Woodham Mortimer.

Report vs Woodham Mortimer

Match Report
Date 08/05/16 
Oppo Woodham Mortimer (a)
Type 40 Overs
Report by Liam Mulholland


From nowhere summer arrived for the O’s trip to Woodham Mortimer, with the temperature rising by 
the second, O’s had no hesitation on batting after winning the toss, sadly this prompted a couple 
of members of the team to strip off their tops and stroll around the boundary edge. Trust me not a 
grand sight, but it was reported they were installing the app Gaydar on their phones and searching for
the nearest bar with a Freddie Mercury lookalike competition to frequent after the game finished.
A very slow track made run scoring difficult at the beginning but Riches and Zaman 
put on a useful 53 run partnership to set the innings up, local lad Costin improved the scoring 
rate with several classy off side drives, 83 runs were added for the second wicket before the big man 
went for quick fire 33, Zaman continued his fine run with an excellent 78, the last over of the innings 
proved strange as Hiscock decided to have a little net, blocking the first 4 balls before scoring 6 off 
the last 2, could those dot balls prove crucial later, closing on 189-5. The O’s were certainly going 
to take the pace off the ball with their attack today, Oliver Marsh topping the speed gun with a thunderous 
7.3 mph, rapid indeed. In furnace like conditions bowling proved very tough for all players, Tripathi 
who scored 61 and Goode putting on over 100 for the first wicket before Goode retired unwell with heat 
stroke, this proved a turning point in the game as the bowlers found better lines to bowl and the runs 
dried up and wickets continued to fall. Skipper Mulholland, showing last year’s wicket rush was no fluke 
as he bowled a handy spell claiming 3-24, Oliver Marsh bowled an excellent 2nd spell finishing with a 
very commendable 1-34 off his 8 overs, he should have had a second wicket but unfortunately Zaman butchered 
an easy catch for keeper Costin who kept magnificently on a very low bouncing track for keepers, as 
Costin was about to claim a gentle skier, Zaman called for it and then promptly stopped running allowing 
the ball to drop to the floor followed by silence and the obligatory Zaman chuckle, not funny son should 
have been a wicket. With 3 overs to go and 29 required the O’s were favourites particularly with a 4 year 
old at the crease, “ just leave him in” said the Skipper, “ not a chance skip , I’m not turning down wickets” 
came the reply from Hiscock as he promptly knocked his poles over followed by a ridiculous fist pumping celebration.  
Of course this brought in stronger batters who quickly hit a flurry of boundaries, the last over arrived 
with 11 needed and 8 wickets down, Hiscock had the pleasure of the over and had useful advice from Riches 
who had 18 smashed off his last over in the fixture 3 years ago in another last over thriller, “Matt if it 
all goes wrong I’ll show you where I spewed up after the match”, not great advice but useful info I guess. 
The first ball goes well another stumping for Costin, leaves 11 off 5 required, now the returning Goode with 
a couple of drip attachments in each arm, surely the 64 year old would not have the energy to hit it off the 
square, a wide was bowled which did not help but we got to the last ball with shouts of ”they need 7, I think”, 
well the last ball was floated waist high outside off stump and was carted straight over the sight screen into 
the forest, astonishment in the field apart from Zaman, laughing as usual, huge roars from the boundary edge as 
of course 6 was required not 7. Victory for the home team with Goodge unbeaten on 64 his first ever 50 and first 
ever 6, delirious scenes as he was chaired off the pitch by his paramedics whilst Riches calmly walked Hiscock 
to spew corner. Home to Woodford Green next Sunday.

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© Dave Revell