Streat and Westmeston v Saturday 1st XI
5th August 2006
Nick lost the toss this week, and we were all expecting a bat, but as Streat saw the five Juniors, they must have thought 30 points was in the bag. Dormansland too, although with form starting to show from some of the super-stars, were not expecting the events which were about to unfold. Only four recognised batsman (Nick, Miles, Watto and Hendo), and Geoff, were present along with Ben playing the mean fast bowler and five juniors playing the supporting roles (Vella, Stu Macrae, Keith, Sharp, and Buzzing). Ben and Hendo started well, however on a fast outfield, and with some lapses in concentration, runs began to Hemorrhage. Ben helped himself to the first wicket caught behind, and Hendo followed a few overs later, again with a caught behind. Ben continued to bowl good areas with some pace for a long spell, while Keith came on to take two very valuable wickets. Stuart Macrae took over from Ben and bowled extremely well. He was desperately unlucky not to take a wicket, when Adrian Vella missed a good stumping chance. Keith, was also unlucky not to take a third, as the ball was hit straight down Sharpy's throat, who decided to charge underneath, and past it.
Streat made 177, partly due to a collection of overthrows, byes and slow fielding, however Vella continued to take catches off Ben and Hendo, equalled the wicket-keeping record for Dormans. Ben and Hendo came back on to claim 4 for 47, and 4 for 49 respectively (Ben only came on for 3 overs, and took all three in his last).
With ten points in the bag, Dormansland were unsure as to how to approach the total, with suggestions that the batting should be spread out. Nick however pulled rank and opened with Jonty, putting on nearly a hundred for the first stand. Jonty was caught behind after a good innings with some sublime cover drives. Nick took his chances and made 86 before being bowled leaving number three, John Miles to see the game through to the end. Geoff batted four but didnt trouble to scorer too much before being bowled. Keith then sauntered out, the field brought in, and proceeded to pound one back over the bowlers head. He was unlucky to be caught by an astounding catch from an oldy. Hendo came to the crease with 30 to get facing a loopy off spinner, whom Milesy had defended against for 6 overs. He then proceeded to hit 19 off 11 balls, including a cultured six into the manor grounds, and brought up the win with Miles.
With a thirty point, six wicket win, Dormansland are on their way up out of the relegation zone after Colemans Hatch lost against Plumpton. This however does not see them safe and they will look to secure at least one win in order to survive.
Colemans Hatch v Saturday 1st XI
29th July 2006
Winning the toss again, Nick put Colemans Hatch into bat. This week, Steve, Dods and Dale were unavailable this week, with Jonty and two juniors, Steve Morley and Ian Sharp, stepping to the crease.
Dormans took to the field with ten, at 2pm, when Michael Loney drove into Chuck Hatch. Half an hour later, he turned up to see Ben, and then Hendo, take the first two wickets, bowling to strong and intelligent plans. Tim Singer, who inevitably went after the bowling, was eventually caught off Watson, after clever field placing choked him of runs.
One batsmen, whose agricultural style suited him more to tractor driving, made over fifty, helped by Sharpy bowling 6 half trackers going for 17. Loney (2 wickets), Ben (2) , and especially Watto(5-19) pulled Dormansland back and bowled out Hatch for 153, a few overs short of the allotted time.
In reply, Dormansland struggled against good short bowling on a bouncy track from Brooker. Nick batted through for 38n.o. and was helped by mini partnerships from Tribe, Miles, and Hendo (with a lovely pick up six!!), while Geoff, Ben and Morley chipped in with invaluable runs.
With 18 balls left, 6 runs remaining, 2 wickets in hand, and Nick and Loney at the crease, Dormansland seemed to be favourites. After Nick played out a maiden, however, the onlookers' nails took a bit of a battering. Loney on strike, Coleman's Hatch not knowing where to put the field, the game was perfectly poised. First ball, Loney was looking to leave but forced to play and eventually knicked one between the 'keeper and first slip which ran away for four. At this point Miles had to go and change Sharpy's nappy, and Watson fainted. The next ball was pitched up and Loney took a swing, the batting side took to their feet as Loney connected (and timed) the ball over the top, which on the short and fast outfield slapped into the fence quickly.
Another win (albeit close) and the 1st XI are gaining supreme self confidence. This match raised the side to third from bottom, three points behind Colemans Hatch, and seventeen behind Preston Nomads. Could this be a great escape?
Clayton v Saturday 1st XI
22nd July 2006
2nd From bottom, and struggling the previous week against Plumpton (making barely 110 and without taking a wicket!), the 1st XI were in real need of a win if they had any chance of staying in Stoner Division One. After a fielding a strong team against Plumpton, the 1st's managed to put out another with Jonty and Max unavailable and the Loney brothers stepping in. Whilst Dods was oldest in the side, Hendo was unusually the youngest!
After winning the toss and deciding to field, Dormansland made a great start with Ben taking a second ball wicket. This was a dangerous batsmen who we have seen take to our bowling nicely in previous years. Dormansland stuck to the task well and their fielding was the best so far this season (made easier by a a full compliment of adults!). Ben bowled good tight lines, before taking another, whilst Dale took two wickets with his in-duckers at the other end.
Hendo came on with Dormans striving for that next wicket and copied Ben by taking a wicket with his second ball (the first being a wide). Mike Loney came on at the other end and bowled his booming outswingers withouth much luck. Hendo picked up a further three before Dods came on and began to work his magic, and whilst Dods picked up a good stumping off a rather bemused looking 7' tall batsman, Hendo bowled one out of 6 at the stumps to take his fifth and finish off a rather weak Clayton batting line up accumulating 112.
When, Nick and Tribey walked out to bat, the rest of the side dared not to hope, knowing all to well how masterful Dormansland were at manufacturing defeats from two teaspoons of dibbly dobbly and a bumper bag of collapse. However, after seeing Tribey launch the first ball for a massive straight six, off a reasonably paced young bowler, the day strated looking even better.
Nick helped the total along before being bowled, before John Miles and Dave Tribe saw the side home in only 17 overs. This was helped by a rather tawdry bowling attack from one end, and a fielding side already resided to life in Division 2 perhaps playing against Dormansland 2nd XI, or perhaps the 1st XI.
This 9 wicket win could be too little too late, but with increased confidence and bowlers hitting good form, the 1st XI hope to carry no this trend through to the end of the season, in an effort to survive.
