Old Wimbledonians 2nd XI

Well it was a sweltering day last weekend as i made my debut for Old Wimbledonians 2nd X1. We played on a flat slow pitch with a lightening fast outfield so the figures took a bit of a pounding. Did OK but I had to work pretty hard for it. Some good players and we played in Croyden at a nice ground with an electronic scoreboard with the batsmens scores and everything! I mustve hit the big time. I shouldve batted out for the draw but frustratingly hit back a dolly to their spinner to be caught and bowled. Pretty disappointing result and this team hasnt won a game yet. Luckily i enjoy a challenge.

vs Old Whitgoftians 2nd XI (away)
It was a perfect day for cricket in Croydon, and the Twos fielded a strong team, so when Tom lost the toss and the Old Whitgiftians decided to have a bat, the boys were pretty confident. However we were unable to take an early wicket until Tim Rossiter took his first of the day and had their opener out LBW for 13. Shortly after Chris Harding had the other opener out caught for 16, after he failed to pick the "slow one". This brought a confident number 3 to the crease, who proceeded to play some great shots to all corners of the park, right up until he got to 48, where he suddenly forgot how to bat. He crawled to 50 before falling LBW to Campbell, who bowled very well in his first spell for the Twos.

The problem for us, however, was the bloke at the other end. By this time the Whitgiftian number 4 was seeing the ball like a football, and on a flat track he demolished our attack on his way to a big hundred. The Old Wimbledonians lamented some missed opportunities in the field which didn't help matters. Dinesh bowled well without luck in these middle overs and it wasn't looking good until Emran and Tim came back on for their second spell. They bowled with great control to limit the Whitgiftians and took some handy wickets too. Emran finished with 1/19 off 13 overs, and Tim Rossiter took 4 wickets. The Old Wimbledonians were feeling pretty good about a long afternoon in the field and with a quick outfield 221 seemd very possible.

The chase didn't start well, as Paul Harders had a brain explosion on the first ball of the innings and was bowled for a very ugly golden duck. This brough Steve Capron to the crease who smashed a run a ball 36 before holing out to their seamer. At the other end Troy Rees played patiently for 9 but was caught off their leg spinner. looked good but was out for 2 to a very tidy catch at square leg. Rich went back to one that stayed down and was out for 1. Rudi played a great innings at 5 and very patiently and skillfully carved out 30 before also being bowled. He and Tom shared a good partnership and looked like taking us to a draw but Tom fell with about 15 overs to go for 10. Dinesh and Tim Rossiter stuck around for a while but when Dinesh was out after top edging the old spinner, things weren't looking good. Chris was stranded on 0 when Emran yorked himself first ball and it was all over. A very disappointing run chase, as we fell 100 runs short, all out for 117.