Match Report: NECC vs. Trinity Oxley

So along came Sunday again and this week was another home game at the Lakes, this time against Trinity Oxley. The home team --or at least those of it who arrived on time-- set up the pitch. Somehow, Aidan managed to set the stumps up the most aligned they've ever been. 

Trinity haven’t played us at our home for some years and I am sure they missed the delights of the Lakes. This being sarcasm as I have seen fields that were not as green as the wicket we had for Sunday. There were some shocked looks when I told them this was our best wicket of the season so far. 

With Captain Kalp out this week, it was the turn of Vice-Captain Charlie to lead the team. Winning the toss, he elected to bowl first. The innings started promisingly with runs hard to come by and some great work in the field. Louis and Aaron started well putting pressure on the openers with the latter then taking both of their wickets. 

The middle order however started taking the game to the next bowlers with Arthur struggling to find his length and being punished by the batsmen. Raj then came on to bowl and decided to set his own field like it was the last 2 overs of a T20, with everyone barring about two people on the rope. I’m sure if he could he would have had Charlie at WK on the boundary. He (just about) got away with it and then took a fine wicket with a superb ball turning in to the stumps. 

With the game slightly slipping away Aidan and Josh came on and started to get us on the right path. With Aidan nearly getting a certain batsman out about 8 times, he then took the tricky left hander, caught on the boundary with a fine catch from Louis. Josh also picked up a couple for his efforts with a catch and an LBW. He also picked up a couple of very questionable wides. Jack, Aaron and Louie then bowled at the end to finish the innings with Trinity Oxley all out for 224. A big score, however, on a freshly cut outfield, with the ball going to the boundary quickly the game was not all over at all. 

After the welcome return of Mary's superb tea, it was our turn to try and chase the total. Openers Jack and Lee went out and started well seeing off the first pair of bowlers but unfortunately fell to the bowling of Nar, who ended on figures of 8 overs, 22 runs and 5 wickets. Further proof that all you need to do on a Sunday to take wickets is bowl at the stumps with a good line and length. 

By this point the Norwood Exiles collapse was in full force and before we knew it we were nine down with Aidan out in the middle with Raj. After a couple of goods overs providing a promising partnership, Raj was gone LBW and the game was over. Once again much improvement to be made, with the main one being if we can’t bat properly we won’t be winning any games.

Needing stability through the batting order, especially the middle still remains our biggest area in need of work. That's not to mention catching. There was no standout player of the match for us this time, but a few mentions go to Aidan for his superb bowling spell, another cameo batting performance ending Not Out and the ball sticking to him in the field like glue with him putting his body on the line. Aaron got his best figures for the club (3-25) and Lee for fielding well and scoring the most runs for the team in his debut opening the batting. 

Overall it is another loss and with work to be done for the next games to get some W’s in the column. Next week we go away to Limpsfield Chart with the advantage being we can play on an actual wicket and not a strip of grass. Also the fact there is a pub a 30 second walk away!

Scorecard