Ricky 2nds promotion hopes wilt in Stevenage sun

Rickmansworth 2nd XI have got themselves out of many scrapes this season. Chasing down big totals and taking vital wickets when required. However with the 1st team taking key players, and a number of other regulars away for various reasons, it was a very untried collection of players that took to the pitch on Saturday.

An opening bowling attack that had only played together once before this season, a new opening batting pair, neither of whom had opened the batting for 6 weeks, a change of keeper and two players who hadn't batted for a month, was not an ideal starting combination. Indeed only 4 players in the team had played in the same fixture earlier in the season when Stevenage were routed by 5 wickets.

Bowling first, Ricky were pleased to get 3 wickets down fairly early, with 50 on the board. However it then turned into the Barry Turner show. Having scored a hundred for the 2nd team the previous week, Turner turned his quality batting prowess on our 2nd XI and despite a few chances given, he went swiftly to a hundred and was eventually out for a rather good 131. Matt Funge was the stand-out bowler, but there wasn't a lot of incision in general from the bowlers on a pitch that seemed made for batting. When the declaration came on 280 it was equally disappointing that extras was the 2nd top scorer with 44.

Could Ricky chase down such a big score for the 2nd time in 4 weeks? In order to do so, the key was a good start and this was fortunately provided by Paul and Ed who put on 50 runs before Ed nicked one to the keeper. The second target was to reach 20 overs needing 210 or less with wickets in hand and this was provided exactly with 71/1 on the board. 7 an over needed and plenty in the Bank. Kasser and Paul also put on a half century before Kasser departed for 20 and Maz Khan provided his usual cameo scoring 18 quick-fire runs and pushing the score up to 134/3 after 31 overs. 150 runs needed off 114 balls. It was now or never. Unfortunately the now didn't come as Paul then fell for a well-crafted 71. But the game was at least safe with 13 overs left and 6 batsmen left. The target was now reset with 200 the total, and a scoring rate of under 4 an over. What could go wrong !

And then the unthinkable happened. 3 wickets in an over as Kamran, Neel and Ronesh all surrendered their wickets and then the Stevenage bowlers and fielders sniffed a chance of victory. From 152/3 Ricky were now 165/8 and staring down the barrel. Tom Watson (16) and Andy Bird (11) swung the bat lustily but that only hastened Ricky's demise and Andy was out going for another big hit with 4 overs still remaining.

Stevenage move within a few points of Ricky. And Ricky slide 64 points away from the promotion spaces. With 6 games to go, it will take a modern miracle for Ricky to make the top 2. But the game is in our hands. Starting with the next game.