Glenn’s 82 Provides the Shimmer,
As Tight Encounter Sees Tensions Simmer!
Chessington CC Vs Pyestock CC
Sunday 4th August 2013
Weather Conditions: Sunny and Breezy
Pitch Conditions: Wicket: Dry, green, hard. Outfield: Green, dry, fast,
Match Type: Limited Overs (40 Overs, Bowlers limited to 8 overs each)
A third consecutive half-century from Glenn Taylor saw Pyestock successfully chase down their moderate target of 179 against Chessington CC this weekend.
Moved to the delightful setting of the Surrey club’s first ground after last season’s strong display, the visitors were not over-awed and produced a good all round display to see off a stronger unit than were beaten comfortably in 2012.
Chessington’s Captain Hoosain Shaboodien won the toss and elected to bat first on a fine day and Watson and Turner looked to make best use of a good looking track, in the second over however, a thick booming edge skied the ball to fine leg, where Chris Heath remained calm and gave Billy Leader his first wicket and with it an early breakthrough.
The good start got better in the 5th over as Chris Heath managed to bowl Bhatti for 5 despite struggling for rhythm throughout, following a continuation of a nagging heel injury. Pyestock were also hampered by Chris McGoverns lack of mobility given a hefty blow to the knee suffered the day previous. Despite this, Pyestock were making an impressive start.
Billy Leader, really pressing the issue with some fine swing bowling was hampered by a back foot no-ball problem and was replaced after 4 overs, Chris was also withdrawn from the attack following 2 huge sixes from Watson that moved the run rate over a run a ball as Pyestock’s grasp on the game began to slip, and Chessington began to target a big score. New partner Viney proving more than capable of moving the score along as the overs ticked along.
In a bid to halt the free flowing run rate, Neil Butler introduced himself to the bowling attack and in his second over claimed the wicket of Watson with a beauty that nipped back to demolish the stumps. Pyestock suddenly were in the ascendency again as Neil doubled up his wicket tally removing McGelliott after only 3 balls.
Suddenly at 81 for 4, the balance had again shifted back towards the visitors, and although the run rate was high, Pyestock remained confident that the target could be kept under control should the hosts be bowled out before the 40 overs were up.
At the other end Ben Bromley was causing problems for Viney and Legg as the rate began to slow. Pyestock’s fielding was tight as the pair at the crease began to get bogged down, strangled by the tight lines bowled by spinner and his captain. Neil bowled 3 straight maidens before introducing Dan Heath, keeping 3 overs in the bank.
It did look, however as if they would not be needed as immediately after the drinks break a lofted drive from Legg, who had played cautiously up until this point picked out Pete Harris beautifully and no mistake was made as the mid on fielder clung on to his sixth catch of the season.
Dan followed up this breakthrough with another wicket as Best was trapped LBW. The line and length of the two spin bowlers was superb and had reduced the home side to risking poor shots in order to score runs and were paying the price.
Shaboodien entered the arena with his side 106 for 7 and needed a captain’s innings to restart the Chessington assault. Between himself and Mills they batted cautiously, waiting for the bad ball, before dispatching it to the boundary. The power of the host skipper successfully knocked Dan off his length as an array of full balls were dispatched to the mid wicket boundary as the scoreboard started moving once more.
Mills remained cautious at the other end and supported his captain well, as Pyestock toiled hard to find the remaining 3 wickets. It was Jack Bromley who eventually found the breakthrough Mills drove straight at brother Ben who took a good catch.
Shaboodien, who was proving difficult to control, was eventually bowled, the disciplined line of Neil Butler proving too much and once Patel had lofted a straightforward catch to Colin Butler, for yet another “brother catch” the Chessington innings was over for a moderate 178.
After tea, Pyestock started in confident fashion, feeling that given the wicket and fast outfield, the target was within reach. Glenn Taylor, currently in healthy form followed up last weeks 96 with some early blows to knock Best of his stride, 28 were brought up in 3 overs as the visitors looked to set an early tone to the innings.
At the other end Jon Ford was patient and allowed Glenn the strike to continue the hard hitting. This continued until the 8th over when, with the score on 48, the Pyestock number 1 was caught for 10.
New man Jack Bromley was immediately tested by wicket hero Pearce and by the pace of Watson, who seemed confident to have the ability to rattle through the Pyestock line up. His introduction to the bowling attack visibly lifted the home side and confidence seemed to run through the bowler as the deliveries came and went. Unfortunately for Chessington, this confidence was only backed up by an array of front and back foot no balls and flurry of half volleys that Jack and especially Glenn had no trouble in dispatching away. The worried looks on the Pyestock team faded as Watson’s eagerness to bowl faster, only resulted in more no balls, and more trips to the boundary.
At the other end, the relative calm of pearce forced Jack into a somewhat false shot as rather than the usual full drive, a well timed prod, found the mid-off fielder and the youngster departed for 7.
All eyes however were on the 3-way battle between Watson, Glenn Taylor and oddly, Umpire Paul Heath, who seemed to be receiving a verbal tirade from the bowler every time a no-ball was called. The frustrated bowler was incensed when a flicked edge to gully was also deemed illegal.
Glenn however seemed to be revelling in the act, and played some truly masterful drives back past the expensive bowler who had now conceded 39 runs in 5 overs as the Pyestock hundred came up. A consolation came in Watsons sixth over as Dan was clean bowled for 1 as the hard hitting middle order batsmen continues to struggle in his quest for runs.
Consolation became jubilation 2 overs later as Watson continued to steal the headlines. Immediately after another powerful boundary, the beleaguered bowler found the perfect response, by flattening the opener’s stumps and wheeled away in celebration. Glenns 82 standing up in the face of fast aggressive bowling will clearly go down as one of his best innings for the club.
Pyestock were now 119 for 4 with 19 overs remaining. Neil Butler and Billy Leaderfound themselves with work to do, but Billy was unlucky, playing on to Watsons final ball of his eventful 8 over spell to depart for a duck.
Ben Bromley joined his captain and batted aggressively to attempt to bring the target down to an achievable level and solid strokes from both batsmen took the score to 150. Chessington however had introduced Patel who looked calm and assured and bowled a tight line slowing the rate. In his third over he took the wicket of the Pyestock captain with a smart catch at midwicket.
Patel continued to be the pick of the bowlers, Pete Harris was bowled for a duck and Ben Bromley followed the same way. Pyestock were now 163 for 8 and looking down the barrel. Colin Butler and Chris Heath were now at the crease and with the former not holding a bat in anger for 6 weeks, anything could happen.
The score was hauled to 166 but Colin advanced down the track and holed out to mid off to leave Pyestock 13 to win and a crippled Chris McGovern hobbling to the crease.
Tight bowling and frantic running, not helped by poor calling almost saw the pair run out on two occasions, but the real drama unfolded in the penultimate over with the visitors requiring just 4 to win. Patel bowled a wide full toss, which Chris Heath could only find a thick bottom edge which ended up in the keepers gloves. Chessington appealed voraciously, but both umpires and the batsmen were of the opinion the ball was hit down into the turf before landing in the gloves. Discussions took place between umpire, batsmen, wicketkeeper and captain, but the not out call stood. The next over saw Chris McGovern cut a couple of two’s to bring up an almost anti-climatic victory for the visitors who crept home by the smallest of margins.
Hands were shook and beer was consumed post match, and as a game of cricket, it was tense nervous and down to the wire. Both teams played well and gave everything, and hopefully swords can be crossed with Chessington again in the future.
Chessington CC 178 All Out
Pyestock CC 179 for 9 (G.Taylor 82)
Pyestock CC Win by 1 Wicket
Pyestockcricketclub.co.uk Man of the Match: Glenn Taylor