Well where do I start in trying to describe this enthralling contest.
Trips to Buckhurst Hill over the last two seasons have been very tough encounters with the home side having very much the better of a win and a draw in our previous games.
However, this match could and probably should have seen the ‘Pinks’ record a famous victory.
Mr. Bell won the toss and duly inserted the Hill in a hope of controlling the match during its second half.
As per our previous duels, Buckhurst Hill started well and with Mat struggling with his line and length the BHCC openers were plundering 5 an over and with the outfield like a sheet of glass early fears of a big run chase crossed the Rosaneri player’s minds.
Captain Bell took an early decision to bring Stephen onto bowl to replace Mat and he and Cuz reined in the flow of runs and then out of nowhere Cuz produced a brilliant one handed caught and bowled to take our first wicket.
The big hitting opposition wicket keeper strode confidently to the crease but Stephen nearly had him first ball as the ball seemed to go through the stumps; but it wasn’t long before Stephen had his man and we had matched our normal total of BH wickets.
This success only brought the legendary Aadil to the crease. A man we have never managed to dismiss.
Runs again began to flow and it wasn’t until Slaps replaced Cuz at the Clubhouse end that the Hill batsmen began to struggle.
Slaps went onto bowl a terrific 9 over spell which on other occasions would have seen him pick up a multitude of wickets.
Levsy and Coxy came on to replace Stephen but with no luck, and it wasn’t until a fired up Jack Shewring came running in did the Rozzers pick up another wicket. Another caught and bowled (it must run in the family) and Jack had dismissed the other opener just after he had reached his 50.
After that Buckhurst Hill started looking for quick runs and they put on exactly another 50 for the loss of 4 wickets; one each to Mat and Slaps and two run outs including the first ever dismissal of Aadil, but not until he had reached 56.
So our opponents had been pegged back to a total of 177 for 7 off of 43 overs. Rosaneri knew that they would have to bat well against a good looking attack to reach their required target.
Tea was a nice affair with everyone tucking into the plentiful offerings.
With the discussion at tea turning to how slowly Big Mike and new colt Arthur would start off the mood in the RCC camp was a little nervous.
But the opening pair started like an express train with 19 off of the first 3 overs and it continued with some glorious shots being played all round the ground. It wasn’t until the 13th over with 53 on the board that the first wicket was lost with Arthur holing out after a well made 22.
Shell came to the wicket and got off the mark straight away and then proceeded to hit some smashing boundaries to see us past the hundred mark. With another 22 overs remaining a famous Rosaneri win looked on the cards.
However, the dismissal of Big Mike for 46 by the mystery BHCC spinner just before the drinks break/20 over cut off gave Buckhurst Hill a life line but with only 65 required surely the ‘Pinks’ were in the driving seat?
But what happened over the next 16 overs will be the stuff of RCC nightmares.
Coxy played a little cameo making 10 but fell LBW to Aadil who on a crumbling pitch was bowling quick leg cutters off of a short run. Then Levsy, Jack and Stephen came and went quickly all falling to the mystery spinner and the game was in the balance. 132 for 7, we had lost 6 wickets for 26 runs!
Cuz came to the wicket to join an uncharacteristic cautious Mr. Bell and with the ball doing tricks off of the deteriorating wicket they managed to put on 34 to see us only 12 runs away from victory.
Then disaster! The mystery spinner bowled Cuz for 15 to snaffle his sixth wicket of the innings. Mat then got a leading edge and was caught and bowled. So it came down to the skipper and Slaps to somehow nurdle the 11 runs needed for the win.
Three maidens came and went with only two leg byes added. The tension for the watching RCC players was almost unbearable. Then with the skipper looking to take the attack to the spin king then inevitable happened and Mr. Bell was bowled for a brave 16 off of 37 balls and the Buckhurst Hill spinner had bowled his side to victory by taking 7 wickets for 37 runs off of 10.2 overs. Well done sir.
Both sides retired to the Clubhouse veranda to enjoy the homemade curry that was on offer with the ‘Pinks’ wondering what could and maybe should have been.