Ringwood Cricket Club

On a gloomy cold day Ringwood II arrived at the Kinson ground ready to play a competitive match after last weeks farce. Unfortunately with only 10 players we were already at a disadvantage.

The pitch was very green and the toss was going to be crucial as sun was predicted as the day moved on. The outfield was like a jungle so 4 were going to be hard to come by so all things led to bowling first.

The toss unfortunately did not go our way and we were elected to bat and therefore need to post an competitive total.

Ringwood II had the worse start with Gus Burton bowled by the 3rd ball he faced. This led to the captain Richard Percy taking to the crease and he and Scott Bailey worked hard to score runs on a pitch that was incosistent and with a ball swinging in the conditions.

It was hard going but Scott Bailey hit so nice drives and the total moved on to 50 for no more loss of wickets by the 17th over.

Unfortunately then Scott Bailey got the thinnest edge and was caught behind for well earned 29. A Watson came to the crease and built a partnership with R Percy of 22 hitting a couple of fours taking to one bowler but then holing out hitting a full toss high for a well taken catch. This left Ringwood II on 74 for 3 with 13 overs to go so 130 plus was on the cards still.

Then there was a middle order collapse with 4 wickets falling for 19 runs - R Percy was caught for a dogged 25, Rawlings got a dubious LBW 3, Wilson was bowled by a yorker 2 and T Melbourne was caught for 4. This left Ringwood II on 93 for 7 with 5 overs to go and the 130 + was a distant memory.

A good partnership of 23 from P Cameron (8) and L Cameron Not out 12 took Ringwood II past 100 and a total of 118.

It was not a massive total but one which could still win the game with some good bowling performances.

The Suttoners III innings started with a bang as they raced to 57 for no wickets off 13 overs with T Melbourne getting the worse of the treatment 0 for 27 off 5. L Cameron bowled well for no reward in his first 6 overs for 16.

T Carkeet their Under 15 player hit some cracking shots and dominated the bowling in the first 13 overs. Ringwood II needed a breakthrough and into the attack Matt Rawlins delivered with T Carkeet holing out to mid on with a good catch by S Bailey. His quickfire 37 had setup Suttoners to what should be an easy victory with the run rate only just over 2 an over.

But like Ringwood II in set a mini collapse as 7 wickets fell in the space of 40 runs. Matt Rawlins continued the inroads as the other opener was caught by A Watson for 11.

Then introduced to the attack was M Gould whose spin caused problems all for all batsmen and his first 5 overs going for just 7 runs. T Melbourne (4-42) re-entered the attack and had their No 3 caught followed shortly after bowling their No 5 Murphy.

Suttoners III were now 82 for 4 and Ringwood sensed a chance of victory.
T Melbounre and M Gould then took a further 4 wickets between them for just 13 runs.

This left Suttoner III 95 for 8 needing 24 runs to win with just 2 wickets remaining. Tight bowling from M Gould (2-21) and the return of M Rawlins (2-28) and L Cameron 0-21) kept the pressure on but they kept creeping towards the total to 100 off 33 overs.

The runs kept coming and with many of the strike bowlers bowled out G Burton was put on to try get a breakthrough. Unfortunately a bad over saw them take 10 off it and win the game.

A good effort with 9 men (S Bailey had to leave half way through the fielding) but a game we should have won.