Match Report Ramsbottom 1st XI v Todmorden 1st XI – 1 May 2022
RCC 142 all out (49.4 overs) TCC 147 for 4 (40.2 overs)
Scorecard here and recording of live stream here
Poor Batting Performance Leaves Rams Propping up League
After the ignominy of a thrashing at the hands of local rivals Greenmount the previous week it was hoped that the 1st XI could get some respect back at home to Todmorden who started the game at the bottom of the Lancashire League Premier division.
Winning the toss we elected to bat in overcast conditions which remained throughout the game. Two glorious fours through midwicket from Alex Olpin in the first over gave us a temporary lift of spirits but they were soon quashed when Brad Fielding fell to a very injudicious shot off the 3rd ball of the 2nd over to opposition pro Bosisto.
Things got worse in the next over when Alex was given out in rather controversial circumstances. In trying to repeat his boundary stokes he mistimed his stroke and lifted his shot in the direction of midwicket where the opposition fielder dived forward and scooped up the ball. Several spectators on the paper mill side of the ground could clearly see that he had taken the catch on the half volley. To be fair to the fielder in question he told the umpires that he wasn’t sure he had taken the catch cleanly. Amazingly the umpires consulted and the catch was allowed to stand.
Things like this tend to happen when sides are down on their luck. Michael Howarth fell soon after this, again to a shot he had no need to play leaving us on 22 for 3.
The young middle order of Harry Caton, Charlie Hamilton (making his 1st team debut) and Owen Collinge came to the crease to help our pro Sen bring some semblance of respectability to the score. The main trouble was that we were unable to alternate the strike enough and despite their best efforts the scoring rate became very slow. It appeared that Sen felt that he could not throw his wicket away as the batting would have capitulated for less than 100. As it was both Harry and Owen fell to exceptional catches and Charlie acquitted himself well before being bowled for 16.
Wickets then fell quickly and it was only when Sen was joined by our number 11 batter, Josh that he really opened before being brilliantly caught on the boundary for 65 in the last over of our innings.
An all out score of 142 was totally inadequate on a decent wicket, particularly when the Tod pro was in brilliant form having scored 179 the previous day against the top GMCL outfit Prestwich.
Although we lost the game by 6 wickets I was most encouraged by the way our bowlers shaped. Despite Priestley and Bosisto both making 50s they played and missed on numerous occasions without getting an edge. Bosisto also survived a very difficult chance.
This was a very disappointing result. We have not scored over 150 in our 3 games despite playing on very good tracks. This coming weekend sees us playing two games and we really need to be upping the ante. Both games are of equally massive importance so we have two get it together with both bat and ball.
Amateur Man of the Match – all the amateur bowlers did ok but I am giving it to Charlie Hamilton. He was cleary very nervous but dug in and then started to gain confidence and played some nice shots. Not guaranteed to retain his place but a very satisfactory debut.
