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2015 Match reports

Season 2016 Match Reports


Saturday 4th June

Girton Vs Fen Ditton

Fen Ditton beat Girton by 6 Wkts

SCORECARD

BOUNCEBACKABILITY By Michael McCann

A non-playing member of the first-team squad who is known for his cliches called for 'bouncebackability' from Ditton today after a disappointing loss to Granta last week.
Bouncebackability he got.
Marc W was back behind the stumps and Wayne Clements was welcomed back for his 'second' league debut.
Jamie was available for the full match this time after leaving mid-innings last week, though Skip had to leave at 6pm.
Girton's pitch didn't look great for batsmen, and with muggy skies overhead and forecasts set for the sun to come out later on, we were more than happy to win the toss and bowl first.
It was a 'Jacko' pitch, and Mr Jackson went on to show it truly was, keeping the ball on a string throughout his spell. He opened alongside Longy, who beat the bat regularly but without success. A breakthrough came just inside the first ten overs when Jacko teased one of Girton's openers into an off-drive. It was eventually well-caught by Rob to his left at mid-off after some style juggling (trademark Mani). Girton's scoring rate was being almost solely sustained by a left-handed opener, who bore a remarkable resemblance to our own H, and was good of his legs. AB dismissed him through a classic village ploy; build pressure with a succession of good, turning deliveries, then use the long hop. Yours truly was placed on the square-leg boundary and moved left to take a composed and important catch (unfortunately dropping one later on too, but hey-ho that's cricket and life in a nutshell). Girton were going nowhere fast primarily thanks to Jacko, who had a second that tied him with the all-time club wicket record when producing a lovely nip-backer to trouble middle stump. Soon afterwards a chance to take the record outright, and knock Rabs off the perch they currently share, almost arrived. The new man in somehow managed to chip the ball to safety in the triangle between Jacko, mid-on and mid-off. Girton 54-3 at drinks (stats from memory), Jackson an excellent 2-19 straight through from his ten. Advantage Ditton.

Girton had a good spell after drinks, scoring at a strong rate for a sustained spell. They initially profited from an over where AB (understandably given the wet conditions) struggled to grip the ball, and Wayne Clements warming into his first spell skiddy fast-medium pacers. We were bowling a 4-ball an over and it was being dispatched. Fez replaced AB and initially bowled too short on a pitch not suited to it, but eventually settled into a good rhythm to give us some control back. Wayne improved as his spell went on, including taking his first wicket back in league cricket (going for a Darren Bicknell for England in Tests style decade-long gap between wickets for the same side). Fez had a deserved wicket, and Longy returned to take one of his own too, ensuring that all bowlers were members of the 'wicket party' today. Lusty late hitting took Girton to 158-6, but given the fast outfield and pitch not playing as badly as expected we were confident.

The chase started badly. Yours truly fell early bowled for 5, and AB went LBW for 11. He was keen to review Fez's decision for a nick but such facilities are not available. 20 odd for 2. Rob has by his own admission not been in the best of form recently, but scrapped early on and then showed his class as the innings progressed. A seemingly effortless 6 over midwicket off one of the Girton openers was a particular highlight, fortunately just about missing playing children in the nearby playground. Alongside him Skip (not able to bowl unfortunately) was in an aggressive mood with the bat (when isn't he), and despite one Girton fielder maintaining that he 'only had one shot' he racked up 42 in little time, taking advantage of some hittable bowling. By the time Skip fell just short of his 6pm deadline the partnership had taken Ditton into very comfortable waters. H was the new man in, hitting a couple of boundaries before falling lbw to the spinner. Rob was then joined by the Fez, and the pair finished things off with 4 overs to spare through some stylish batting. Rob ended 71 not out, finishing the game with a flicked 4 through mid-wicket (vocal Girton spectators eager to curb our enthusiasm about it not being a 6, but it didn't matter)

A good team performance and win by 6 wickets. Now we have to produce that consistently. Sutton next week will be a good test of where we are at in what seems to be a very open league this year.