Oh what a glorious thing to see a top class win for RCC
Ramsbottom 1st Team v Walsden 1st team – (H) 22 August 2021
RCC 204 for 7 (50 overs) WCC 149 all out (45.1 overs)
Scorecard here
On the day when the weather finally relented and the sun shone the Rams recorded their best performance of the season defeating a strong Walsden outfit who were looking to take over top spot in the League.
Batting first on what looked a benign track we had our all too familiar poor start slipping to 3 for 2 after 5 overs. Skipper Grimmy and pro Daryn looked to steady the ship. They took the score to 29 despite some histrionic appeals and strange behaviour from the opposition bowlers before the Rams skipper was adjudged LBW. Daryn was then joined by Brad and the pair set about repairing the damage, first of all seeing off the opening bowlers. Even though Walsden then introduced their pro Karunaratne into the attack both batsmen gradually picked up the tempo and started to put any bad balls away, Brad even having the audacity to smack the Sri Lankan for a big six. Their partnership added 95 runs before Brad, who had just reached is half century, was bowled.
Clarkey then came to the wicket and seemed keen to get on with it. He managed a four and a six in consecutive deliveries before holing out to mid on. When Harry Caton soon followed it was essential Daryn got some support for the final onslaught he is know for. This was provided by Jack Thomond who has grasped the chance of first team cricket with both hands. The pair added 47 runs before Daryn fell LBW for an excellent 82. Jack and young Codge then remained unbeaten and took our total to 204 at the end of the innings.
Although going over 200 is an excellent effort at Acre Bottom, it is a target Walsden’s strong batting line up would in no way be daunted by.
This is how their innings went:-
22-1 after a fairly positive start Joe Gale is excellently caught at slip by a diving Daryn off Grimmy.
52-2 after seeing off the opening bowlers Hooson falls to a diving catch at mid on by Chris Round in Daryn’s first over.
64-3 opposition pro Karunaratne goes down the track to Daryn but is completely deceived by the flight and turn and Harry Caton completes a simple stumping
91- 4 the Bird, brought into the attack, has SR Barker caught at deep square leg by Alex Olpin, not an easy effort with the sun in the eyes of the fielder.
91-5 having brought himself back into the attack Grimmy bowls NR Barker, the Walsden skipper with a delivery that keeps a little low
121-6 the dangerous Josh Gale brilliantly caught at deep square leg by Nick Round off Grimmy, a wicket that brought a display of uncalled petulance by the dismissed batsman
144-7 Majid Kahn yorked by the returning Jacob Clarke
148-8 Harlow run out by a throw from Owen Collinge who had been blinded initially when the ball spooned up to him
148-9 Mubasher Khan brilliantly stumped by Harry Caton off Daryn Smit
149-10 Jacob Clarke gets the last batsman Brown plum LBW
This victory brought a deserved round of applause from the Rammy faithful at the end of the game. The best thing about it was that all 11 players made some form of contribution in the game. Although cynics may say that Daryn’s efforts were the main reason for our win you have to look at the efforts of our amateur bowlers against the League’s leading run scoring team. There was also an excellent display in the field with some top class catches taken. All in all this was a most enjoyable day for the loyal Ramsbottom supporters.
Amateur man of the match was Brad Fielding.
