.

Matt Ellard then replaced Sulove from the sight screen end and bowled a fine spell of 3-18. Suddenly the game was looking interesting. However, we still had the problem of finding a 4th bowler. With options thin on the ground, young Ollie Tournes, playing his first 4th team game put up his hand. Apparently it was the first time Ollie had actually bowled in a game. After two balls, that pitched somewhere near the edge of the square, it looked like Dave Paine might need to bowl after all! However, Ollie showed fantastic courage and kept plugging away and was rewarded with his first ever wicket with one of C&C’s top order chipping one to the safe hands of Neil A. Ollie ended up with the very respectable figures of 5-0-22-1 and did enough to suggest that, if he can cut out the odd wide / no ball, he could be a useful bowler on pitches like New Ifield.

Unfortunately, despite the fact C&C were starting to worry a bit, they had buried one of their better players down the order and we just ran out of runs to play with. C&C got home with 2 overs and 3 wickets to spare.

Although, the game was lost, it was a great effort to take the game so close with such a young and inexperienced side. A special mention to Mac Ovenell playing his first adult game who scored his first run and fielded very well and also to SMG whose keeping was very good again.