The build up and preparation for this opening game had been immense and Rosaneri literally hit the ground running to pull off a stunning and dramatic victory.
The pre match plans went right out of the window when Rosaneri were asked to bat, but the openers went about their business in an assured fashion to get the Pinks off to a solid start. When Mike departed and Shell followed quickly a trademark collapse looked on the cards. However, Mr Bell and Tony got their heads down and built a gritty partnership to put Rosaneri back on top.
Jim, Mat and Pits built on the good work to enable Rosaneri to declare at 170 for 5.
Jim never looked in danger, but did play some roguish shots on his way to his 3rd half century for the club.
At tea, Rosaneri were happy with their work but still had to get 10 wickets to secure victory.
Nazeing’s opening pair got on with the job in hand and started to make great inroads into Rosaneri’s good looking first innings score. At 70 for no wicket off 12 overs Nazeing had complete control and looked odds on for victory.
However, the first change in bowling at either end got a double breakthrough to leave the match perfectly poised at drinks with Nazeing requiring 91off 20 overs with 8 wickets remaining.
Nick and Stephen both bowled tight and always looked like they could take wickets. The line and length brothers picked up 5 wickets between them and Mat Freeman got a wicket with his first ball of 2009. But then the game turned again slightly as the shutters came down and the home team changed tactics to bid for a draw.
Pits bowled a nice cameo and Nick was asked to change ends to see if a short leg side boundary could get them playing shots again. The game seemed destined to end in a draw until the Captain tossed the ball to Sinders for one last blast down the hill.
Sinders charged in and gave his all, but the Captain was still not happy and demanded that he bowled round the wicket to make the batsmen play. He did, and the result was instant.
Bang……..stumps everywhere. 8 down.
Three balls later…….Bang, stumps knocked over again. 9 down.
Then in his last over and a draw still a very big possibility in came the left armed lion to deliver a snorter that ripped out middle stump. What a ball, what a man, what a game.
A great day out was had by all in a lovely setting against a nice opposition.
The perfect start to any season.