Bilal and Bobby secure 3rd win for resurgent 2nd team v OECC

It was a welcome return to form for both Bilal and Bobby that saw Ricky win for the 3rd time in 4 games and continue to climb out of trouble. Indeed Ricky are now just 18 points off 2nd place, and a big 28 points off relegation after a good June.

Saturday started off unseasonably overcast and not particularly warm, so Stefan was delighted to win the toss and put Old Elizabethans in. Captain Lissowski, and Fitzgerald wasted little time scoring runs quickly before Saffy removed Fitzgerald LBW for 10. Joe Monk then had number 3 Jonscher caught at midwicket by Zaf for 1, and this was soon followed by Saffys second as Heavey was caught by Lekshay.
The big Lissowski seemed undeterred by the wickets falling around him, and he had obviously decided that attacking was the way forward. He hit Smithy out of the attack with some brave slog sweeps for maximums whilst at the other end Price was happy to work the gaps and take ones and twos. The Rickmansworth bowlers were not being helped by some poor misfields, which again have allowed the opposition to score 20-30 runs more than they should have done. By the time Lissowski was trapped LBW by Bobby he had scored 86 off just 59 balls, and Elizabethans had reached 130 off just 22 overs. A fantastic base to score 250 plus it seemed. At this point Stefan turned to Bilal for some spin and was encouraged to give the ball some air.

Kiddle had joined Price at the crease and the pair were going well before Bobby tempted Price into a full blooded drive which Stefan took one handed at short cover. Bilal bowled Ghadavi first ball , then quicky had Jennings caught behind by Ali. Bobby then had another one caught at short cover by Stefan, and Bilal trapped Richardson LBW . Finally another bowled Bobby caught Stefan wrapped up the innings for 187 off only 33.4 overs. From being 126-3 after 21 Elizabethans would have been disappointed not to capitalise, and rack up a big score.
Rickmansworth felt confident that 187 was very gettable on a wicket which wasn’t really offering the bowlers a huge amount. Nine balls in Stefan was given out LBW with the score on only 7, which brought Bobby to the crease in a batting slump of epic proportion. But cometh the hour, cometh the man. He and Ali were patient and looked solid until Ali was bowled leaving one which cut back sharply off the seam for 11. Bilal joined Bobby with the score on 33 in the eleventh over. Bobby was starting to find some form working the ball well all around the wicket, and Bilal was very much playing the supporting role. The run rate wasn’t electric, but both batsmen were set, and Bobby reached a well deserved 50 off 97 balls.

At this stage Ricky were cruising, half way to the target, with an inform middle order still to come. .

Bobby was given out LBW in a carbon copy of the Elizabethans captain , by the same umpire, with suspicions of a little bat involved, for an excellent 80. Still with Bobby and Bilal having put on 108 and the score on 141 Ricky only needed 47 runs off 12 overs with Lekshay, Waheed, Saffy, and Shiv all in decent form . Surely this was a formality. When Lekshay went for 7, there was a genuine buzz of anticipation as Waheed entered the fray. First ball he stepped inside a short one a hook-pulled it round the corner. Unbelievably deep backward square sprinted round and took an astonishing diving catch which gave the Elizabethans side some real belief. Bilal though was still scoring nicely and he too reached a well deserved half-century. Ricky were by this stage looking nervous, and no one likes to see Smithy having to pad up. When Saffy was given out LBW, the 6th of the game it was looking like a genuine possibility that Rickmansworth could be about to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. From 167-3 in the 43rd over Rickmansworth had managed to stumble to 179-8 at the end of the 48th over. With 9 required off 12 balls Zaf was run out for three, bringing Smithy trudging to the crease. With one wicket remaining and four runs required, Bilal coolly rocked onto his back foot and flat batted a four over mid on .

This team doesn’t like doing things the easy way, and are undoubtedly entertaining. One week in the not too distant future I think they will do all three parts of the game well on the same day. Very much looking forward to it.