Match Report Todmorden 1st XI v Ramsbottom 1st XI 2 May 2021 by Michael Everett
RCC 139 all out (42.3 overs) & TCC 135 for 5 (35.2 overs and revised DL target)
Scorecard link – Todmorden v Ramsbottom in 2021 (lancashireleague.com)
Sometimes getting the simple call of heads or tails right can dramatically alter the outcome of a game.
I believe such was the case at Centre Vale on Sunday. After Daryn called wrong the Tod skipper had no hesitation in asking us to bat. It soon became apparent that this was the right decision as for the first hour of the game there was considerable movement and variable bounce in the wicket. As soon as the sun got to work the wicket began to ease off but by this time the damage was done. To exploit the conditions the bowlers had to perform and both Priestley and Collins for the home side did that. Both our openers and our ultra-reliable pro were bowled by excellent deliveries, Daryn having been struck off a nasty delivery on only the second ball he faced. Kieren Grimshaw was also struck in a vulnerable place from another nasty delivery. But it was the introduction of sub pro Gurender Singh that saw us reduced to 69 for 7. Grimshaw, Fielding and Round were all caught from deliveries that seemed to stop on them and Jamie Pilling was stumped. This brought Dan Pyke to join Jacob Clarke. Both batsmen played with common sense before Clarke was adjudged LBW for a excellent 43. When Pyke (31) as the last man out the Rams had only posted a modest total of 139.
Early wickets were needed but after surviving a massive LBW shout off the second delivery from Clarke both openers batted with confidence on what had become a rather benign track. Eventually the introduction of Daryn Smith produced a breakthrough with the score on 51. Jacob then had ex-England player Chris Schofield LBW four runs later to give us some hope. But we were always fighting a losing battle and although we managed to earn a bonus point Tod reached their Duckworth Lewis total with plenty of overs in hand. Without wishing to take anything away from Tod one has the feeling that if the toss had gone in our favour (and assuming we elected to field first) there could have been a different result to the game.
Amateur Man of the Match went to Jacob Clarke for his 43 runs. Next weekend sees us having two very difficult games and we will have to be on top form to get anything from them.
Michael Everett
