15-08-10
Team: Marcus Jansa, Matt Fitzgerald, Guy Freeman, Zubair Ahmed, Purav Patel, Lawrence Po Ba, Jon Burchfield, Alan Porter, Rich Mullett, Edward Martin
Result: Blues 245/6 dec, Blackheath ? Won by ? runs
Having noticed a pattern emerging this season, whereby match reports are only distributed for games that the Blues CC manage to win, I'm delighted to write this quick synopsis of our convincing victory over Blackheath on Sunday.......
Following the downpours on Saturday we were pleased to see the picturesque ground at Blackheath ready for play on Sunday upon our arrival. We lost the toss and were put into bat - probably what we would have chosen anyway. It didn't start convincingly however with two wickets down for little more than 25 runs. However that brought Matt FitzGerald to
the crease to join Edward Martin (debutant for the Blues - inspired ringer brought in by the skips...) and they firstly settled the ship and then increasingly exerted their authority on the bowlers. In fact their authority became so great, that we had to send players traipsing off into the shrubbery around the ground to search for balls that they both
continually launched out of the ground time and time again. I'm not sure the young Blackheath team had ever faced anything like it before as another perfectly well pitched up delivery outside off stump disappeared for another huge six....
Ed was finally caught for a very good 75 and Matt went on to score a fantastic 111 not out. Matt finally retired to let some of his colleagues at least score a couple of runs and we declared at tea 245 for 5. It was a superb partnership by Matt and Ed, certainly one of the batting highlights of the season. Well done lads.
After a wonderful tea (the best coronation chicken sandwiches in Surrey), we got about the Blackheath batting line up with gusto. Guy Freeman's re-modelled bowling run up was a revelation. Guy now hardly takes more than three steps to get to the crease; can't really be bothered to even break into a jog, but then proceeds to bowl with great pace and
accuracy over after over. Well backed up by Purav Patel from the other end bowling some classic left arm over swing bowling, we quickly got into the wickets. With Guy's bowling firing on all cylinders, he proceeded to skittle the timbers of both their 4th and 5th batsmen with consecutive deliveries. He had to wait to the start of his next over to see if he could claim his hat trick, but sadly it wasn't to be. Apart from one very stylish young Blackheath batsmen, who went on to score 50, wickets continued to fall at steady intervals. Rich Mullet found a great line and length throughout the afternoon that was finally the undoing of their key player and the game was rapped up not long after as the Blues crowded the bat of the final pairing desperate for an early beer. Blackheath were finally dismissed for 160 and another thumping Blues victory was etched in stone.
Special bowling mentions must go to Guy Freeman who produced a startling return of 9-4-9-4 (I think we would be hard pressed to find better opening bowling figures in the last few years) and Rich Mullet on his recovery from his heath setback posting figures of 7.1-2-20-3.
Many thanks to all who played (Alan that was not your last game before retirement....). Great Blues performance in front of a not significant crowd on the boundary. Only missing link was a rendition of "And I guess that's why they call us The Blues" in the bar afterwards.
Good luck at Dunsfold those that are playing.
Over and out
Marcus
(Skips for the day)
[updated 23 Aug 10]