Refreshers v Slinfold
Sunday 17th September 2023
A delayed start forced by waves of rain meant this became a shortened game of 30 overs. Our skipper R. Jory having won the toss, we gleefully went in to bat (still in the rain, albeit lighter than earlier) and promptly had the worst start in living memory. First and second balls of the match saw first H Law and then J. Waddington heading back to the pavilion, the opposition opening bowler starting his spell with two perfect in-swinging yorkers. At the other end A Bryant, leaning on his bat, could only look on in disbelief.
But all was not lost; in typical Refreshers fashion, a recovery was mounted. Of note, Sachin knocked a swashbuckling 30, M. Gration 36 and B. Malik 22. From the shakiest of starts, a still modest but potentially defendable 150 was reached.
Despite F. Baloch bowling one of the openers for 0 (final figures 1 for 15 off 5), some strong hitting from their number 3 bat (expertly caught by M. Gration on the boundary off H. Law’s bowling) and tenacity from their obdurate opener (who was eventually one of Sachin’s 5 victims), meant a tense finish was always looking to end in favour of the opposition. Sure enough, in the 29th over, and with 3 wickets remaining, they finally crept over the finish line.
Highlights included Sachin’s figures of 5 for 31 off 7, with an average of 6.2 – two bowled, two catches for A. Bryant in gully, and one for B. Malik fielding at silly mid-off. Some lovely bowling from others including 10 year old debutant R. Baloch, bowling wicked off-spin first change and ripping the ball despite it being his first time with a 5.5oz ball and first time bowling on a 22yd wicket. I’m reliably informed that he and his father will play more games next season. In the same vein, we welcomed a new player, Bilal Malik, an all-rounder who contributed throughout and will hopefully play more regularly next season.
R Godschalk