Result:  Won by 7 runs

Scores:  Alts 233 for 4     Firle 226 for 7 after 35 overs

 

Another glorious Alts victory in stifling heat

 

 

On a scorching day, the Alternatives faced Firle Cricket Club for a 35-over contest for the first time. The toss was lost and the Alts were asked to bat first. Unfortunately, opener Green had gone AWOL, enjoying a lazy Sunday morning, and causing much muttering and murmuring from skipper Robertson reflecting on his tardy approach to the important matter in hand.

In the nick of time, Green materialised and hastily took to the field with Chappell. Both batters made measured starts and built a solid platform at the top of the innings. Then, just as the run rate started to speed up, Chappell (22) fell only to be quickly followed by Bode (4). However, at 95 for 2, the innings was well set at the midway point and ready for an acceleration.

 

Green was well-established and growing in confidence when Boden joined him in the middle. The score was ticking along nicely. In the soaring heat, the fielding side struggled and the ball regularly crossed the boundary rope. The century partnership was passed and the score rushed beyond 200. Boden (50) was bowled in the penultimate over as Green was nearing a momentous century.

Green overtook the previous Alternatives’ record for an individual score. Watching team-mates waited in excited anticipation as he progressed through the nervous 90s. But no-one was more panicked than Thompson, as team scorer, whilst he counted, and re-counted, the tally in the scorebook and gave a frightened look betraying the fact that the moment might have already been missed. But, no, it was calculated that Green was on 95 and needed 5 runs in the final over to reach his milestone century…yet, the new batsman, Rohilla, seemed to have other ideas.

 

Facing the last over, Rohilla knocked the first two balls for successive 4s. Then, only taking a single on the fourth ball, Green was left with just two balls to get his deserved century. He hit the next ball for 2 to reach 97. A boundary was needed off the last ball (there was no way Green was running 3 in his exhausted condition). Alas, only a single was managed but a fine record 98 not out was achieved. A wonderful innings and it helped the Alternatives get to their highest score of 233 for 4.

 

Raj proves himself to be our most destructive, effective and match winning player – we won by 7 runs and he scored 9 in the last over !!

 

At tea, the score of 233 appeared to be a winning total but Firle set about the run chase with fervour. The Firle team included some powerful, hard-hitting batsman and it became clear that they believed a win was within their sights. However, progress was checked by timely wickets falling. Bowlers Clarke, Bryden, Rohilla and Olliff all contributed to the wicket tally. Despite some cameo knocks, it seemed that an Alternatives’ victory was inevitable as the game neared its finish.

But complacency and over-confidence started to subside as some particularly belligerent hitting and sloppy fielding allowed Firle a sniff of victory at the very end. By the last over, Firle somehow needed 24 runs to record an unlikely but possible win.

Plucky Thompson took the ball for the nerve-wracking final over and received conflicting advice from most of the Alternatives’ players. In the apparent chaos, he appeared to interpret this advice as a request to bowl docile, obliging full tosses onto leg stump. The first three balls were swiped for 4, 4 and then a huge 6, as the cricket ball was rocketed to every part of the ground. Suddenly only 10 runs were needed from 3 balls and the prospects looked ominous.

Now, all Thompson could feel was the greasy, slippery torture of sweaty palms resting on a strange, large spherical object previously known as a cricket ball. Somehow, he managed to bowl the ball towards the stumps. The next swipe was stopped by the athletic Clarke in the deep and his swift return to Bode at the stumps caused a much-needed run out. Victory was all but secured. Firle struggled with the last two deliveries and finished on 216 for 7 so that the Alternatives had won by 7 runs.

A record-breaking game finished with the victory that the Alternatives deserved. Green was toasted man of the match for his record-breaking feats. It was even rumoured that Robertson had forgiven him for his tardiness at the start (although this has not been substantiated).

 

 

Scorecard:

The Alternatives: 233-4

Batting:

Green: 98 not out

Chappell: LBW 22

Bodie: Caught 4

Boden: Bowled 50

Rohilla: Run out 9

 

Rest did not bat.

 

Firle CC: 226-7

Bowling figures:

Clarke: 7-0-26-1

Thompson: 7-0-54-0

Bryden: 7-0-30-2

Olliff: 7-0-40-1

Rohilla: 4-0-27-1

Goodwin: 3-0-29-0

 

Catches: Bode (1)