Ben Cs and the Chairman’s pink handbag
Studley 2s 213-6 (45) 6pts, Ripon 2s 184-10 (45) 0pts Studley win by 29 runs
Worrying rumours have been circulating this week about Chairman Ken getting in touch with his feminine side. Photographic evidence has been passed to this correspondant from anonymous sources to confirm his passion for pink handbags.
Meanwhile, on the field part 3 of the 4-part Ripon-Studley 2009 derby battles took place. Skipper lost the toss and we were put in. After losing Lorry early, Dan (72 & unaware at this stage of his father’s secret life) and Simmy (60) put on 146 for the second wicket. As overs ticked by, the accelerator was pressed and batters came and went in the mad dash for runs. Tommy O hit the last 2 balls for 6 to leave us on 213-6 - these extra runs were quite probably a key part of the match.
Ripon came out trying to knock the runs off in a hurry. The two Bens bowled a good opening spell and beat the edge time after time. The old boys (Doc & Binxy) then realed off the middle overs as wickets were chipped away. With 15 overs to go they were 107-4 needing another 107. They kept going and stayed in line with the required rate. They were 177-6 after 40 needing 37 off the last 5. The two Bens had come back to bowl the last few overs and bowled fast, full and straight. In the 41st, Ben Crewe took 2 crucial wickets, with miniCoad taking another in the 42nd. With 9 down, they shut up shop to play for the point. The two Bens gave it everything, but it came down to the last ball of the 45th when Ben Crewe took the last wicket.
A hard fought battle that has made a big difference to the table. With Scotton in 4th tie-ing their game (but not all results in yet), we are now probably 11 points clear of 3rd (and 14 ahead of Ripon). However, this league is very competitive and we cannot let up. The same intensity and committment is needed every week and we must keep working together as a team with different players playing their different parts as conditions and circumstances vary from match to match.
I mentioned the intensity of our fielding two weeks ago, and that has improved and made a difference. Another area for development is our running. As a club we do not run as well as we might - too often we do not push the first and miss a second - indeed although we batted well today we probably lost 15 runs from this. One week it will make the difference so we must work to eliminate that.
A good day - 6 pts - Ripon vanquished. Next week it’s Tanfield away.