Pyestock Bogged Down in Tough Opener!
Pyestock CC Vs Woking and Horsell CC
Sunday 6th May 2012
Weather Conditions: Dry, Overcast, Cold
Pitch Conditions: Wicket: Soft, Underprepared, Outfield: Long, Soft, Bobbly.
Pyestock took to the field for the first time in 2012 with vice-captain Chris McGovern looking for a win to start the season off on a positive foot, as well as making a mark in his first full game in charge.
A perfect start was hampered though, with the pitch severely underprepared the Home team first had to roll, and mark the pitch as well as marking a boundary and covering waterlogged areas of the square it was not a smooth transition into the new season. Further problems arose with late withdrawals from both Terry and Billy Leader and the captain himself unavailable for the first 3 overs of play.
Standing in amongst the chaos, chairman Mark Padwick won the toss and elected to field, and the 8 available players (some wearing black armbands in memory of Tony Blenkinsop) started well, 3 consecutive maidens allowed the score to remain 0 for 0 for the captains arrival.
In the 6th Over, Pyestock struck, Dan Heath removing Jeeyan Rai with a shorter ball that the opener cut straight into Glenn Taylors hands at point. Two overs later and the trick was repeated, same shorter ball, same shot, and same catcher. Fellow opener Dunbar joined Rai back in the pavilion. Another over from Dan produced his and Pyestock’s third wicket, bowling Grammar for a duck and Woking and Horsell were in trouble at 15 for 3.
By this point, Taylor Newcombe had allowed Pyestock’s number’s to swell to 10 and she held on to a catch at mid off again from Dans bowling to dismiss Muhammad in the 14th over, to plunge the visitors further into trouble.
Meanwhile however, Allen, was remaining steady, and having survived a scare when both he and teammate found themselves at the same end complete with wicket keeper and ball, but somehow survived being run out, was now looking to up the scoring rate. This looked even more the case with the number 3 being joined at the crease by the powerful looking Hussain who promptly dispatched a huge 6 over Dan’s head to allow the Pyestock team to exchange worried glances.
These glances bore no reflection to what was about to occur however as the first ball of the next over saw Hussain swing wildly at a ball outside off stump, which held up in the pitch, and only resulted in another easy catch for Glenn in the covers, giving Chris Heath his first wicket of the season and putting the home side in a commanding position with their opponents reduced to 32 for 5.
Allen battled on and learnt to play the pitch well, he and new batsmen Eve batted patiently and doggedly adapting well to new bowlers Taylor Newcombe and Mark Padwick as well as Dan Heath reverting to spin following his devastating spell of pace. The score had moved on to 62 when a suicidal call for a second run left Eve with no chance as that man Glenn Taylor once again delivered the goods, whistling a ball in from the outfield giving Dan the easiest of run outs.
Replaced by Barter however, this seemingly timely wicket did little to change the course of the innings with Allen still batting patiently and eventually brought up his very well deserved half century which would prove increasingly valuable as the match wore on.
With no real further incident, Woking and Horsells innings closed on 99 which, on such a soft unpredictable wicket looked a good score. Allen finished 54 not out, and Dan Heath 4-46 from his marathon 18 over stint.
After tea Pyestock’s innings started in the worst possible fashion, with Glenn Taylor playing all round a ball that kept a little low to leave the home side 2 for 1. Jon Ford and Chris Heath attempted to steady the ship however both found it increasingly difficult to score and when both were bowled by Ayling in the space of 3 overs Pyestock were on the back foot at 11 for 3.
A powerful middle order however remained Pyestock’s strength and Vaughan Newcombe, Dan Heath and Colin Butler all provided valuable resistance and careful stroke play to keep the hosts in the game. Vaughan fell first, also being bowled by the impressive Ayling for 7 before Dan and Colin provided Pyestock’s biggest partnership of 28 from 60 balls ending only when Dan holed out at long on Hussain from the bowling of Dunbar.
Mike Carpenter smashed a much needed 4 before falling the same way as his predecessor Dan, bringing together the last partnership from Pyestocks recognised batsmen, despite all hopes being pinned on Colin and captain Chris McGovern steering Pyestock towards victory, the partnership only yielded 4 runs before Colin was caught for 11 off of the bowling of Grammar to give the latter a wicket with only his second ball.
Taylor Newcombe joined the captain at the crease and supported her captain admirably whilst he went on the rampage, desperately trying to keep a fading, faltering Pyestock in the game. Woking and Horsell counter attacked by bringing openers Ayling and Hussain back into the attack, and it worked a treat, Chris McGovern, who had looked solid was bowled by Hussain and effectively ending Pyestock’s chances of victory.
With 15 balls remaining Pyestock had only 1 wicket in hand and 16 runs to get, Taylor and Mark Padwick shut the door, but with only 8 balls remaining, the unfortunate Taylor Newcombe faced a quicker ball from Ayling, which rose sharply off a good length coupled with in-swing, rapped the youngster in the ribs and flew helplessly on to the stumps.
A good close game played in tough conditions but excellent spirit, was over, Woking and Horsell probably just about deserved victory by batting the better on a very tough wicket.
Pyestock are at home again next week facing Kings in what will be another very tough encounter.
Woking and Horsell CC 99 for 6 (J.Allen 54*)
Pyestock CC 84 All Out
Woking and Horsell win by 15 runs