Match Report 27 may 2006 home v Rottingdean III

ESCL Division 9

Rottingdean 101 all out (37overs)

Isfield 102-3 (37 overs)

Isfield 30 pts, Rottingdean 3 pts.

ROTTEN CATCHING RUINS ROTTINGDEAN RECORD

With a hundred percent record of three wins yielding a maximum tally of 90 points, Rottingdean were on a roll but so was a buoyant Isfield side with two wins out of two. It turned out to be a titanic war of attrition as the visitors failed to break the shackles imposed by tight bowling and inspired catching.

The odds may have been stacked in the home side’s favour as they won the toss against the ten-man opposition, who were inserted on a chocolate blancmange of a pitch. Chris Saunders bowled 11 miserly overs for no reward but it caused the Rottingdean batsmen to become frustrated and give their wickets away.

First to strike was Krizo, Lee Atkinson snaffling the catch. There followed a stand of 40 between Sale and Visser, who reached 31 before skying one to Healey, Atkinson the bowler. Things seemed to be rapidly going Isfield’s way as Martin Fellows rattled the timbers and Saunders caught one off Atkinson but there was an ominous hush as the enormous Rottingdean number five smashed his first delivery into the bushes for an equally enormous six. The Captain, Keith Rogers joined in with a couple of boundaries but things quickly unravelled for the batting side as first the big hitter was pouched by Krizo then Alister Farr caught two in successive overs off Lloyd Higgins.

Lloyd then had a clean bowled before Huw Williams had a direct hit run out to dismiss the last man. The last five wickets had gone down for just 9 runs to leave Isfield 102 to win in just under three hours.

As was the case in the previous match, Isfield went straight out to bat, with Healey and Emile Chasseaud opening. They quickly discovered that it was nearly impossible to score a boundary and it was going to need a lot a running to overtake the target. At tea the score had crawled up to 24 for no wicket, and with plenty of time and wickets things were looking good. The entertainment value, close to zero, was only lifted when Martin Fellows, umpiring at square leg, stopped a ferocious pull from Healey with his foot that was speeding for the boundary rope. It was the best piece of fielding of the day.

Tea was contributed by Krizo, and had a Scouse speciality of doorstep sized sarnies. Healey stuck with a strange blue liquid called Powerade.

The leaden grey skies that had been a permanent feature all day stayed after tea and complimented the grim struggle, as inch by inch, Isfield crawled towards victory.

Emile went after adding only one to his pre-tea score, leg before, although the shout that had been turned down two balls before was probably more out. Huw Williams came in and played adventurously, one pick up off his legs just landed in front of the mid wicket boundary. He was undone by a straight one which bowled him for 16 valuable runs.

Lee Atkinson came in at number four and immediately started to suffer from cramp after his long bowling stint. Despite the discomfort he reached 20 before being out lbw.

Rottingdean had their chances but whereas Isfield had held their catches, the opposition dropped at least seven attempts.The end was in sight though and after 37 grim overs, Healey gently played the ball into the covers for the winning run, finishing with 51 not out.

Beers were partaken in the Laughing Fish and relations between the teams were cordial. Michael Jayston, well known actor and Rottingdean slow bowler, commented that the tea, although extremely nice, had some very thick sandwiches.

Statistics

Name	How out	Runs	Catches	Run outs	Stumpings
Jim Healey	Not out	51	1
Emile Chasseaud	LBW	7
Huw Williams	Bowled	16		1
Lee Atkinson	LBW	20	1
Mark Farley	Not out	1
Simon bailey	dnb
Chris Saunders	Dnb		1
Krizo	Dnb		1
Lloyd Higgins	Dnb
Alister Farr	Dnb		2
Martin Fellows	dnb

Name	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Chris Saunders	11	1	27	0
Krizo	6	1	22	1
Lee Atkinson	12	2	31	3
Martin Fellow	5	0	17	1
Lloyd Higgins	3	1	2	3