Ricky II beat Ware by 9 runs

After last weeks final ball disappointment, Rickmansworth were out for revenge against a Ware team who were on paper a bowling team. And indeed on winning the toss they choose to bowl first as they had in every game of the season so far. On exchanging team sheets the skipper also announced that this was a different Ware team as there were 5 keen young lads back from ‘uni’ who were there to strengthen the side. And so it proved, as the next 50 overs comprised a bowling attack that was the strongest Ricky had faced all season.

Paul only lasted one ball before getting a ball that reared off a length, hit the underside of his gloves and cannoned into the base of the stumps, 2-1. Kasser, restored to the line-up, battled hard against an obvious lack of time in the middle before getting bowled for 6 off 26 balls. When Maz chipped a straight-forward ball to mid-off for 12, Ricky were reeling on 29/3 and not off to the start expected. Indeed the new ball was doing a lot on a pitch that was seaming and Kamran hit 7 off 7 balls before also missing a ball on the stumps. 37-4 and Ricky needed a steady partnership between Bobby (who was on just 4) and Marty. Marty looked in great form but inexplicable suddenly ran down the wicket and again missed a straight ball. His contribution of 14 saw Ricky to 72 but half the wickets had gone and only Booby seemed to be able to pick the right balls to attack. Waheed was caught at slip for 5 and even Majid was circumspect, taking 7 balls before getting bowled for 1. Ricky were 92/7 and looking for all the world like a second rate outfit.
But then the miracle came. Bobby continued to farm the strike and hit the bad balls for 4, generally though or over the covers. And Billy stayed with him, defending well and making sure he didn’t get stumped or bowled. And so the score crept up, 100, 110, 120 and then 136 before Billy was trapped on the back foot LBW. But a great partnership of 44 meant Ricky now had something to bowl at. Joe Monk then batted sensibly adding 1 to a partnership of 13 and it was only with the score on 153 that a very tired Bobby was trapped LBW for a sparkling 72. Without doubt the innings of the day, compiled patiently over 38 overs. An early contender for performance of the year.

Rickmansworth were hoping this might be enough with a strong bowling line-up, however when the first ball off Majid flew through the slips for 4 off an edge, thoughts turned to last week and nerves started to jangle. Indeed both Largo, and in particular Raja, rode their luck with an impressive number of edges that flew just beyond fielders and went to the boundary. Largo went for 19 but Ware coasted along to 60/1 and didn’t look in trouble until Billy got Raja to edge behind for 44. Suddenly the Ware players looked like Rabbits in the headlights. This was a team famous for it’s collapses, but they seemed to almost will it on themselves. And Ricky pounced. Bobby bowled straight though but only got reward in his last over getting two LBW decisions. However, Ware still had 6 wickets in hand and needed 50 off 22 overs. Maz Shah then bowled one of those spells that a skipper can only dream of taking 2-15 in 7 overs and turning the screw whilst the bowlers were rotated at the other end. Joe Monk had a dart, as did Amit Pau again, however Steve Knott for Ware started to hit out and a 10 run over brought them within 15 runs of victory. What was left in the tank for Ricky, in front of a huge crowd swelled by the 3rd and 4th teams who had both completed their games. Every dot, every stop was cheered, none more so than when Knott cut one more ball off Waheed but this time straight to Bobby who at first dropped the ball, but then caught it again before it reached the ground. Another maiden from Maz and then Waheed bowled Tilbey off stump with a superb Yorker. Surely Ricky were not about to win it! One wicket needed, 2 overs left and skipper Adam on strike. 1 run, then another 1. 10 needed off 10 and they could make it in singles. But Maz had another ball left in him, which burst through Adam’s defences and smashed into middle stump. Ware distraught – Ricky ecstatic – the crowd roared – and all of last weeks woes were left behind.

Everyone agreed it was one of the best games they and played in, and even better news filtered through that Frogmore and Baldock had both lost and Ricky were now in 2nd place in the table.

One thing is for sure. This Ricky team will not give up without a fight. Roll on Saturday.