Detail: 17-09-2023 - Richmond (T20)
Result: L by 8 wkts
*Blues Match Report - Vs Richmond CC*
With the sky grey and forecast showing thunder and lightning I was extremely excited about the prospect of a quick bat, no bowling and not writing a match report this week. Alas, the weather gods had other ideas and I'm back to it.
With the forecast looking awful, Hamza (Richmond Captain) proposed a T20 to try and get the overs in. With only 2 other Blues (both batsman) at the ground 10 minutes before the start it seemed like a sensible idea. With the weather overcast, the toss was won and like any good batting captain would've, Jack decided to bat first and hope we didn't have to field (and no match report), win, win, and another win.
With the top order being decided by arrival time, Harry Baker and Will Thompson headed out in the drizzle to set the tone. After 3 overs, Will was making the deck look like an absolute road and was flying, with the final ball of the third over, Will smashed a delightful drive back over the bowlers' head, over the sightscreen and into the tennis court. The rain decided to come down and we settled into the clubhouse for a couple of pints mid-game. Richmond on the other hand stuck to teas and coffees...
With the rain slightly dissipated, we headed back out. Unfortunately, Will got bowled soon after the return, but the tone had been set. Mirch Jnr came in, and finally showed the Blues he could add substance to the obscene style he had previously shown. The highlight being a huge slog sweep six that cleared the cars. Harry Baker having played many late cuts danced down the track only to get stumped by the young keeper. Mirch playing exclusively in 4's and 6's helped the run rate keep going. In keeping with the Blues, he proceeded to miss a straight one, and Tom Jordan had no other option other than to put the finger up.
Jack and John Syfret were in to try and get the Blues to a respectable score. They kept finding the fielders and running hard, with John really trying to up the scoring with some big heaves. After one too many, he left for a run a ball 26. Nick Ellerby had the luckless task of coming in with 6 balls to go, with a couple of nicely timed shots could we get the Blues to 150. On 149 with one ball to go, Nick hit it to long-on and called 2, Jack with the skippers mentally and not trying to protect his red-inker dully ran a never there second and got run out last ball. Tough.
In response it was up to Jack Close and Hugo Orange to take the new ball, with the drizzle stopping and the clouds parting the swinging conditions Closey signed up to late on Sunday morning had almost completely disappeared. Not a great toss to win. Closey and Hugo started with some lovely line and length. Hugo managed to get their skipper to mis-time a short ball up to deep square leg. With Ben Mirch hurtling towards the ball, we thought that was the key first wicket. On this occasion fortune did not favour the brave, and all that effort and dive was for nothing as the ball slipped through his grasp and landed safely. Don't worry Mirch, many a Blue would've just let that fall short.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man, and becoming a theme with the Blues, when a wicket is needed, James Leworthy reluctantly steps up and bowls. Bamboozling the batsman with back of the hand slower balls, leggies and offies, he finally got his man after two close LBW appeals. With pressure building, Richmond CC brought out a gun batsman. Tom Jordan teased him with some flight and guile, and had him dropped at long on... oops. Unfortunately, these two were particularly good at cricket, and with the sun baking the ground, the pitch became easier and easier to bat on (that's what we will tell ourselves anyway). Will Thompson and Alex Price bowled extremely well and their figures don't show how well they bowled.
Richmond CC managed to chase with 8 wickets and a few overs to spare. With a 4:30 finish on Sunday (More Sunday T20s next year please Jenks), we tucked into a few pints at Fitz's old watering hole and watched Fiji beat the Aussies.
Go well
[updated 28 11 2023]