Venturers vs Cramer
Tuesday 19th June 2007
Author: Ian Benzeval
Won by 11 runs. Venturers 117-9 Cramer 106
The account that follows is largely from memory, several weeks after the match…
With the exception of the wicketkeeper, Cramer are a team of Indians – so we were expecting a challenge in this evening match.
We batted first and immediately showed signs of our early season batting frailties with Andy W and Fluffy contributing very little. There was then a resurgence, with some good batting from Kevin (37) and Simon (26), ably supported by Chris and Ed. We made it to 117 for 9, not a bad total especially given some of our earlier 20 over outings this year.
Gregory had given us ample warning of the two main dangers within Cramer’s batting line-up and we were fortunate to get the first out cheaply. Ed was beginning to look completely out of place on the Venturers team, he had already shown an ability to run between the wickets and was now fielding superbly and taking catches: three!! In all we caught out 6 of the opposing batters without, if memory serves, a single drop. The second of the two singled-out players was eventually stranded on 39no with the score on 106 in the penultimate over. Duncan having taken care of the openers and Simon removing three of the tail.
In the end it was a very close finish, the number of runs and
balls remaining being enthusiastically declared from the boundary after
every delivery by a Cramer cheerleader who arrived towards the end of the
match. (This was really only necessary as Rob B had forgotten to bring
the scoreboard). All in all it was a very good performance, with the catching
and general fielding proving essential to keeping them below the required
run rate.