Ware CC.

Report vs Ware CC

Match Report
Date 30/07/26 
Oppo Ware CC (a)
Type 35 overs
Report by Ralph Richardson Lauren 

Following positive news Mike Redman was on the mend and discharged from hospital plus the added relief Simon Heed and Alan Wicks had finally made it home 
safely from Worcester having dropped off Mike’s car (Incredible generosity from Al), the O’s could concentrate on their next battle…..Ware.
 
Another absolute belter weather wise and it was the O’s who won the toss in this 35 over match deciding to bat first.
 
ABM and Elby opened the innings and got off to a flier before ABM was bowled following an impressive Gilewicz Jr delivery which just nipped the top of off 
stump.
 
Pratham Bhatia came in and played the only way he knows which was to attack everything. Fair play as he scored his highest total yet from the club (30) 
before he was bowled by Snr Gilewicz. Sandeep Barot showed the O’s what they’d been missing in recent weeks as he calmly built an innings alongside Elby 
who was also going well and smashed a fantastic straight six back over the bowlers head requiring the home side to use a ladder to scale the fence and 
retrieve the ball!
 
Both Elby and Barot retired on 50 giving Johnson (Saint, OrientBraces any others?) his opportunity to get stuck into the action. He paddled a few down to 
leg (His signature shot!) and was on 17 before he was unfortunately bowled by his pal Peter Devonshire who remarked “We wont talk about that again” as he 
trudged off.
 
Matt Hiscock (22*) came into bat and built a nice partnership with JBM (35) before injuring yet another cricketer – This time, crashing one to the boundary 
where Gilewicz Jr decided to dive on the rock hard ground attempting to stop the ball and subsequently injuring his shoulder forcing him out the game. 
Fortunately Ware had 14 players on-site so a quick rotation allowed the O’s to get on with the game quickly as they finished on their biggest total of the 
season 258-5.
 
An amazing tea was enjoyed by all….Sandwiches, Homemade Sausage Rolls, Pasta, Potatoes, Salad, Cakes….you name it….they had it!
 
With a decent total in the book, Ritzy opted to match Ware’s ‘Sunday spirit’ offering all the chance to bowl an over including Danno who generously allowed 
JBM to keep wicket after vice skipper was whining about a ‘dodgy shoulder’– All accepted with the exception of Barot who just laughed hysterically, (Take 
his club cap away)
 
Alan Syrett (3-41) started the same way he bowled at Wellow - with a load of filth getting smashed boundary after boundary, however he was fortunate to 
make the breakthrough after an outstanding catch by Barot when a ball was smashed at him fielding at mid-wicket. The O’s were up and running. Joe Clapton 
meanwhile at the other end bowled better but didn’t quite get the rewards.
 
Syrett picked up the valuable wicket of the other opener and found his line so it was no surprise when he grabbed his third after a smart catch from JBM 
behind the stumps. 
 
Issit came into bat and was in no mood to nurdle it about, smashing it to all parts until he was finally undone finding ABM deep on the boundary who took a 
good catch off the bowling of Richardson (2-4). 
 
With the O’s in a commanding position at drinks and the hosts 108-4, Ritzy rotated the bowling again by giving rare opportunities with the ball to Whittam, 
Elby, Johnson and ABM – It was entertaining stuff with Danno incredibly unlucky not to pick up a couple of wickets following some outstanding full length 
mid-air dives from Syrett. “I done well to get a hand to it” he remarked as the usually calm Whittam looked away in disgust.

Elby (1-13) had a bit more fortune as Hiscock took his eighth catch of the season with Elby showing all his jubilation with a huge smile hugging his 
team-mate marvelling at the fact he’d actually picked up a wicket.
 
Johnson (1-19) at the other end realised that bowling is not as simple as it used to be. “I’ve never been so nervous in my life” he said as he tested the 
batsman with a few flighted beamers and the odd one that pitched, however he did make it into the O’s history books by taking his first wicket for the club 
following a nice catch from Prats at extra cover!
 
ABM bowled very well (1-3) and the win was almost in the bag allowing Ritzy to even risk Pratham a couple of overs which he accepted as the hosts finished 
on 184-8 falling short of the target by 74 runs. 
 
The O’s celebrated their biggest margin of victory of runs this season by proudly sporting their new ‘training tops’ acquired by Skipper Ritzy and modelled 
by the lovely Fay – Orders have gone through the roof apparently with the general public snapping these up in their droves “It’s high quality, club branded 
clothing made in China. Christmas gifts for family, you can wear them on holiday, wear them to the office……these are great” he said – A new business venture 
for the part-retired skipper who was taking online orders as the evening went on.  
 
Ware continued to show warm hospitality with a delicious curry served to all players post match. 

A great fixture and what Sunday cricket is all about.
 
Next up…Walthamstow.  
  

 

Return to Main Page

© Dave Revell