Stoke Row Vs. Embrook and Bearwood
Date: 16th August 2008
Venue: Newlands Lane, Stoke Row
Toss: Embrook and Bearwood won the toss and elected to bowl
Result: Stoke Row won by 87 runs
Weather: A day which defied the forecast’s of both the BBC and the Met Office. Replacing the predicted heavy rain was an afternoon filled, for the most part, with sunshine, aside from a short interlude at around 6 p.m. when the clouds thickened. This fortunately gave way to more brightness within the half hour.
Highlights: Will Macdonald’s supreme 98, Sam Boughton’s 44, a pair of cameos from Baker and Ashton following another stubborn Nowell knock. Macdonald capping a fine day with 4-51, and two apiece from Boughton, Young and Sampson. Baker took a stunning catch as Mid-off as well. For Embrook, Jack Medhurst’s ‘3-fer’ stood out, alongside 40 from Mark Pedley and a gutsy, if ultimately futile, rearguard from Steve Phipps.
Catering: Sue Boughton again displayed why she would top any ‘Tea-lady of the Year’ table, as a fabulous spread was laid on. A wide range of sandwiches, including some marvellous salmon and cu*****ber specialities, appeased all. Supported by a selection of freshly baked home-made cakes, this was a tea to truly savour.
Report: Stoke Row strengthened their grip on third place in their debut season in the FNG-BCL Premier Division as another immaculate display from Will Macdonald ensured an 87 run win over a struggling and seemingly under strength Embrook and Bearwood side.
After winning the toss, Embrook captain Adam Bull elected to bowl first on a wicket which had been afflicted by much rain throughout the week. This decision was initially vindicated as Titch Vickers barren run continued, the keeper-batsman striking a long hop from Alan Clacey straight into the hands of Bull at mid wicket. Stoke Row were thus under early pressure at 2-1.
As has often been the case, however, the irrepressible Macdonald, in conjunction with Oliver Nowell, remedied the early alarms. In the face of consistent bowling from both Clacey and Phipps, the pair thwarted the Bearwood attack, although it would have been highly interesting to see how Matt Hayman would have faired on a wicket which provided some early assistance to the bowlers.
As the pair grew in confidence, it appeared that another substantial partnership was on the cards, but Nowell was trapped L.B.W. to present Clacey with a second victim. Yet Stoke continued to progress with a degree of serenity as Sam Boughton continued his fine form in crafting a fine 44. Mixing solid defence with the ability to hit the ball with ferocious power, Boughton has proved something of a revelation in the Premier Division. Having looked impervious to dismissal, it was a regrettable and avoidable run out which eventually accounted for the 21 year-old, as Stoke moved to 140-3 after 35 overs.
All the while, though, Macdonald shone like a beacon amongst the Row batting line up. He once again demonstrated why he currently stands as the top run scorer in the league, playing with a calm authority and allowing those around him to raise the tempo. On the other hand, Macdonald possesses the ability to progress an innings, and he proved this by racing swiftly from another half-century through to the 80 mark. Aided by another destructive cameo by George Baker, the pair added 39 in just four overs.
This momentum was furthered by Stoke’s out-of-form skipper Richard Ashton, who’s decision to demote himself to number seven rendered some benefit as he smote a quick-fire 18, including one cheeky ‘ramp’ shot through the vacant fine leg area. Despite another useful contribution from Paddy Hennessy, the innings should really be remembered for another stunning innings from Macdonald, who’s deserved century was cruelly deprived of him by a fine catch by Gibbs on the penultimate ball of the innings. However, the 20 year-old’s classy innings provided the back-bone to a highly competitive, and probably above par, score of 222-8 for the Maharajas.
In reply, Stoke Row, as they have so often done, took the old ball, with Macdonald and South African Dion Sampson bowling beautifully. Despite some assiduous defence from Woodward and Kumar, Macdonald snared the latter in his fourth over with a tremendous arm ball which the batsman failed to read.
The pairing continued to squeeze the visitors, and after ten overs whereby Embrook did not seem to consciously play for the losing draw, they still languished on 8-1. As stated previously, the spin twins again shined.
Another breakthrough shortly followed, as Kumar was trapped L.B.W. to the unrelenting Macdonald, albeit perhaps being struck too high on the pad for his liking. The next trio of victims could have less to complain about, however, as McConnon skied a pull to Baker on the deep square leg boundary, Bull top edged another to Browne at mid off and McNeily’s flamboyant exposition of stroke play was curtailed at the 5 ball mark (he smashed a quick fire 12) after being cleaned up by Macdonald. Embrook languished on 49-5.
At this interjection Stoke Row’s philosophy of retaining the old ball throughout the innings again came under scrutiny. Would the new ball have proved fruitful, especially in light of the recent ability of Baker and Lunnon to swing the new cherry? Under cloudy skies, would an Embrook middle order, perhaps lacking experience in such conditions, have folded?
Such questions remain unanswered as the Maharajas proceeded with their spinning combination. To a degree, it excelled, Gibbs eventually being bowled by Macdonald. However, with 30 overs bowled, Embrook stood on 101-6, a total still not too distant from reaching a victory were fewer wickets to have fallen.
Yet Mark Pedley continued to attack, and strike a mean ball he did. A drop in Stoke Row’s general fielding standards was exacerbated by the Embrook’s man’s striking of the ball, and he moved to a quick-fire 40. After 37 overs, Embrook stood at 125-6, and, whilst victory had dwindled to an outside option for Bearwood, defeat would have been at a similar level in any well-known bookmakers.
Yet a strength amongst Stoke Row’s youthful side is an ability to think ‘outside the box’. In the 38th over, Christopher Young took hold of the ball for the first time since his cameo role at Crown Wood on 28th June. He duly delivered a wicket immediately – Pedley’s ill-advised sweep ensuring he was bowled by the former Nettlebed man.
A somewhat forceful talk from Stoke captain Ashton towards his all-rounder Boughton latterly had the desired affect as the game reached its’ potentially nail-biting denouement. From ambling in during his first over, Boughton heeded the captain’s advice and upped his speed quickly. This resulted in Medhurst being trapped in front of middle stump, and E&B suddenly stood on 129-8 after 39 overs.
Two overs later, the brilliance of Boughton resurfaced. A sequence of five hostile deliveries to the impeccable Phipps were played classily – a clear lesson in obdurate defence. Alas, Boughton’s last delivery was his supreme slower ball. Three seconds later, a mis-cue from Phipps, a stunning diving catch from Baker at mid-off, and Embrook were 133-9. Row clearly smelt victory.
And so it came to be. Youngster Ryan Lewendon, who will undoubtedly go on to be a fine player in the FNG-BCL, particularly as a leg spinner, was snaffled caught and bowled by Young from his third ball. Stoke rejoiced, claiming another 35 points to cement their status in third. Embrook look forth to the final two weeks attempting to escape relegation.
In other FNG-BCL games, the title decider that all were waiting for (bar perhaps Mortimer West End and Swindon NALGO!) is now set up. Mortimer thrashed Sandhurst by 77 runs, with Andy Johnson blasting 88 and then Paul McGee taking 4-30. In the meantime, Swindon disposed of Shinfield, the ‘old reliables’ Shaz Khan (53), Usman Sahar (5-26) and Amritendru Das (3-26) all thriving. Thus the two sides meet in Swindon, this Saturday, in something of a ‘winner-takes’all’ clash’.
In other games, Pinkneys Green suc*****bed to a Jay Jeyerajah (4-41 and 40*) inspired Crown Wood, whilst Woodcote upset the form book by beating Peppard by 53 runs. Paul Knox shone with 60 and 3-34, whilst Pete Roberts figures of 14-6-16-3 ensured the hosts were always on the back foot.
All this means that, as previously stated, the title will be fought out by Mortimer and Swindon next Saturday – lets hope the weather holds! Stoke Row appear to be fairly secure in third, whilst Pinkneys Green and Peppard will fight out fourth and fifth positions.
In the lower half of the table, Sandhurst could do with one more ‘positive’ result to ensure survival, whilst similar performances from Woodcote and Crown Wood would most likely ensure that Embrook and Shinfield slip through the trap door and into Division 1.
