Brilliant Ben Wins His Battles,
As Pyestock Win The War!
Warfield CC Vs Pyestock CC
Sunday 9th June 2013
Weather Conditions: Overcast and cool, sunnier later.
Pitch Conditions: Wicket: Dry, Green, Outfield: Green, uneven, very long in places.
Match Type: Timed
Six wickets from Ben Bromley helped Pyestock cruise to a comfortable win against Warfield at the Memorial Ground.
Fielding to begin with for the first time in three weeks, as preferred by Neil Butler’s side, this despite scoring 424 runs in the last two matches, Pyestock started well.
Neil, seemingly using this match to shuffle his troops elected spinner Ben Bromley to accompany Chris Heath in opening the bowling, and it seemed a good decision as Warfield’s opening batsmen Ian Taylor and Aroun Jayabalan struggled with the variation in pace. In fact, the two bowlers, supported ably by the fielders, were so on top that only 5 runs were scored in the opening 10 overs.
Eventually, Warfield sensed that runs were required and simple survival was not the answer. Starting to attack the bowling at least moved the score into double figures, however it soon came at a price as Aroun mistimed an off-drive to Jon Ford at cover for Ben Bromley’s first wicket of the match.
Replacement Ken Fuller looked more positive and soon dispatched Chris for a straight boundary to force the visitors to realise that despite the very low run rate, the job was nowhere near complete. Pyestock stepped up again and Chris eventually took his revenge as Fuller attempting a drive, only found Colin Butler who snapped up the catch.
Chris and Ben persevered and continued to restrict Taylor and new man Luke Dollard, the latter looking powerful but struggling with the left arm over of the Pyestock seam bowler. As the drinks break arrived Warfield found themselves 44 for 2 after 22 overs.
Chris continued for only 2 more overs before he was replaced by Billy Leader, as Warfield looked to push the score on. It seemed as if Taylor was taking the lynchpin role allowing Dollard to attack and push the singles to the gaps in the field. The recovery was going well as for the first time in the match the home side seemed to have the upper hand, moving the score past 70, as Pyestock begain to toil.
In the space of 3 overs however, all the hard work compiled by Taylor and Dollard was undone in a period of chaos all ignited by a comical run out. Dollard clipped a leg side delivery from Ben Bromley down to fine leg, where as quick as a flash Billy Leader launched the ball in to Vaughan Newcombe who seemingly run out Taylor. The umpires finger went up, however confusion reigned over whether the batsmen had made his ground, or whether Vaughan had taken the stumps legally. Quickly resolved the batsman was sportingly allowed to resume. What followed however surprised everyone. Ben again bowled a leg side delivery, which again was clipped to fine leg. Not learning from the previous scamper, Dollard called for the single, Billy again threw down the stumps and Dollard wasn’t in the frame. It seemed suicidal and proved so as Jason Atkins was bowled 3 balls later and in Ben’s next over the prized wicket of Taylor was claimed after a good catch by Chris Heath before Morgan Price was again bowled.
A once promising position had been completely unravelled as Warfield now found themselves 86 for 6 with Ben Bromley causing a whole catalogue of problems with 4 for 29 from his 17 overs bowled. Batsmen Lee Johnson and Greg Davies attempted a desperate rescue attempt and hauled the hosts over the 100 mark. Again however, just as a platform was laid disaster struck, Ben claimed his, and Pyestock’s first five-wicket haul of the season as Jack Bromley took a smart catch on the deep square leg boundary. 3 balls later and Billy leader claimed a richly deserved wicket by bowling Davies to again set Warfield back to square one.
A messy few overs riddled with misfields and perhaps a hint of trying too hard by “over-attacking”on Pyestock’s part allowed Warfield to reach 120 before Ben and Billy did get it right, taking a final wicket apiece to end the home sides innings on 123. Ben Bromley was the star of the innings finishing with 6 wickets for only 40 runs from his 20.2 overs.
Continuing with the theme of freshing up his side, Neil took the decision to open the batting with Vaughan Newcombe, partnering usual opener Jon Ford. This may have been in response to Pyestocks uncanny ability to lose two wickets almost immediately, as displayed at The Bourne and Tadworth in the previous weeks. This change forced an improvement, but in the fourth over, the visitors did lose their first wicket, Jon only finding the hands of Atkins to depart for 4 runs.
Chris McGovern joined Vaughan in the middle and together batted sensibly given the time that Pyestock had on their side. Chris Martin and Morgan Price, buoyed by his earlier wicket, bowled well but regularly leaked runs at a higher rate than their visiting counterparts earlier in the day.
After 12 overs, Warfield made a double bowling change with the score on 52 for 1, Ken Fuller and Graham Morris entered the fray and it looked a stroke of a tactical master as within 6 balls, both Vaughan (LBW) and Chris (caught) were back in the pavilion, and the score 57 for 3.
New pairing, Colin Butler and Glenn Taylor, set about steadying the ship, knocked off course slightly by the unexpected double blow, and began to regain control. Colin remained cautious at one end, while Glenn provided the power. In a little over 8 overs the score had raced to 99 for 3 and it looked as if Pyestock would be celebrating another victory.
Warfield rallied, bringing on Atkins to try and stem the flow of runs, however Glenn powered through, bringing up his half century with the winning blow of the match. Finishing with 53 not out, including eleven fours, he had pulled Pyestock to their target with 10 overs remaining.
Warfield remain one of Pyestock’s favourite opponents, and without the tight bowling of Ben Bromley or powerful strokeplay of Glenn Taylor, this match wouldhave been a lot closer than the score-line below. A final special mention for the coffee and walnut cake, that went down exceedingly well at tea J
Warfield CC 123 All Out (B.Bromley 6-40)
Pyestock CC 126 for 3 (G.Taylor 53*)
Pyestock CC win by 7 wickets
Pyestockcricketclub.co.uk Man of the Match: Ben Bromley