Full Fixture Information

Result Descriptiom

Won by 5 wickets 215 AO vs 216-5

Man of the Match

Al Lacy - 5-40 and cap day

Champagne Moment

Al's slow straight full toss to bowl their number 9 for his cap

Teddy Bear Moment

Andrew's horrific dismissal

Full Match Report

Drakes CC vs East Meon
Drakes CC ? 215 all out // EMCC 216-5 ? win by 5 wickets.

Drakes CC was a new fixture for the village ? a recently formed team from the Ropley / Four Marks / Alton area.

Unsure what to suspect and with a bit more bowling than batting I thought I?d put them in and then chase.

Rupert Hetherington ? fresh from his 6-18 the week before opened up from the top with Wayne coming up the hill from the other end. Their openers looked solid and circumspect ? Rupert may have beaten the bat on multiple occasions and bowled his usual miserly line, but couldn?t make a break-through ? when they did hit the ball it was along the ground.

It took a suicidal single to break the deadlock when their opener clipped the ball off his pads straight to David Blackburn at square leg and set off, was sent back and David and Mooro combined to have him out by yards. An unexpected yet much appreciated wicket.

Their number three came in in full sixes mode ? bish, bash, bosh, one ball from Wayne bursting through Josh?s hands running around from mid-on, one out of character defence prod that he missed, followed by Oli?s advice from slip that that is what happens when you try to defend had him answering back before hitting the next ball straight to Josh who made no mistake ? a definite mind the windows Tino moment. 52-2 in the 10th over.

Their number four was also aggressive, and presented a very catchable chance to the Captain (me!) two overs later only to be dropped. Rupert 6-2-21-0 and Wayne 6-0-40-1 were replaced by David Blackburn and Tim Lawrence ? David bowling his usual fiery, slightly too short, but nonetheless slippery pace ended wicketless 5-0-23-0 and Tim 6-0-22-1 picked up their number four with a good slip catch from Oli ? but not before he?d scored 41 out of a stand of 56 with the opener.

It was now time for Al Lacy to show us all what we?d been missing this season. Replacing David?s pace with his nagging line and length and in only his second match for the club he returned figures of 9-0-40-5.

Josh meanwhile was unlucky their number five took such a liking to him and was a bit out of sorts with figures of 2-0-40-0 an outlier to his normal bowling returns this season.

Tom Walters replaced Josh ,and he and Ali tightened things up from 171-3 in the 28th they were all out for 215 in the 40th. Tom (4-1-11-1) having their number 5 well caught on the boundary by Oli and Ali picking up wickets in his 4th, 6th (two wickets), 7th and 9th overs to become the 9th player this season to end up on the honours board, the second cap of the season following Josh?s cap vs the Court House and the 5th bowler with a five-fer or better.

What a performance, he had their opener stumped for 65, two bowled, one LBW and one caught by Ali Wheeler at Mid-Wicket.

A final wicket for the Captain (1-7) and it was time for tea.

Ali & Oli opened up after tea and both batted superbly ? Ali reaching his 50 before Oli testament to his aggression ? hitting every ball that should be hit to the boundary and defending resolutely the straight ones. It was a surprise to us all when he chased a wide one and was out caught behind for 61 137-1.

Tim came and went castled by a quick ball that was through him and bouncing off his pads before he had time to do very much. I came in played the quick bowler nicely before conspiring to get out in the most ignominious of fashions, toe-ending a hugely wide leg side half tracker to the keeper. 164-3, Josh came in played nicely for 14 before being bowled, Oli was eventually out for 89 caught at cover 180-5 and 36 still needed for victory.

But David Blackburn 19 not out and Mooro 8 not out, saw us home. Scoreboard pressure can do funny things and 36 to win can seem a lot at times, but Chris Moor has been selling his wicket dearly this season - 12 innings for only four times out shows how reliable he?s become at either seeing us home or holding out for a draw.

Victory had come in the 34th over, on the back of Al Lacy?s fine bowling and Oli and Ali?s fine opening stand.

Cap presentations, fines, and questions over whether you can get your cap before you?ve paid your subscription followed.

Two games to go.