On a cloudy and at times damp afternoon on the Common, the Sunday
1sts faced a bottom of the table dog fight against local rivals Abbots
Langley hoping to dodge relegation and see another year in Div 2. The
pitch looked dodgy and some light rain had livened it up even more, so
the smart vote was for captain Butcher to call correctly and ask the
opposition to bat first. It is then believed that in his infinite
captaincy wisdom, Mr Ret predicted the coin would land completely up
on its side and called accordingly. Surprisingly enough this did not
happen and the Wood were asked to negotiate the tricky pitch
first. After a speedy start from openers Rothband and Shammy 69, a
deluge of wickets fell to leave the middle order to take over. Past
Auckland rep Andy McKay showed good technique at 3 before falling to
some dodgy bounce, and the overseas players lack of runs on a Sunday
continued. This however could not be soley blamed on himself, and was
praying for usual umpire Graver to come back after a ridiculous
decision by one of his own teammates.
Another Sunday, another butcher masterclass. Himself and Rothband
pushed the Wood into a strong position by first showing sound
defensive technique as the oppositions tails were up, then seizing on
any loose bowling in dashing fasion. Rothband was unlucky to be
dismissed by another rising ball after a timely and well overdue
return to form. His 74 was laden with vicious cut strokes and blazing
drives, some of which even reached the 200 yard boundary markers he
had set out before hand. Robin the chav came in to partner the crafty
one, and was an ideal foil. Whilst the butcher smashed the wayward
bowling all over the common in disdainful fashion, the chav
complimented him beautifully by blocking the living crap out of
it. Keeper Andy O was most complimentary of Webbs batting prowess,
many times admiring the way he was almost blazing it off the square
and urged him to continue in the same fashion. After a couple of brief
cameos by Worzel Radley and Asado Ladhaski, a very competitive total
of 236 was posted where a lot less may have been expected. The former
male model ending up on 60* after some lusty blows in the last 5
overs, none more entertaining than the full toss deposited over the
clubhouse and landing in a bush beyond the kitchen window.
The Wood could not afford to relax however, with the huge threat
of the opposing overseas West Indian, who had notched several
lightning quick centuries in the past couple of months. The Howick
Pakuranga premier opening duo were sent out to start the battle, and
early on it seemed there would be only one winner. Left arm paceman
McKay scaring the opposition into submission with some Road End
fireworks, with his NZ clubmate Wedlake bowling a steady off stump
line. First McKay sent down a brilliantly pitched slower ball, which
gripped and presented an easy catch to the captain (to be honest there
was a lot of money being wagered on the ball winning that particular
catching battle). Then the wicket that effectively ended the game as a
contest. The West Indian faced up to a fired up and angry Wedlake,
whos day had been going from bad to worse ever since the moment he
walked out of the door that morning with his keys still inside the
house. His first ball was fast and straight, and only gave the batsmen
enough time to shuffle right in front of his stumps to present the
umpire with a very easy LBW decision. His golden duck spelt mortal
doom for Abbots , who never recovered. Wedlake was rewarded for his
vim and vigour with 2-11 off 8 furious overs, and McKay 2-7 with an
inside edge for 1 and a dropped catch being the only runs off the
bat. Ret then matched Wedlakes 2 wicket haul to leave them even on
league scalps this year, and the tasty off spin of Radley accounted
for two more. Andy Spurrso was unlucky with missed chances, and Chris
Horne was as ineffective as ever. It was then left up to all round
talent Rothband to clean up the tail, with his drastically underused
seamers accounting for 2 final wickets. Abbots could only manage 106
off 44 overs, and victory was comprehensively awarded to the home
side.
Once again there are strong cases for man of the match, but todays
choice is quite rightly awarded to N.J.L Rothband. His 74 was the
perfect catalyst to a big score, although he may feel a 100 was easily
in the offering. Then he destroyed the lower order with his offering
of dibbly dobbly seamers, as he had done on the Kent tour only a month
ago. This win lifts the Wood out of the relegation zone for the
moment, and will take two similar efforts against Bessborough and
Finchley in the last 2 games to consolidate this position. So if you
are reading this, and you can bat/bowl/field (and you arent the umpire
I referred to above) contact the Butcher on his usual numbers and make
yourself available!
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