Isambard vs. Olinda Vandals (A) - Friendly
Pressure Gonna Drop on You!
Isambard 209 all out (34.3 overs) (D.Bywater 99, G.Cutmore 26, B.Garland 22, B.Webb 22). Olinda
Another
game squeezed in amongst the monsoon conditions presents an opportunity
for kit man, specialist tailender and fill-in skipper, Adam Malin, to
deputise for the proper journalists.
What better way to start than quote lyrics from a killer ska track as a headline? It could have been a classic line from cult 60's movie Performance, but that would have involved checking on Google as to which of the acting clan Fox spoke the words ""¦I don't send them solicitors letters, I apply a bit of - Pressure". There's that word again because that's what this match was all about. Pressure.
Subtle coercion ensured that it would be a 40 over game; atmospheric conditions determined that a 50 pence piece with a variable covering of sweat fell the right way and the pressure of Australians keen on a hit and a few more pints ensured that Isambard would bat.
The wicket was damp, the ball hard, the bowlers kept waiting by Simon Codling interpreting instructions to take his time too literally. Then it was game on. In a competitive start, the Vandals bowlers served up some testing deliveries, albeit punctuated by a quota of wides. Two good 'uns saw the classy Andy Hankin and partner Codling back in the pavilion, only to be followed by Pete Brooks - giving catching practice to first slip in his first innings for the club. Quack! The score 35-3.
An initially circumspect Dave Bywater and debutant Brad Garland began a recovery, punishing the bad balls, seeing off the opening seamers and then gradually racking up the scoring rate before the latter holed out on the mid-wicket boundary for 22. Richard Robinson, batting at 6, missed a wicked inswinger (or was it a straight one?). Quack Quack. Isambard were on 110 - 5 at this stage. Ben Webb had asked for promotion up the order and delivered. Playing beautifully straight off front and back foot, Webby re-established the momentum. Bywater reached another 50, acknowledged somewhat belatedly once he had reached 63! Then came the onslaught.
Wickets fell at regular intervals, Webb for 22 and Bywater for 99 - his first dismissal in three innings. Grant 'Hurricane Red' Cutmore hit some massive farewell blows on his way to a belligerent 26. Malin Jnr perished to an under-hit mow off leg stump - at least ensuring someone else would get to bat and that the fines tally would rise. Quack Quack Quack. The innings ended in the 35th over; would 209 be enough?
After a leisurely tea, Isambard took the field anticipating that the opening duo of O'Brien and Cutmore would do what they usually do - and get cheap(ish) wickets. It didn't quite happen like that. Vandals' Baker, a man with a plan and a penchant for batting two yards out of his crease, gave out some serious tap. In no time at all (8 overs) he'd reached 50 and the home side were well set at 75-0.
Cue a ruthless, some might say (and they'd be wrong) Brearleyesque, decision by Malin to introduce David Boon stunt double, Nick Tuohy, and go-to man Bywater into the attack. It worked. At drinks after twenty overs, Vandals had been pegged back to 106-3 and it was game on once more. Isambard had bowling options; did the home side have the batting?
Bywater finished a fine spell with figures of 8-0-29-3. Tuohy went wicketless; he'll bowl far worse and snare a five-for. The pressure was building, Isambard's outfielding near exemplary and Simon Codling's supporting glovework superb. A victory was still possible.
Ben Webb had shown he was a capable bowler during early-season outings. Would there be any ring-rust? His first delivery bounced twice; oh dear. The second was a jaffa, so were several others to the extent that Malin chose to bowl him through to the death. Who to replace Bywater at the River End with the short boundary?
England Surrey .
The equation was simple. One over to be bowled by Hankin, 14 runs needed for victory, the skipper's brain scrambled to the extent that he couldn't recall each ball less than 24 hours later - except that six runs were needed off the last to win. The under-pressure batsman, Baldwin, prepared to swing. Isambard's fielders hadn't needed directing to assume positions on the boundary rope, Malin's advice to keep the ball in hand and not to risk overthrows was in all probability ignored by his genial troops - and ultimately superfluous at Hankin hit the stumps! The death knell of dislodged bail heralded one of Isambard's most satisfying victories. Olinda Vandals had pushed them hard - harder than anyone else this season - but at the last, pressure told. Go on skank, you know you want to!
Footnote: As mentioned, this was Grant Cutmore's farewell appearance for Isambard and mention must be made of what a massive hole his departure will leave - a six foot, big-hearted, thoroughly top bloke, excellent cricketer, ginger-type hole! We'll miss you Cutty.
Match Report by the ska-tastic Adam Malin
A big thank you toOlinda
What better way to start than quote lyrics from a killer ska track as a headline? It could have been a classic line from cult 60's movie Performance, but that would have involved checking on Google as to which of the acting clan Fox spoke the words ""¦I don't send them solicitors letters, I apply a bit of - Pressure". There's that word again because that's what this match was all about. Pressure.
Subtle coercion ensured that it would be a 40 over game; atmospheric conditions determined that a 50 pence piece with a variable covering of sweat fell the right way and the pressure of Australians keen on a hit and a few more pints ensured that Isambard would bat.
The wicket was damp, the ball hard, the bowlers kept waiting by Simon Codling interpreting instructions to take his time too literally. Then it was game on. In a competitive start, the Vandals bowlers served up some testing deliveries, albeit punctuated by a quota of wides. Two good 'uns saw the classy Andy Hankin and partner Codling back in the pavilion, only to be followed by Pete Brooks - giving catching practice to first slip in his first innings for the club. Quack! The score 35-3.
An initially circumspect Dave Bywater and debutant Brad Garland began a recovery, punishing the bad balls, seeing off the opening seamers and then gradually racking up the scoring rate before the latter holed out on the mid-wicket boundary for 22. Richard Robinson, batting at 6, missed a wicked inswinger (or was it a straight one?). Quack Quack. Isambard were on 110 - 5 at this stage. Ben Webb had asked for promotion up the order and delivered. Playing beautifully straight off front and back foot, Webby re-established the momentum. Bywater reached another 50, acknowledged somewhat belatedly once he had reached 63! Then came the onslaught.
Wickets fell at regular intervals, Webb for 22 and Bywater for 99 - his first dismissal in three innings. Grant 'Hurricane Red' Cutmore hit some massive farewell blows on his way to a belligerent 26. Malin Jnr perished to an under-hit mow off leg stump - at least ensuring someone else would get to bat and that the fines tally would rise. Quack Quack Quack. The innings ended in the 35th over; would 209 be enough?
After a leisurely tea, Isambard took the field anticipating that the opening duo of O'Brien and Cutmore would do what they usually do - and get cheap(ish) wickets. It didn't quite happen like that. Vandals' Baker, a man with a plan and a penchant for batting two yards out of his crease, gave out some serious tap. In no time at all (8 overs) he'd reached 50 and the home side were well set at 75-0.
Cue a ruthless, some might say (and they'd be wrong) Brearleyesque, decision by Malin to introduce David Boon stunt double, Nick Tuohy, and go-to man Bywater into the attack. It worked. At drinks after twenty overs, Vandals had been pegged back to 106-3 and it was game on once more. Isambard had bowling options; did the home side have the batting?
Bywater finished a fine spell with figures of 8-0-29-3. Tuohy went wicketless; he'll bowl far worse and snare a five-for. The pressure was building, Isambard's outfielding near exemplary and Simon Codling's supporting glovework superb. A victory was still possible.
Ben Webb had shown he was a capable bowler during early-season outings. Would there be any ring-rust? His first delivery bounced twice; oh dear. The second was a jaffa, so were several others to the extent that Malin chose to bowl him through to the death. Who to replace Bywater at the River End with the short boundary?
The equation was simple. One over to be bowled by Hankin, 14 runs needed for victory, the skipper's brain scrambled to the extent that he couldn't recall each ball less than 24 hours later - except that six runs were needed off the last to win. The under-pressure batsman, Baldwin, prepared to swing. Isambard's fielders hadn't needed directing to assume positions on the boundary rope, Malin's advice to keep the ball in hand and not to risk overthrows was in all probability ignored by his genial troops - and ultimately superfluous at Hankin hit the stumps! The death knell of dislodged bail heralded one of Isambard's most satisfying victories. Olinda Vandals had pushed them hard - harder than anyone else this season - but at the last, pressure told. Go on skank, you know you want to!
Footnote: As mentioned, this was Grant Cutmore's farewell appearance for Isambard and mention must be made of what a massive hole his departure will leave - a six foot, big-hearted, thoroughly top bloke, excellent cricketer, ginger-type hole! We'll miss you Cutty.
Match Report by the ska-tastic Adam Malin
A big thank you to
Latest news
Follow isambardcc on Twitter
