Welcome win at Rosehill
Posted Monday, June 23, 2008
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Sunseekers 205-6 (Ashton 83, Greasley 38, Coxon 19 not out, Wenn 17)
Rosehill Methodists 147 (Crawford 4-27, Ashford 4-30, W Evans 2-16)
The fact that Sunseekers batted first will tell regular readers that the Little Fat Captain lost the toss. It proved a classic case of a good toss to lose.
Given the rain the day before, Rosehill's square was in remarkably good condition after a dry, windy morning and Howard and the LFC proceeded carefully to a sound start before the skipper holed out. Kevin, feeling ill with a stomach bug, never looked like reproducing his tour form but his early demise brought in Stuart for his first appearance of the season and, with Howard secure at one end, the club's resident entrepreneur felt able to open his shoulders from the word go. As it turned out, that coincided with the acceleration which usually happens when Howard feels he's played himself in and the pair added a superb 80 in nine overs - the backbone of the innings.
There were useful little knocks from Will, Robin and Sam (who turned out at short notice with Carpo stuck at Heathrow) and an aggressive late effort from Ross, who gloriously brought up the 200 with a six off the last ball of the innings.
Solid stuff, then, and it turned out to be well backed up by the bowling, which has not always been the way this season. Two early wickets for Colston and one for Will had Rosehill on the back foot but two solid, if unorthodox, knocks dragged them back into it and, for a while the game could have gone either way. One good catch, four feet off the ground and therefore above his head, by the captain, and one excellent one, in the deep by Howard, both off Fred's bowling, tilted the balance again, however, and it became a matter of working through the remaining wickets.
Ross probably turned in his best bowling of the season and had no luck whatsoever as a late order hitter cross-batted him back over his head a few times, leading to an unusual show of temper, as the Coxon cap was kicked all the way back to its owner's fielding position after being handed over by the umpire. Had he not been kicking it, Ross could perhaps have tried flicking it with his bottom lip. Disgraceful behaviour.*
"That wasn't a dive," observed young Taylor, "He just collapsed with exhaustion!"
There was time for the captain to grab another catch, lurching forward at mid off to give your reporter the third of four wickets he probably didn't deserve on the day.
"That wasn't a dive," observed young Taylor, "He just collapsed with exhaustion!"
It was almost the last act of a solid and satisfying Sunseekers win however and, not for the first time, thanks to Rosehill for being marvellous hosts, providing a good tea and playing in a great spirit. It's 2-2 between the sides now and neither can be sure about the win at the start of the fixture, which is how it should be.
CC
* FOOTNOTE. Disciplinary news. It has been confirmed that Ross Coxon has been reported to the Caps Protection League for sustained abuse of his cap during the game against Rosehill Methodists. The club regard this very seriously and may take their own action before the results of any CPL inquiry are made known. In seriousness, this behaviour clearly ranks with David Evans' bat-throwing of years gone by and, more recently, the wobblers thrown by Sam after being rubbish.
