The Rs lose another close encounter for the third time

 

Many thanks to fictional novelist Scott Rogers for his account of last week's match in my absence but now I'm back we can look forward to a factual account of this weekend's game.

 

In gloomy overcast conditions Scott Rogers lost the toss and was promptly inserted to bat. Alex Smith joined Rogers and progressed the score in difficult conditions to 23 when a rank full toss from Reader caught Smith unaware and he simply lobbed it up to point and was on his way back for 7. Rogers then failed to connect properly with another Reader loose one and was caught at mid-off for 11 and the Rs were 2 down. Tom Jefferson hit a couple of boundaries but then got hit on the helmet by some fiery bowling from Caperon which seemed to unsettle him as he tried to pull the next ball and was bowled on 11. Eike Gilbert (0) came in and didn't last long, falling to a superb catch in the slips by Warbrook off Caperon, and the Rs were 37 - 4. Simon Cross was still there as ever, and Matt Page helped by hitting anything slightly astray before getting caught in the deep on 27 off Bennett. Cross continued on, Dale Glover added a dozen before getting bowled by Clarke and in came the wiry Billy Sly. He, with Cross, nudged the ball around and moved the score to 183 before being caught for a quick fire 31. Steve Jay then joined Cross with 3 overs to go and promptly did his usual, a couple of fours out of the first 4 balls. The pair moved the score to 211 - 7 off 45 overs, Cross 75 no and Jay 13 no - a score that looked unlikely given the start, helped by some poor shot selection and favourable bowling conditions. Caperon 2 - 32, Reader 2 - 28, Bennett, Clarke and Warbrook taking a wicket each.

 

In reply Sloane and skipper Lee came to the crease and, after a tentative start, Sloane proceeded village-style to try and hit almost every ball out of the ground, obviously not digesting any of Geoff Boycott's "How to bat correctly" manual! He clubbed his way to 41 before Jay snapped him up off the youngster Sam Turrell, making his first team debut. The score was on 94, Lee (33) didn't last much longer, going to the other youngster, Dale Glover, for 33, Tom Jefferson taking the catch.

Warbrook was going well and Allen was helping but then Skipper Rogers played his ace card and brought on Billy Sly - his in swingers baffled the young batsmen and he grabbed Allen (20) in his third over - Rogers taking a sharp close catch. Clarke came in and looked uncomfortable and, after surviving Sly's fourth over, didn't learn much and in the next Sly over he went, bowled middle stump for 11. His brother came to the crease and only added 8 as Sly bowled him, same stump, Bennett went next ball and Sly was on a hat-trick. He didn't get it but a ball later he did and Capron was trudging back for a duck, Rogers taking the catch. Reader came in and played some decent shots to move the score towards the target but Warbrook then went for it off Rogers and the safe hands never let Rogers down as he grabbed another catch, c & b Warbrook back in the hutch for 27 and Alcester were 200 - 8 with 3 overs to go. Capron came in and looked uncomfortable, swinging his bat at every ball but not connecting, but the law of averages meant he would eventually and this happened as he swung and connected for a four off Rogers' third ball, and a single saw him retain strike for the penultimate over. Sly bowling, Alcester needing 7 to win - the Rs needing 2 wickets. First ball Capron hits and gets 2, second ball he swings and misses, same for the third ball and it's getting tense! Fourth ball sees another couple and they need 3 to win, next ball a big swoosh and off the ball goes down to the third man boundary and the Rs have lost another close game.

 

Out of sorts Jay could only muster 5 overs for 24, Rogers' first spell saw 14 off it, unfortunately it was only one over (!), the other 8 going for 35 with 1 wicket. Gilbert unlucky with 0 - 29, good bowling from the two youngsters saw Turrell with 1 - 34 off 7 and Glover 1 - 36 off 7 but man of the moment Billy Sly bowled superbly for 5 - 29 and the figures warranted a better result.

 

Local derby next week with Norton Lindsey away.

Steve Jay