Match Report 13 June 2009

Cumnor 3 beat Buckingham Town 3 by 5 wickets

Buckingham 94 all out. (Bowerman 4-18, Shrimpton 2-26, Zubair 2-11) Cumnor 95-5 (J Lee 26, Shepheard 17).

At about 1.15pm the most unexpected event of the season so far occurred when we won the toss. Once the captain had been revived from the shock, we elected to field given the under prepared nature of the track which looked as though it would assist the seamers.

Gus was quickly into the groove, continuing his magnificent start to the season with a fine spell. He deserved more than his 2 wickets. Ali Lee, struggling with “groundsman’s back” as a result of his exertions at Park Field the previous evening, was withdrawn from the attack fairly early (having made the initial breakthrough) allowing Zubair to bowl a rapid and hostile set of 5 overs. An excellent return catch and a sharp grab by Rich Rouse at leg gully gave him a return of 2 wickets, and committed and positive outfielding left Buckingham struggling on 51-4 at drinks.

Bobby Bowerman, making a welcome return to the side, bowled a fine spell after the break to extinguish resistance from the lower order whilst the skipper, not at his best, toiled at the other end.

Bobby was deprived of his five for by some misplaced chivalry on the part of Howarth, who indicated his doubts about the legality of a diving catch at mid off and recalled the batsman. A straw poll at “tea” time (see below) revealed that everyone else thought it was a clean catch…! The Buckingham No 8 played straight and with good composure to reach an excellent 26 before he was run out courtesy of good work by Miles Hammond at point.

A total of 94 looked inadequate, but given that Cumnor were fielding a large number of “bowling all rounders”, and given the conditions, application was required.

The total absence of tea required Cumnor to return to the crease after a 20 minute interval.

Rich Rouse was the first to go, walking off when his back foot drive was scooped up at extra cover: did it bounce? We shall never know…. James Lee batted splendidly, showing that he had learned from playing with some of the senior club members earlier in the year by waiting for the bad ball from the leg spinner and taking full advantage.

Jack Metcalfe was supremely unfortunate to have a missile plucked out of the air by a fielder who later dropped 2 much easier opportunities, and when a sugar-deprived Lee slapped a return catch to depart for a well made 26, and Lauchlan followed rapidly (8 from 3 balls!), a minor wobble had set in.

Shep clubbed a rapid 17 including a monster 6, but could not finish the job. It was left to Miles Hammond, whose composed 12* was much more important than it appears in the book, and Zubair (8*) to drag us over the line by 5 wickets. Special mention should be made of James Lee not only for his batting but for another excellent day behind the sticks, conceding no byes and showing good glovework generally.

On the return trip, we adjourned to the Ben Jonson in Weston where the absence of tea was made good, although Gus showed a worrying lack of technique with his burger…

This was an efficient win but the challenge of Bletchley Town next week will be much tougher. So far we have prospered by taking the chance to win when it arrives, and we must continue that approach through the rest of the year.