Friendly
13th May 2006

Plough Nearly Do It

A first Sunday weather free at Broadfields saw the Ploughmen pitted against Northfields against whom they had played a month ago, which perversely owing to the May weather was the last Sunday fixture played either club.

Northfields skipper Egan won the toss and elected to bowl.

He would be forgiven if after an hour he regretted the decision as openers Ridgway and Britto set about the bowling with some comfort in spite of the variable bounce and movement. Ridgway, the subject of criticism for getting out to a loose shot the day before combined solid defence with attractive hitting particularly straight over mid-on. Both men looked fairly assured against a decent attack of Egan and Dike.

The score had progressed on to 126 before Britto was caught off the bowling of Egan for 43. Lloyd followed but managed just five balls before he was caught for 2. Pring came in at four and made 9. He was caught off what can only be described as an injudicious shot from the bowling of Preedy. Debutant Kiwi Strachan then strode to the wicket and provided valuable support to Ridgway senior showing good technique and an ability to punish the bad ball. He scored 22 off only 26 balls before being bowled by Egan. Their partnership had been worth 65. With the score on 228 and a declaration in the offing Jackson entered the fray. Sadly their partnership lasted just five runs as a now weary Ridgway finally succumbed to Egan bowled for a glorious 123. With the last couple of overs now in progress skipper Feeney smote a four and two singles, and with Jackson adding 2, a score of 240 for 6 was set in 36 overs when Feeney made the declaration.

Following an excellent repast including Strawberries and cream – those of you who make yourselves available for Saturday’s only take note – Northfields were invited to reply.

The opening overs bowled by the Ploughmen, sadly did not match their batsmens’ efforts as both Hussain and Pring went for over seven an over. Pring, to be fair, was somewhat under the weather and added the contents of his stomach to the flora of the outfield – watch out at mid-off next week! Indeed, with the exception of the Ridgway an inability by the bowlers generally to contain the score to below a run a ball proved fatal to any attempt at defending such a big score. The Northfields openers were able to put on 80 before Butler was out lbw to Cooper. True the ball had been in the air several times, and had not gone to hand, but the Ploughman’s skipper could not exert any pressure on the batsman with so many boundary balls being bowled. He was followed not long after by Schmid stunningly pouched by Lloyd, one handed high to his right. However, Northfields batsmen Jones 41, Cooper 44 and Soni 30 were then all able to get starts and contribute scores. A half fit Ridgway bowling off a shortened run up, was the only bowler who was able both to take wickets and exert pressure on the batsmen, showing why he is such a class act with the ball (and why he is in my fantasy team – 261 pts get in!). For a time he gave the Ploughmen an outside chance of victory. Cooper chipped in with two wickets as did Britto – one being a sharp stumping by the irrepressible Feeney (sorry folks had to get that one in!). O’ Hara, Paramo and Jackson deserve special mention for showing tigerish qualities in the field.

In spite of this, visitors were able to achieve their target with a small margin of comfort.

This was a good game with everybody being involved, but lessons which need to be learned are that a side will invariably lose, regardless of the total  if its bowlers send down 2-3 half trackers every over.      

I’m off to see Rio – de Janeiro that is not Ferdinand!   

CF