On a gloriously hot sunny day, when Tiger Woods won his 10th major championship at St Andrews, Grace's lost the toss and were made to field. Thankfully, Wingrove joined the side to make up a full team.
Grace's were briefed prior to play beginning that it was more important to bowl economically than to take wickets - our task was to limit the opposition scoring runs and to bowl a good line and length, to bowl to our field and not to bowl too fast. So, holding back our main fast bowler, Curtis, Grace's opened the bowling with Allie and Newton-Sawyerr, who struggled to find line and length allowing the Cockfosters batsmen to reach 50 without loss from the first 4 overs. Newton-Sawyerr then took the first wicket catching a ball which was hit high over his head and jumping up, almost Collingwood-style to send the opening bat back to the boundary. Thank you and good night! After 3 overs each, Grace's changed the bowling to Wingrove and Curtis, who immediately broke through, with Curtis successfully appealing on bended knee for an LBW, whilst Wingrove chipped in at the other end taking a further two quick wickets and putting the brakes on (for a short moment) before Cockfosters mounted another challenging attack.
Difficult catches went down, with Curtis dropping three and apologising each time to the bowler. Edges and gaps were found at will, as Cockfosters waited for two or three bad balls per over to race to 210 off 20 overs. Camberwell himself came on to bowl for four overs to slow the scoring rate down. By changing his bowling from medium pace to slow loopy spin, he took the wicket of the Cockfosters skipper for 31, caught nicely by Mercuri. At the other end, fast bowler Curtis took on a very attacking middle order batsmen, Kirk, who on 46 completely missed a ball on middle stump and was bowled convincingly.
Grace's bowlers were rotated in the hope that match practice would improve their confidence, but unfortunately our bad balls got worse and our good balls were defended or hit for one run. With Newton-Sawyerr, Wingrove and Allie struggling to find top gear, Cockfosters plundered 70 runs from the last 6 overs. One batsmen was stumped by wicket-keeper Henderson, and given out by the opposition's own umpire, but Curtis noticed that the umpire was wrong and advised the skipper, who immediately called the batsmen back. Great cricket, well done everyone on taking that one on the chin, especially since it affected Newton-Sawyerr's bowling figures. After 34 overs, at 4.45pm, Cockfosters declared at 290-6, and Grace's again sportingly clapped their opposition off. It was a good effort to stop the opposition scoring 300.
Scott provided an excellent tea, with two specially made lemon meringue pies which went down a treat. However, opening the batting, Scott attacked his first delivery and hit the ball over gully, only to have the fielder jump to catch it, out! Camberwell (1) followed in the next over, out LBW, and two balls later, Braybrook gloved one to gully. Curtis missed a full toss and needs his eyes checking, since that was the fourth missed ball today! Mercuri managed 6 runs, before being caught once more in the gully. At 24-5 in the sixth over, Grace's were in deep trouble, but fortunately McGing our Chairman remembered he used to be an opener and decided it was time for an exhibition. Playing for pride, he gutsed it out, displaying fight that was lacking previously. Henderson came into bat with 5 wickets down, and was immediately dropped first ball at first slip. Henderson's defence lasted 5 overs, for one run, finally given out LBW for 1 run, throwing his bat as he came off, but immediately apologised and all was forgotten.
Thankfully, with McGing's agression, Grace's mounted a counter-attack by smacking some lovely shots all around the wicket. Once the opening bowlers were rested, batting became a lot easier and Newton-Sawyerr joined in the fun, belting a glorious six and three fours to take his score to 25 not out. Unfortunately, after reaching 34, McGing's fun was over as he skied one to cover. Allie enjoyed a brief cameo, contributing 29 runs with Newton-Sawyerr, and hitting his first four for the club. At 89-7, Allie was caught at silly cover and with Forster being run out with sun stroke adding to his injuries. It was left to Wingrove to sum up the day, being bowled by a 12 year old. Grace's 2nd team lasted 18 overs. Yikes!
Cockfosters deserved their win. Apparently they were meant to be a weak side, which at their standard they probably were. Grace's could have scored more runs, but luck never played a part. The truth of this game was that our bowlers lacked the match practice they required to be effective. However, it is only with games like this that bowlers will get more practice and that is what the second team is about. Well done to everyone for their huge efforts, it was a long hard hot day. Considering the opposition's ability, we stuck to our task and well done to McGing, Newton-Sawyerr and Allie for their magnificent batting.