Refreshers v Castle Rising – 5 May 2019

On Sunday 5 May the Refreshers’ season was supposed to get off to an 11.30 start with the annual game against Castle Rising. However the day before Castle Rising asked if we could delay the start to 1pm so as to allow the pitch – and in particular the run ups – more drying time. In the event it was a good thing they went for a later start.

We did start at 1pm after David Alexander had lost the toss with the result that Refreshers were put in on what looked like a very difficult pitch to bat on. And so it proved. After about 40 minutes we were 27-6, highest scorer Richard Jory with 9 and with the contribution from David Alexander, Jacob Sandelson, Richard Saunders, Owen Roach and Andy Gardner being 14 between them. At this stage there were fears that we might not even make it to lunch, scheduled for 2.30. However the Club Captain, Anu Mohindru and Rachel Godschalk had other ideas. Rachel stayed with Anu for what seemed like an eternity given what had gone before and she made 10 very valuable runs. Of even more importance with Rachel and the tail (including a first ever bat in a cricket match for Anna Gardner who managed to stay with him for longer than most had occupied the crease that day) Anu managed to get himself up to 75 when the last wicket fell – not Anu of course who remained undefeated. No mean feat on a pitch like that. And that got Refreshers up to the princely total of 120 off what turned out to be 32 overs. Owen Roach was pleased with our total. He said we only needed 80 to win on this pitch and that we had been wasting time batting on past 80!  

So came our turn to field. Owen Roach and Richard Saunders to open the attack. Owen bowled magnificently and we got back in the game. He took the first four wickets and suddenly Castle Rising found themselves in trouble at 30 odd for 4. The boot was on the other foot. Excellent bowling followed from Owen, Richard Saunders, Andy Gardner, Anu Mohindru and Richard Jory. And the fielding was pretty good too. Slowly we reeled Castle Rising in until they got to 84-8. The next partnership for them was good however and the ninth wicket fell at 109. We had 11 runs in the bank and 1 wicket to get. But try as hard as we could we just could not get that last wicket and Castle Rising scampered home as winners by 1 wicket at 7pm in the very last of the 20 overs. Three things to record: first, Refreshers bowled 54 overs at Castle Rising (so 22 more than had been bowled by Castle Rising). Second, Owen Roach bowled no less than 24.5 of the 54 overs, and did not look much worse for it at the end of the day, though he was disappointed not to get that last wicket. His figures were 32-5!  Third, Castle Rising were (understandably) over the moon at the victory in a game that looked as if they had it completely won long before lunch and completely lost by teatime. As for the Refreshers, well it was obviously a very good game to have played in although all of us agreed that ultimately Castle Rising deserved to win it. We shall return seeking victory in 2020.

David Alexander

Match Manager