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16/05/2012
Vs Thaxted
This was a most pleasant way to start the season in a game that in truth should have been won even though we only had 9 men.
Rosaneri won the toss and elected to let the home team to have a bat on a green but firm wicket.
Things got off to a great start as Mat made an early breakthrough while Coxy kept things tight at the other end.
Jack then came into the attack and ripped out the middle order to leave Thaxted at 16 for 4.
Jim then decided to take the foot off the gas and the bowling was shared around to give the home team every chance of recovering. This was the least that we could do as they had very kindly loaned us two fielders.
Thaxted's main man very carefully rebuilt the innings, but the pinks re-applied the pressure when the time was right to wrap things up and take all ten wickets for 142 runs.
Jim and Jack both ended up with nice 3 fers.
Tea was an utterly splendid affair and the RCC squad got thoroughly stuck in !
The reply began with a first ball bang as Mike smashed a 4, and some had to double take that it wasn't Mr Bell facing the first ball.
Disaster soon followed though when Marcus was wiped out. Shell soon followed and a collapse looked like it could see an early end to the game as a contest.
However, Charlie King who was making his debut for Rosaneri batted with maturity beyond his 16 years to shore things up and accumulate steadily. Mike did his usual thing at the other end and the swingometer turned pink again.
Charlie's resistance was eventually broken but the scoreboard looked good and on track for an RCC win.
Coxy also batted well, but a few more wickets tumbled and it was all down to the last 3 of the 9 to bring home the bacon.
Cuz started hitting 6's, but Jim nicked one to the keeper and poor old Mat was left stranded when Cuz eventually holed out.
A great game that could have been won easily, but ended up somehow feeling right also in defeat !
By
Jim Downing
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