Summer finally arrived at Farley Hill on Saturday with barely a cloud in the sky as Farley Hill took on Pinkneys Green for the first time in a decade.
On a majestic looking batting track, Skipper won the toss and promptly inserted the opposition (obviously part of a cunning strategy that he had yet to tell his team mates of)
Trevor and John had recovered their fitness and, combined with the youthful enthusiasm of Duncan and Abdullah and the mystery of Potts, the bowling line up was nearly at full strength.
However it appears that the biggest difference between Division One and the “lower levels” is that the opposition openers seem intent on blasting everything out of the park.
Before a run had been scored, the aggressive opener had sent one skyward and just out of the grasp of a flailing Skipper. Duncan opened from the other end with the intention of blasting out the top order. He quickly recognised a short ball weakness in the opener and instantly peppered him with two fierce half-trackers – both of which disappeared over midwicket into the trees.
However Duncan soon made the breakthrough – getting a key wicket in bowling the other opener. He then instantly caught the new batsman LBW and Pinkneys Green were 22 for 2.
Some thumping straight drives from the new batsman brought about another change in length strategy from Duncan and Trevor as they sought to control the run rate.
The aggressive opener was eventually caught at slip by Chris for 49 – attempting to sweep a Trevor outswinger, but the opposition were scoring at a dangerously high rate.
John was brought on to replace Duncan and started to slow the scoring with a tight spell of bowling. Potts was also brought on after 10 overs from Trevor and bamboozled batsmen and fielders alike with a mixture of vicious turners and the odd full toss.
The runs continued to come and half centuries were duly raised before Abdullah was introduced into the attack. After taking an over to find the right length, and with the score just short of 200, Abdullah induced a false shot from the Number 4 who pulled a ball straight to Peter at square leg for a much needed wicket.
While the Number 5 continued to play his shots, the wickets started to come at regular intervals from the other end as Potts bowled the 6, and then caught Number 7 from Abdullahs bowling.
Duncan and John, bowling with no luck, were brought back into the attack at the death but the Number 5 was well set and steered Pinkneys Green to 267 for 6 from their 45 overs – personally ending up 96 not out.
Farley were resilient in the outfield, 3 sharp dropped catches and four overthrows aside, with the bowlers toiling away in the warm conditions. Duncan and Abdullah ended up with a couple of wickets apiece, while Trevor and Potts also claimed a victim.
Chasing 268 to win was a blessed relief after the previous weeks chase, and the openers strode to the middle determined to set the foundation for a run chase. Pinkneys Green were missing their opening bowlers and had been reduced to 10 as their Captain sat on the sidelines resting an injury occurred during the 1st innings.
Unfortunately it all went wrong very early, as Ali edged the last ball of the first over to slip and was dismissed for a duck.
Duncan, elevated to Number 3, got the run rate moving with some controlled aggression and the score moved on to 35 for 1.
Ross then decided that enough was enough and decided to clatter the off spinner into the pavilion – however he forgot to hit the ball and was castled for 12.
Matt came in at Number 4 and the bowlers opted for the same short ball strategy that Duncan had employed earlier in the day – with much the same result, as the ball disappeared into the trees.
With the score at 70, the first change bowler managed to beat Duncan ’s defences and he was bowled for 25.
Trevor then joined Matt and a partnership started to flourish. The boys in the pavilion started to look optimistically at the runs needed and the run rate that would be required (around 7 per over). If these two could put on a brisk 150 we would almost be there! However the self-congratulations (delusions) came to a shuddering halt as Matt was needlessly run out for 48 – his highest score since his return to the club.
Heartbreak followed as Peter was bowled for his third successive duck and Abdullah, in his maiden innings for the league side, was run out by a direct hit for 1.
Farley had slumped to 116 for 6.
As these wickets were steadily falling, no one had advised Potts that he was batting at 8. A rapid search for him soon found him performing the very important task of changing the Fosters keg.
Required to bat, but with no gear on, he flirted with being timed out before hobbling on to the field and then stopping to complete his preparation.
It has now been determined that he should do this every week. For a man with a league average going in to the game of 3.50, he batted imperiously. Ably supporting Trevor, the pair put on 60 runs at a good clip to steadily acquire additional batting points.
Again, the pavilion scented the possibility of the remarkable. Less than 100 runs were required and, despite only 7 overs remaining, the outfield remained quick.
Again, we were devastatingly cut down as Potts, backing up at the non strikers end, was cruelly run out from a deflected straight drive for 30 – easily his highest league score (and almost doubling his career league runs).
Phil went out at Number 9 with the strict instructions to push on in an effort to maximise points. With an injured Chris in at 10, and the mighty John at 11, Farley had plenty left in the shed to shut up shop should it all go terribly wrong.
With Trevor also given the signal to have a go, the runs suddenly exploded onto the scorebook. Trevor raced past 50 and Phil plundered boundaries as the pair added almost 60 runs in just 4 overs. All of a sudden Farley needed 35 runs from the final 2 overs for a sensational win.
Unfortunately, once again, the boys started to pour the celebratory Rebellions a little too soon (if that’s possible).
Phil skied one to square leg and was caught for 19, and in an effort to secure another point, Trevor was caught at extra cover for 83 (his highest league score since returning to the league side 5 years ago).
John uttered a few expletives at having to go out to bat for the remaining 2 balls, but soon cheered up when he found that he only had to go to the non-strikers end and lean on his bat.
Chris comfortably played out the rest of the over – ending on 3 not out – and Farley Hill had come through a tricky game with an honourable Losing Draw.
Farley ended up with 11 points from the game (with the opposition scoring 21 points), ensuring our continued presence in the 9th berth on the table.
The positive news is that we have yet to play the two teams who are alongside us near the bottom (Goring and Emmbrook)
Next week we welcome the return of local rivals, and high-flying, Shinfield to the hallowed Farley Hill ground.
Regds Skip
Match Stats
R Ditchburn 12 A Jalil 0 D Scott 25 9-0-72-2 M Salter 48 T Clacey 83 10-1-55-1 P Jameson 0 A Malik 1 7-0-41-2 Potts 30 7-0-38-1 P Guard 19 C Garrod 3* J Cox 0* 12-1-44-0
