The return fixture of Goring could not have been more
contrasting, the weather was perfect for a great game of cricket. W.Avrili’s
pre match inspirational message focussed on talent of which this team was dripping
in. The younger members of the squad had settled in well and this continued on Saturday,
but it was the old heads of experience that brought us home.
A very early wicket set the tone, courtesy of The Duchess, J.Sussex,
a fantastic start from the young crow who's causing a stir in the ONES. A steady partnership between the Goring
captain and the number 3 was proving difficult to break down with the Captain
walking down the track to anything and everything. But W.Avrili wasn’t worried,
he knew he had considerable fire power backing up his openers. Avrili continued
with his youth policy and called up the left arm mystery of K.Golding. Angling
across the 2 right handers, he was causing them a world of trouble. 1 slip and
2 gullies were licking their lips as ball after a ball missed the outside edge
by fractions. Finally, Golding got his man, a teasing delivery outside the off
stump took the edge of the captains bat and was dutifully taken by sticky mits
Avrili, an almost carbon copy of his first wicket last week. The youth system
combined to take the next wicket by taking another prized scalp of the
dangerous looking left hander who was swinging at everything and could have
really done some damage. A bizarre spell
from ‘The Coach’ N.Outram resulted in W.Avrili bowling his last ball (For a dot)
after a few wayward deliveries, Outram had it all to do to make up for his misdemeanors with the ball…..
Goldings fitness began to wane, and it was time to take some
pace off the ball, up step the dream combo of the Ants. Both were starving the
opposition of runs and 21 dot balls began to take it’s toll on Goring. Cluett
was picking up wickets and maidens with ease and A.Avrili was holding the other
end with a wicket of his own as well as taking a good catch of his spinning
partners bowling also. This passage of play would prove crucial as Goring were looking
to accelerate away, but at 118-5 the Crows were not ready to take the foot off
the gas just yet. Some fairly low brow and unimaginative sledging from the
Crows captain shouting to A.Cluett to ‘test the arm guard’ of the number 7
batsmen allowed W.Avrili to live rent free in his head for the remainder of his
short lived innings. S.Chandran, who’s
bowling has been second to none throughout the season, came back into the
attack to clear up the tailenders. J.Sussex also came back and it didn’t take
him long to take out the final man, as Goring set a reasonable but not unstoppable
total of 145.
On a pitch that had a bit for the bowlers and a little variable
bounce we knew this wasn’t going to be a straightforward chase. A.Cluett and
R.Barron strode out to the middle ready to set up the crows with a solid platform.
However, an uncharacteristic early sweep by Cluett saw him clean bowled, a
visibly annoyed Cluett couldn’t contain his frustration remarking, “my average is
taking a big hit today”. Wickets began
to tumble and the crows found themselves 49-4 before very long, W.Avrili was
cruelly caught at square leg after a text book clip of the legs this but N.Outram
was still at the crease. Eager to make up for his bowling performance Outram began
to take hold of the game, some delicious cuts through point saw a confident
Outram cruise to well deserved 50. At the other end M.Brundish was smashing the
ball to all corners of the ground including a huge six over the bowlers head.
The crows eventually cruised to victory with 4 wickets in hand, with Outram and
Brundish stepping up with the bat to save the crows from another collapse.
A fantastic all round performance from the Crows saw us take
a well deserved victory, the fielding was top draw, the bowling restricted the
oppo just as they tried to accelerate and when required the batsmen were able
to take control of the game and out of the hands of an excited Goring team.
Well done to everyone and we hope this performance can be backed
up with tough away game at BCS next week