LOSCC vs Tower Ravens.

Report vs Tower Ravens

Match Report
Date - 27/04/08 
Oppo – Tower Ravens (h)
Type – 40 Overs
Report by Liam Mulholland

On a showery day the opening fixture of the season coincided with the eagerly awaited debut of Martin Riches who 
after getting the all clear from various medical experts was making his first appearance on a cricket field for 
17 years,his keenness to return to action was obvious as he drove up from the Essex coast in his full 
wicket keeping gear.The O`s lost the toss and took the field with only 9 men due to the late arrival 
of Humphrey & new boy Perera who arrived after a couple of overs,with ground shots getting no value due to the 
lush outfield Tower Ravens battled hard to keep the scoreboard moving against steady bowling from the O`s,Hillier 
started the season in spectacular style with a bambi on ice impression with his first ball of the season but he picked 
himself up and bowled a very steady spell of 7 overs which for the first time for 25 years went for under 85.
The arrival to the crease of Ken was always going to be a big moment in the game and even though the O`s kept him 
relatively quiet he still made a useful 67 which on a dry day would have been a 3 figure score,Ravens innings finished 
on a very handy score of 167-7 which looked a big chase for the first game of the season.Riches was so delighted by 
has display behind the stumps he refused to change for tea which caused him a few problems adding sugar to his tea 
with his gloves on.Bob James asked to be dropped down to 4 in the order as he wanted to take extra time during the 
tea interval to try on his best outfield for his hot date after the match.The O`s were blown away in their reply by 
some very good bowling by the Ravens which reduced the O`s to the sorry score of 50-6,wicket keeper Williams followed 
Riches fine display with some neat glove work to pouch 4 catches.New boy Perera arrived at the arrived at the crease 
with the game lost but put together a very classy 50 to add some respectability to the O`s score and had the veterans 
of the club convinced his 50 from the Number 8 spot was a first.Riches capped a fine debut helping Perera to his 50 
and finishing in an unbroken stand of 44 for the 9th wicket,the O`s finished losers by a margin of 29 runs.The O`s 
can take plenty from the game the bowlers bowled a steady line with Walker having his best spell for the club,
the early batters were unlucky to cop some decent deliveries and of course the 2 new boys had a great start on their 
debuts.Perera held court in the bar taking us through his innings blow by blow whilst Riches was desperately searching 
for a contact number to see if he get involved in the Indian league set up,Bob James finally set off for his date 
after his 5th change of clothing looking very dapper.Perera capped a fine day but driving the weary acting skipper home.
South Loughton await the O`s next week with the team boosted by the return of skipper Richardson after yet another 
photo shoot with L`Oreal 
  
Champagne moment of the day-Perera`s dreamy cover drive that Michael Vaughan would have been proud of.

Return to Main Page

© Dave Revell