Match Report Greenmount 1st XI v Ramsbottom 1st XI – 8 May 2022
GCC 144 for 9 (50 overs) RCC 150 for 4 (25.5 overs)
Scorecard here
What a Difference 14 Days Make
Still reeling from the hammering handed out in their previous visit to the Log Cabin and the unnecessary criticism received from members of clubs (not Greenmount) in the area (most of them from people with very limited ability in the game) the Rams arrived with something to prove.
With our professional confined to bed with a chest infection our director of cricket Andy Dalby wasted no time in securing the services of Samit Patel, the Nottinghamshire veteran who had sub pro-ed for Clitheroe the previous day.
Greenmount won the toss and opted to bat on another superb looking track. In the previous game the opposition had raced to 65 from the first 10 overs thanks to some wayward bowling so it was imperative we kept it tight and fielded well.
Our two young bowlers Owen and Jake responded well hitting a good line right from the off. As stated in a previous report Greenmount’s strength is in their batting with the top four being especially good. Thus we needed an early breakthrough. This came in spectacular style with the score on 18 when Harry Caton pulled off a magnificent leg side stumping of Jake Walker to dismiss home professional Chesney Hughes. Although the ball was called wide it appeared to many supporters that it had clipped Hiughes’ pad making the glove work even more spectacular.
This certainly appeared to set the standard for the Rams as they kept the bowling and fielding to a high level making Harrison and Kerr work hard for their runs.
The next breakthrough came with the score on 50 when our sub pro had Harrison caught behind. Tom Heaton then joined the talented Andy Kerr. These two were Greenmount’s best hope of posting a decent total and both looked in good touch until the score reached 81 when Kerr played a very out of character shot to be caught at deepish mid on. At the same score Heaton was bowled by Kieren Grimshaw and then the home side went into free fall losing their next 5 wickets for only 16 runs.
Although we had bowled and fielded well 97 for 9 on such a good track was poor. It was then significant that the last pair of batsmen, Greenhalgh and M Senior showed their colleagues how to apply themselves with a stand of 47 before the overs ran out.
The target of 144 should have been easily obtainable but losing early wickets could have put pressure on the Rams. When Alex Olpin fell with the score on 13 to a poor shot one wondered what was going to happen. To the surprise of the Rammy supporters Samit Patel came in a number 3 instead of our skipper Grimmy. Our sub pro must have wanted to get home early as, aided by some poor bowling he set about the Greenmount attack. He had scored 39 out a 44 run partnership when he holed out to deep mid on giving Greenmount some hope.
Work was still to be done but after taking a look at the bowling both Jonny and Grimmy batted well and the score progressed accordingly. Despite surviving a chance at mid on Jonny looked in line for his maiden 1st XI fifty until he played a loose shot at a wide deliver from Ashfaq to be caught at slip.
Nine runs were needed for victory with loads of overs left yet we lost another wicket to an injudicious shot from Brad Fielding. Grimmy then finished the game with a six that nearly took the bbq caterer out to give him a well deserved 50.
The weekend provided a most needed boost to the Rams after a poor start to the season. We are still getting out to injudicious shots, particularly sweeping, something that should only be tried when you have got your eye in. Tough games are to come and we have to put in similar performances with the bat, ball and in the field to get results.
Amateur Man of the Match – shared between Grimmy and Josh Dentith who had a good weekend and figures of 2 for 17 from 10 overs were excellent. No-one who witnessed it will forget the stumping of Chesney Hughes by Harry Caton.
