Away to Sawston and Babraham CC in the National Cup
Sawston won the toss and batted first. Openers Ralph Hayward and Callum Guest set off smartly and reached 13 off the first 3 overs. Then Hayward snicked one to the safe hands of Luke Matthews at first slip off the bowling off Idris Otto Mian. In the 8th over it was 2nd slip Henry Blofield who took the catch off Idris’ bowling. Chinmay Mullapudi came in to the attack in the 11th over and took a wicket with his 1st ball. 52-3 and its anyone’s game. Another slip catch from Luke Matthews gave Idris his 3rd wicket in the 16th over. 65-4. Sawston then started building a partnership, as Lee Thomason and Dan Andrew put on 45 before Andrew was caught out by that man Matthews, this time at deep mid wicket off the bowling of Henry Blofield. But Sawston just wouldn’t give up. Adam Chislett took a wicket in the 32nd over, this time Marcus Howard taking the catch.135-6. Another catch by Luke Matthews, this time off Ramon Bailey at long on. 164-7. Then, disaster. Henry Blofield, diving to get the ball, stayed on the ground. From the look of it, dislocated shoulder. Ali Easton kindly loaned him the sling that had been protecting his own dislocated shoulder (from a previous round in the cup) and Henry was whisked off to Addenbrookes hospital. Fortunately, he’d almost bowled out by then! Sawston just kept on coming, and ended up on 203-8, with Ramon Bailey taking a consolation wicket in the last over.
Marcus Howard and Sid Thomson started the Bush innings smartly, until Marcus was caught behind on 15. Mitch Crayn was out to an unbelievable one handed diving catch by Ralph Hayward at deep midwicket. 63-2 after 17 overs. Sawston were 66-4 at this stage.
Fin Trenouth came to the wicket, ready for the challenge. He dispatched the second ball he faced for 6 over long on. The crowd went wild. Fin raced to 30 off 21 balls before being caught on the boundary. 105-5 after 23 overs, ahead of Sawston at this stage. At the other end, Sid Thomson showed maturity, quietly accumulating runs. Luke Matthews came to the crease with the score on 108-5. This pair put on the partnership of the day, 58 runs. When Sid was finally out for 60 in the 36th over, with the score of 166-5, the Bush supporters (all 130 of them) were feeling confident. Not quite in the bag, but looking good. But then 2 very quick wickets followed, giving Jack Beaumont a hat trick. It was now 166-8. Henry Blofield returned from hospital with his arm in a new sling, so Ali could have his back. Note : A & E waiting times at Addenbrookes clearly less than in London hospitals as he was back at the ground in under 3 hours!!!
But, that left Ramon Bailey going in at 10. No offence to Ramon, but No 10 is a big promotion for him. But the sight of Henry padding up and going in to the net to practice batting with one arm, a la Chris Woakes, focused Ramon’s concentration. Luke Matthews moved in to overdrive, hitting 18 off the 37th over. The spirits in the crowd lifted. Was the win on again? 186-8, 18 needed off 18 balls. But Ramon facing. Who managed to scramble a 2 and then a single to put Luke back on strike, to the delight of the crowd. Buzzers brought another cheer form the London faithfull. Ramon bossed the 39th over, moving Bush up to 199. 5 to win off the last 6 balls. Was it possible? Luke hit a single, Ramon back on strike. He nudged a single and got to the other end quicker than Usain Bolt. 3 needed off 4. Luke decided not to hang around, and smoked a huge 6 over long on, narrowly missing the scorers hut. Now the crowd did go wild.
Unbelievable game of cricket, couldn’t be prouder of them all.
So now on to the final. To be played against New Fearnley from Bradford, Sunday 13th September at Wormsley Cricket Ground, 11am start
