Nettleswell & Burnt Mill.

Report vs Nettleswell & Burnt Mill

Match Report
Date 01/06/2025 
Oppo Nettleswell & Burnt Mill (a)
Type 40 Overs
Report by The Herald Sun

With the O’s squad still demoralised following the latest play-off heartbreak, the focus thankfully returned to cricket as we visited beautiful Harlow CC to face 
Netteswell & Burnt Mill.

Skipper Richardson incredibly felt the die was cast before a ball had even been bowled when he whispered to a team mate ‘We’re going to get absolutely battered 
today’ - Sadly that prediction looked a fair one when N&BM got off to an absolute flier. With a strong crop of Harlow players including their overseas player, both 
O’s opening bowlers Daji and Sharma got absolutely destroyed as the young Aussie raced to his half century inside the first 6 overs. 

Given the number of wise experienced heads in the O’s XI, Richardson called for emotional support to see if anyone had any ideas how they we could stop the boundary 
count. ‘Pray for rain’ was one response. “Just stick everyone on the boundary” another muttered.  “Is there any way we can check his VISA status?” said another.

There was no let up as Ricky Ponting Jr creamed more boundaries with classy drives. Daji picked up a much needed wicket to the relief of his teammates when he 
bowled the other opener who’d hardly faced a ball, however little did we know things were only going to get tougher. The new Ponting Jr and No 3 combination could 
not be breached as they continued at a run rate of 12 an over. Richardson, Matt Hiscock and then Alan Syrett came on and the run rate dramatically reduced to 11.5 
an over but sadly wickets were hard to come by.

In fairness neither batsman offered a chance of note and there was only 1 wide bowled the entire innings (Sort it out Felix!)- Syrett kept repeating ‘I’ve not 
bowled a single bad ball out there’ as he growled and snarled after every boundary. Daji didn’t help matters when he launched a missile from 7 yards which nearly 
ended poor Al’s career striking him brutally on the wrist.

Both batsman recorded centuries before retiring to be replaced with two more young guns who both recorded quick half centuries. Two consolation wickets from Hiscock 
in the final over saw a rare declaration in a 40 over match as N&BM gave the O’s much needed respite having amassed 323-3 of 39.4 overs.

Tea was a welcome relief – In particular for Ollie Buck who revealed he’d just beaten his personal best with his Apple Watch declaring he’d covered 27.4 miles in 
the outfield during the innings, mainly from outside the boundary rope.

The O’s skipper gave a Churchillian speech to raise morale “Right lads…..the new game plan is we need just 62 runs to avoid the clubs record defeat. Who’s with me?” 
– Seeking volunteers to open the batting, everyone left the dressing room as Ritzy was greeted with eight different excuses as to why they couldn’t open. “I’d love 
to mate but I cant for legal reasons” said one. ‘I’ll do three to eleven – Does that help?” said another. “I didn’t sign up for doing anything” remarked another.  

Unsurprisingly Big Al was already padding up and said “Leave it to me skip – I’ll wipe the smile off their faces’  – Incredibly the Antigua & Barbuda supremo was 
promptly told to sit down. Danny Whittam demonstrated why he led Special Forces across enemy lines by putting himself in the firing line and he was joined by Matt 
Hiscock who’d been instructed by the skipper a few minutes earlier he would be batting at number eleven only to find himself promoted to No 1 spot seconds later!

Danno and Matty were four balls into the innings when Richardson suddenly realised there was no square leg umpire?!? – Village stuff.

N&BM had done their homework on sledging tactics and MH was faced with a running commentary by the ‘spirited’ hosts. A number of versions of ‘Valley Floyd Road’ and 
‘Tyreece Campbell running down the wing’ were sung by the slip cordon which soon quietened down after a few boundaries.

O’s made a steady start against some very accurate bowling until Whittam was clean bowled to break the opening partnership for 30. Marko Jergic came to the crease and
played his ‘natural game’ – Chaos descended as he was nearly stumped, caught, run out but in between crashed a boundary.

Hiscock was scoring quickly until he departed for a decent effort of 42 after being caught with the fielder taking the ball running backwards over his shoulder.

Sadly from this point the wickets tumbled- Jergic and Andy Hudson departed quickly. N&BM introduced a tricky leg spinner who did for Ollie Buck and then Vikas Sharma 
leaving Paul Elby to face the hatrick ball which he clubbed away. Former O’s youth player Chris Reed was given LBW moments later. Elby added a few more runs with some 
nice shots but was also undone by the tricky spinner. Daji and Syrett had a complete mix up in the middle with the former run out by a country mile leaving Richardson 
the task of supporting Syrett. 

Three overs passed until Richardson was clean bowled and that was it with just three batsman reaching double figures as the O’s were all out for 139. 

Spirits were soon lifted upon the arrival of Club Treasurer Bob Marsh as the O’s reflected in the evening sunshine on the next challenge ahead………..Hatfield Peverel.     

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© Dave Revell