After a damp week we were blessed with a dry and warmer weekend allowing our annual season-opener – kindly sponsored by our very own Tall Tim – to take place at River Park.
Our first match was v St Cross on pitch two and, with the skipper winning the toss and choosing to bowl on a green and soft track, we took to the field with excited anticipation of getting another Racqueteers season underway; we were delighted to welcome Adam K, Cris (aka Dolphin) and keeper Alex S into the Racqueteers’ fold on their debuts.
From the off, we fielded and bowled with good control and took some really super catches – Dave bagging four exceptional takes as we bowled out St Cross for 100. Our bowling was accurate and never allowed St Cross to get away as we felt the ‘benefit’ of Adam’s quality pace bowling (2 for 9) and Tom T’s penetrating 3 for 16 at the other end.
With the President (including a superb diving c&b) and Rishi both getting 2 wickets apiece and the Skip getting the last, the job was done.
In reply, the Skip (11) and the stylish Dave made steady progress on the slow track with the latter getting retired; Alex S made a positive 11 before a clatter of middle order Racqueteer wickets took the chase to the wire.
As we edged towards the total we were grateful for a timely boundary from Yox and, despite one or two scares, with the cool head of the President and continued quality stroke-play from Dave (33 not out), victory was ours off the last ball, with one wicket remaining!
A very exciting conclusion & thus into the final we went…
After an excellent lunch we found ourselves batting first against the always competitive St Giles on pitch 1.
We played well, though fluency was somewhat elusive on the damp track and despite Dave’s crisp 28 not out,, the skipper also retiring on 25 and a dogged 20 from the Bard, our total of 100 felt a bit shy of a really good score.
Thus it proved to be, though again our bowling and fielding was admirable with Farmer Chris (2 for 16) and the ever-exuberant Tom L (2 for 30) keeping the pressure on the opposition.
Tom’s celebration of his first wicket was a terrific moment as was he constant chatter on the boundary with the (naturally) laconic, cigar-wielding and dapper looking Sepia who I suspect had just turned up for a quiet monastic smoke!
With the two Mikes also getting one apiece, we took 6 St Giles wickets in a tighter match than might have appeared.
Anyway, we sadly came second again in the KAT – better luck next year chaps – but a super day and wonderful to welcome our debutants and to have great team contributions from Jolly, Jules, Dolphin and Rishi.
I must add a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to our esteemed President for his tireless work in making this annual event happen – such a nice day and a great way to get our season going.
RESULTS: v St Cross: Racqueteers WIN by 1 wicket v St Giles: Racqueteers LOSS by 5 wickets
The Racqueteers Cricket Club 