Worksop 7/194

Thoresby 5/197

 

 

In the 34th over of Thoresby’s innings Saylesh Patel was at the crease.  He was involved in deep conversation with a frustrated Worksop wicketkeeper who could feel the game slipping away.  Their dialogue went something like this:

 

WK – Mate have you got any proper shots?  You are embarrassing!  All you do is slog! Why don’t you put yourself out of your misery and just get out?  You’ve got nothing?

 

SP – I have been in for one over and have already made more runs than you.  You stayed in for ten overs.  You have no idea.  Why don’t you just shut up!

 

WK – You’re going to crack under the pressure.  You aren’t good enough.

 

Saylesh didn’t reply to this last statement.  He simply turned his back and took up his stance.  With a glint of determination in his eyes, Saylesh gently tapped his bat and looked upon the bowler with pity and disdain.  The bowler pitched the ball on a length just outside the line of off.  In a flash, Saylesh was on his backfoot, and murdering the ball through the covers.  His swing was a snapshot of rhythm, grace and timing.  He stood, perfectly balanced and watched as the ball flew to the rope.  There was no need to run.  It was four. He then turned to the keeper and cheekily winked his left eye.  It turns out that Mr. Patel was good enough after all.

 

In the following over Saylesh hit a 4, a 6 and a final 4 to secure Thoresby’s win.  In particular his 6 was special.  It was one of those sacred, almost spiritual, moments on the cricket field when everyone present knows that they just witnessed pure skill. Rumour has it that they are still looking for the ball in the nearby canal.  I doubt if ever there has been a more awesome hit.

 

Yes, it is true Thoresby were victorious on Sunday and are now through to the semi-final of the Tomlins Trophy.

 

It turned out to be a comfortable win.  However there were the expected twists and turns that take place each week.

 

Worksop batted first.  They had the good fortune of a wet outfield that made the ball extremely tricky to grip.  Nevertheless the Thoresby attack chipped away.  Doing their best to bowl at the off stump; as well as tirelessly running and diving and saving each possible run.  Lippeat held onto a sharp caught and bowled.  Evans took a wicket with his second ball.  The big D is back in the game!  His short spell reaped 2 wickets.  He bowled with patient flight and rushed the quicker delivery through when needed.  All Thoresby supporters were delighted for this experienced campaigner who has had a lean year.

 

In Worksop’s innings there were flourishes of heavy run scoring.  These were always followed with quiet periods after the fall of a wicket.  The new batsmen would have to adjust and start again.  In the final overs Thorseby did well to drastically restrict the scoring.  194 was always gettable.

 

Cheshire and Birkett started in a flurry.  Both players struck fours which reverberated a deafening ‘thwack!!!’, to all parts of the ground.  (No matter how long you play this game it is impossible to grow tired of the perfect sound of a sweetly timed ball)  Birkett’s exit made way for Paul Hughes.  As always Hughes was a delight to watch.  Journalists at the Chad have touted him as ‘the most cultured batsman in the Bassetlaw League’.  His 36 runs act as sufficient evidence to such claims.  When he got down on one knee and smacked the off spinner for six over deep mid wicket, the umpire at the opposite end smiled and said – “magnificent!”.

 

Hughes departed after offering a sharp catch to the bowler.  Hill continued to bat sensibly - keeping an eye on the scoreboard and the ball at all times.  Hill and Ahmed shared in a steady partnership.  Ben Marson also contributed to the gradual accumulation of runs.

 

The day however belongs to Mr. Patel whose shot will live for eternity in the minds of whoever saw it.  

 

JCHill

 

 

 

 

WORKSOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BATSMAN

 

HOW OUT

SCORE

 

BOWLING

O

M

R

W

HARE

 

C EVANS B LIPPEATT

33

 

P HUTCHINSON

6

1

24

0

GRAINGER

 

B HILL

21

 

N AHMED

7

0

33

2

HASSAN

 

C AHMED B EVAMS

3

 

J HILL

7

0

37

1

WARD

 

C HUTCHINSON B EVANS

14

 

W LIPPEATT

8

1

23

2

PYM

 

NOT OUT

51

 

D EVANS

6

0

25

2

MOORE

 

C & B LIPPEATT

2

 

M CHESHIRE

4

0

25

0

WALKER

 

B AHMED

36

 

S PATEL

2

0

16

0

MILLS

 

C BIRKETT B AHMED

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMBROSE

 

NOT OUT

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROBSON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BURTON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXTRAS

29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

194

7

WKTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

THORESBY COLLIERY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BATSMAN

 

HOW OUT

SCORE

 

BOWLING

O

M

R

W

M CHESHIRE

 

C SUB B BURTON

17

 

MOORE

6

0

47

1

N BIRKETT

 

LBW B MOORE

15

 

ROBSON

6

0

40

0

P HUGHES

 

C & B AMBROSE

36

 

BURTON

8

4

20

2

J HILL

 

NOT OUT

45

 

AMBROSE

8

1

36

1

N AHMED

 

LBW B BURTON

16

 

WARD

5

0

26

1

B MARSON

 

C HARE B WARD

10

 

PYM

4

0

21

0

S PATEL

 

NOT OUT

43

 

 

 

 

 

 

C FLINTON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D EVANS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

W LIPPEATT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P HUTCHINSON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXTRAS

15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

197

5

WKTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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