South Loughton.

Report vs South Loughton

Match Report
Date 14/05/17 
Oppo South Loughton (a)
Type 40 Overs
Report by Liam Mulholland


O’s arrived at South Loughton on a bright afternoon looking for their first win of the season. 
On another good looking track the hosts won the toss & decided to bat. O’s made a sensational 
start with Karan Shah bamboozling the top order with a brilliant spell of 4-17, clean bowling 3 
of the batsman. At 22-4 a first win looked a certainty and this was endorsed when the next wicket 
fell at 35. Henman & Mann slowly turned things around with Mann riding his luck with 3 drops which 
unfortunately proved very costly. Henman went for a more than useful 47 in a partnership worth 119. 
Mann decided to up the ante launching into a raft of straight drives off Mulholland which had the ball 
searing over the long on boundary at will. The old timer had his last 2 overs blasted for 46 after 
conceding just 4 from his first 2! In the process, reaching a hundred off his bowling in the last 2 games, 
signs that his powers are starting to fail him at last. Young Ollie Marsh gallantly finished off the 
overs from the skippers end as South Loughton reached a remarkable 212-6 off their 40 overs. O’s opening 
batsman, the gargantuan Minkey had a bag of frozen peas strapped to his calf during his 40 overs standing 
at slip eating jelly babies so the skipper was unsure of his fitness to open the batting. The Minkster 
retired hurt the previous day with his calf injury and unfortunately message got through to the skipper 
that he retired hungry and went off to eat a calf. With the Minkster you just never know. The sight of 
Minkster hobbling out to bat eating the thawed out packet of peas like a bag of crisps looked frankly 
ridiculous. With Smith and centurion Mann bowling very tight lines the scoreboard quickly ground to a halt.
At 32-3 in the 15th over the game was finished but as ever the belligerent Riches still in great pain from 
his recent knee surgery refused to buckle as he blasted away at the change bowlers, well supported by Zaman 
they put on 91 for the 4th wicket with Zaman dismissed for 47 in the 27th over. Riches continued his charge 
for victory but fatigue was draining his strength as he approached his century. He eventually finished unbeaten 
on a magnificent 112 not out as South Loughton cleverly shut down the boundaries which O’s required. Another 
gallant run chase with O’s finishing on 200-6 just 12 short of victory. Another defeat but batsman in form 
so a win will be the order of the day next Sunday at home to Woodford Green. 

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© Dave Revell