Ramsay Streets ahead as Sunday 2s lose to Neighbours

Match Report by Nick Duffy

On a fine warm day on The Green, Odiham won the toss and batted in a 40 overs-a-side match.

HW opened their attack with Graeme Selden (5-1-1-19) and Vaughn Craxton (5-1-0-10) and, after ten overs had restricted a Odiham to 44 for 1. An excellent start; disciplined, well directed bowling and some good fielding. Mike Ramsay (8-1-1-45) and Mark Teal (6-0-2-35) came on at first change and wickets fell and runs were scored as the oppo’s batsmen got in and began to time the ball. Guy Whitehouse (4-0-0-23) put in a four over spell and the final stage of the innings was seen out by Vijay Iyer (5-1-1-28) and Ethan Ramsay (6-1-3-28) as the middle and lower orders scored consistently – including a fine six onto the roof of The Cricketers.

HW fielded soundly; Jenson Mogridge took a good skied catch and Tom Bates kept well on his first outing with the gloves.

Odiham finished 199-7 one of their openers having retired for 51*. An old school cricket tea was served.

HW opened with Ethan Ramsay (100*) and Jenson Mogridge (4); Jenson got a shocker after three overs – bowled by a ball which hit the stumps 3” of the ground, which brought James Mulvey to the crease. He hit a cultured 44 before holing out near the covers which allowed the score to tick over and for Ethan to build his score smoothly and methodically. Vijay Iyer came in 5 and departed early for 1. Nick Duffy (39*) came in in the 17th over at 74 for 3. Duffy and Ramsay then batted through putting on 124, the former very much the support act to the 14 year old against a mix of swing, seam and spin. Using a mix of aggression, guile, inventiveness (including 2 splendid ramps for 4), patience and technique Ramsay brought HW to 187 for 3 at the start of the final over. Two singles and two excellent boundaries meant we needed two to win from the last ball and Ethan needed 1 for his first ton. A good yorker meant only a single. We lost by the closest possible margin.

The match was played in very good spirit; the oppo were friendly and amenable and their scorer made a great job of our book. Overall, the best team won in a great first game of the season.

Congratulations to Ethan; the first of many one hopes.

[i]PS Many Thanks to Nick Duffy for standing in expertly as skipper.[/i]