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.
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 |
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 |
14 |
|
|
8 |
1 |
23 |
2 |
PYM |
|
NOT OUT |
51 |
|
D EVANS |
6 |
0 |
25 |
2 |
|
|
C & B
LIPPEATT |
2 |
|
M |
4 |
0 |
25 |
0 |
|
|
B AHMED |
36 |
|
|
2 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
MILLS |
|
C BIRKETT B
AHMED |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
AMBROSE |
|
NOT OUT |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ROBSON |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXTRAS |
29 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
194 |
7 |
WKTS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
THORESBY COLLIERY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BATSMAN |
|
HOW OUT |
SCORE |
|
BOWLING |
O |
M |
R |
W |
M |
|
C SUB B |
17 |
|
|
6 |
0 |
47 |
1 |
|
|
LBW B MOORE |
15 |
|
ROBSON |
6 |
0 |
40 |
0 |
P HUGHES |
|
C & B
AMBROSE |
36 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
NOT OUT |
43 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
C FLINTON |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D EVANS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXTRAS |
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
197 |
5 |
WKTS |
|
|
|
|