What a game to get the 2008 cricket season underway !
A magnificent team display saw Rosaneri on top of proceedings from the moment that Jim won the toss. Nazeing Common were asked to bat on a slightly green topped wicket with plenty of moisture in the air.
The opening bowling strike force of Freeman and Sindrey hit the ground running and the pressure created from tidy fast bowling soon ended with both openers being sent back to the pavilion.
Nazeing enjoyed a middle order revival, but the pinks always just about had the upper hand. They eventually set a target of 157 which was we would have certainly settled for before a ball was bowled.
The bowling and fielding was very good apart from 38 extras being given away. (23 wides, 5 no balls, 8 byes, 2 leg byes) This was a problem last year and it is something that we need to reduce drastically. At the moment we are basically giving the opposition a free daddy batsman.
The Rosaneri reply got off to a superb start with the openers virtually seeing off the pace attack and getting 20 on the board before the loss of the first wicket. Then a mini collapse ensued before a good partnership between Underwood and Gareth Cox got things back on track. Jim then continued the good work once Gareth had departed and with 20 overs to go Rosaneri were well on top.
Nazeing then got a couple of vital wickets and the game was back in the balance. Nick holed out on the boundary just as the rain arrived and the umpires had no choice but to send the players back into the pavilion.
It was a great game of cricket and Rosaneri come away from the encounter in good form and unbeaten.
Player notebook:
Leigh – Solid in the field and was batting well before snicking one behind.
McHugh – Did his job as opening bat by seeing off the pace men and looked very assured in his defensive work and judgement of when to leave the ball alone. Also saved numerous runs in the field.
Alfieri – Showed his usual determination in the field, but never got going with the bat.
Underwood – Took two catches and top scored in his usual no nonsense style. Played some beautiful shots and hit an exquisite straight six. Unfortunately edged one to the keeper when looking set for a match winning 50.
G.Cox – Bowled a nice five over spell and batted with aggression. Always seems to produce with the bat and a big score is just around the corner.
Downing – Captained exceptionally well apart from his decision to bat GBell at 10. Bowled a great spell that kept things tight at a key point in the match, and picked up where he left off last year with the bat. Just had the foundations of a big score in place when an edge was superbly taken by the keeper.
Freeman – His second spell with the ball was top drawer and unlucky not to get a wicket. Came into bat fully focused and smashed a brilliant straight drive for four. Probably unlucky to be given out lbw by trigger Underwood when the ball struck the knee roll.
Ni. Shewring – Picked up a couple of wickets, and when he got the ball to land on the strip had the batsmen in knots. In his own words, “One way or another Nick Shewring is unplayable” ! If he can get 5 out of 6 good balls per over, Nick can destroy any batting line up. Batted with a match winning attitude and had a perfectly good 6 signalled as a 4, and got caught when a fielder held the ball to save another certain 6.
Rose – Bowled very consistently and only gave away one wide in 9 overs. Unlucky not to get a wicket.
GBell – Kept wicket to the best standard ever seen at the club. Took 2 catches and pulled off a lightening fast stumping. Put pressure on the batsmen at every opportunity and has become a constant wicket taking threat with his reliable support to the bowlers.
Sindrey – Outstanding display as an opening bowler. Kept the ball pitched up and bowled a constant probing line outside off stump. Returned career best figures and is the living proof of reward for hard work, following his winter transformation.