BENFLEET CRICKET CLUB Benfleet 3rd XI v Old Parks on Sat 10 Sep 2005 at 13:00
BENFLEET CRICKET CLUB Lost 5 wickets
Old Parks won the toss and elected to field.
Benfleet 280 for 5 dec
A.Jarrett 64
M.Jackson 76
D.Ware 52 not out
Old Parks 281 for 5.
J.Clark 128
A.Khalley 55
Old Parks won by 5 wicketrs Old Parks 18 points, Benfleet 10.
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Well – last league game of the season, nights drawing in, weather overcast, drizzly, not much to play for with both sides in mid-table, though a positive result would see one of us leapfrog the other, so what do we need….? Well, a start on time would have been a good start !
Old Parks turned up late, this was ok as the 4th team were poised to win the league and having left us with one bowler (P.Frensham) then nicked him for their away game due to a late drop out !!!!!!!!!!.
Old Parks won the toss and put us in to bat, this was handy as we only had 10 to start (J.Scarff coming later) and the prospect of S.Rowe turning his arm over for 25 overs at one end.
We started well with A.Jarrett holding up an end. A.White was going ok until chancing a rash looking single to mid-on, which saw him short of his ground and run out for 12. Taz Webster then joined Jarrett and despite a heavy cold, and this pair made in-roads. As the hundred approached Taz was visibly wilting and started hitting out, falling on 42 to a smart return catch.
M.Jackson, woefully out of luck/form joined Jarrett and we all held our breath. His first few balls were negotiated successfully and we hoped today would be his day. Jazza then was bowled on 64, another good solid innings from the ‘Singing Wicketkeeper’.
Jacko settled in with Dan Ware and the scoreboard kept ticking along. A few singles were missed early on but this was made up for when Jacko farmed the change in bowling. Two balls hooked for six behind square leg, a couple of fours, and another six for good measure, saw twenty-six off the over and the bowler banished to the outfield, never to be seen again !
This was good news for us, as well as for Jacko, who now purred along, passing his 50 and playing some nice drives – finally getting caught for a very handy 76.
Benny Ware then joined his lad in the middle and didn’t last long, but with a big total already in place, the only issue to settle was getting Dan to his fifty. Playing very nicely, Dan is getting good scores regularly (10 x 50s this season !) and when he reached this one, the declaration was given at 280 for 5 !
Old Parks were nothing if not game and with our bowling options they were keen to have a go.
J.Clark, opening, did not look comfortable early on and during his innings was dropped an incredible three times, so it was obviously going to be his day. When OP’s had put on 100 without loss the chase was a possibility although the light was starting to dim and should have robbed them of victory.
Bowling changes proved tricky with just Sammy and Benny being available from our ‘normal’ bowlers a bit of creativity was going to be required. After nagging all season A.White (or Andy Chuck as he seems to prefer), was called up. With the odd one turning the bat was beaten several times, with the rest being hit. The ones that were hit – did create catching chances though, but these were all put down. Jacko then had a go and we finally got a break, M.Willis taking a slap high at mid-off.
Benny Ware and Sam Rowe also chipped in with one apiece and with the light fading we got a real curate’s egg – A.Jarrett finally bowling the century making J.Clark.
By now Old Parks had got to within striking distance of their target. With the gloom descending rapidly and an offer of a draw turned down by their skipper, it was getting down right dangerous.
The fielders were having trouble seeing the ball, and the youngsters all moved to the boundary.
To force a conclusion the ‘quicker’ bowlers were brought back to see if OP’s still fancied it.
They did ! every time bat hit ball, there was an easy run due to the light.
In near darkness the total was reached with 8 balls remaining.
The square was roped off with miner’s lamps required.
Neither side went up, so next year we will look forward to getting one over on this lot.
A good season that could have seen us go up, but too many games lost/drawn that we should have won.
One friendly to go - away to Chelmsford
M.Willis
14/9/05
BENFLEET CRICKET CLUB Benfleet 3rd XI Batting
280 for 5
Old Parks Bowling
Old Parks Batting
281 for 5
BENFLEET CRICKET CLUB Benfleet 3rd XI Bowling