Ramsbottom v Ormskirk 10 April 2021 – Friendly
Loss for Rammy as JT channels the spirt of Ben Stokes.
As the cold weather continued, hand warmers grew in popularity and the threat of snow hung over the start of the cricket season, Ormskirk made their way to Acrebottom to play an unbeaten RCC XI and beat us.
Unperturbed by umpire Duncan Warburton’s late arrival, the game started at Noon after Daryn won the toss and decided to bat. News had trickled in from Darwen about Ormskirk’s fearsome bowling attack but initially, the watching crowd (me and John Steele), thought that we had little to worry about as Simon Hanson and Harry Caton looked to be putting together a nice foundation to build upon.
Then Sheila turned up and Simon was out LBW to the threatening Barnes with the score on 38. He was replaced by Kieran Grimshaw who looked likely to repeat the form of the previous week until he was bowled for 6. Rammy then lost 5 wickets for 30 runs and were shivering on an uncomfortable 86-7 as Jamie Pilling was joined at the wicket by Jack Thomond with a portentous spring in his step.
Donning the garb of Ben Stokes, JT decided to let rip and Jamie joined in the fun as the Ormskirk bowlers floundered whilst the pair put on 58 to give the scoreboard a hint of respectability. The highlight of the partnership was JT’s six to the long boundary which was Stokesian in spirit and execution.
Then the snow came, and despite being asked by the late Mr Warburton if he wanted to come off, Daryn insisted on staying on as Ormskirk chased 145 – something they did pretty quickly and for only the loss of one wicket.
Beaten well by a very good team and a decent bunch of lads, we can take solace that we performed better than Darwen but it was another good run out for the team as we prepare for the league to start in earnest and the hope of warmer days to come.