England League and Cup Discussion

[spark]

Ruff Royals The Spitfires
Batting - Top Order 14,239 12,459
Batting - Middle Order 10,925 8,120
Batting - Tail 6,386 5,440
Bowling - Seam 14,822 (8) 12,396 (12)
Bowling - Spin 12,276 (12) 11,505 (8)
Fielding/Keeping 16,540 13,668
Overall 235,911 199,837

Ruff Royals won by 54 runs

A big ratings advantage and a big win. We even managed to rest a batter and a bowler.

We were put in to bat first and Mills hit 96 not out from 63 balls and Schmidt got 97 not out from 51 balls. The bowling was slightly disappointing in that we didn't bowl them out but a good win nonetheless.

[Atko]

The Raging Speed Horns vs Dunbrody Academy London
League Youth 2.1

Weather Windy
Pitch Dry

Playing the second strongest team - by ratings - in our league today. We're going well -

End of over 29 (2 runs) - The Raging Speed Horns(150-2) RR 5.17

- Tommy Topster adding a brisk 72 off 70 balls to follow his 144 no off 107 balls last week - the boy can bat

Fingers crossed we can maintain the momentum and push on to around 250+

[Atko]

Poo

A sprinkling of wickets put the brakes on us -

End of over 40 (2 runs) - The Raging Speed Horns(215-6) RR 5.38

That's a reasonable total I suppose, but by no means a match winner, considering the strength of the oppo.

[spark]

B. Aaron (lfs) 8-0-55-1, K. Fuls 19 (16b), H. Verhoeven 0 (0b)
End of over 40 (10 runs) - Ruff Royals(220-6) RR 5.50

Uneven pitch so that's an okay total, I guess. However, I think we might be a little bit short of a winning total especially when you take into account the possibility of higher scores this season. Marwat was magnificent with 106 runs from 99 balls.

Pithey needs to bowl out of his skin and pick up a bundle of wickets.

[Atko]

These guys are looking comfy -

A. Ireland (rfs) 4-0-14-0, E. O'Shea 32 (55b), N. Bell 34 (51b)
End of over 20 (3 runs) - Dunbrody Academy London(85-1). 131 runs required from 20 overs. RR 4.25 RRR 6.55

They're behind on RRR and 20 over comparison ... interesting equation - I'm gonna give us the slightest of edges ...

[Atko]

Well, the RRR kept creeping up and consequently the wickets began to tumble. Despite the seemingly close nature of the scores, in the end it was a solid win that went to plan - don't ya love it when those rarities happen?

The Raging Speed Horns won by 9 runs

Match Ratings
The Raging Speed Horns Dunbrody Academy London
Batting - Top Order 7,322 7,812
Batting - Middle Order 5,345 6,396
Batting - Tail 3,643 3,537
Bowling - Seam 7,076 (16) 6,431 (8)
Bowling - Spin 5,862 (24) 7,352 (32)
Fielding/Keeping 7,907 7,791
Overall 117,058 126,662

Our spinners scraped together 4 wickets, but they're a little way from being the real deal yet. That win should keep us on top on NRR just ahead of South Hill Slammers.

[spark]

Ruff Royals Egham Town CC
Batting - Top Order 8,558 7,491
Batting - Middle Order 5,019 5,818
Batting - Tail 3,660 4,151
Bowling - Seam 6,371 (32) 7,464 (24)
Bowling - Spin 6,437 (8) 5,955 (16)
Fielding/Keeping 9,579 9,245
Overall 125,951 127,728

Egham Town CC won by 4 wickets

I said Pithey needed to take a bundle of wickets and he took a big, fat zero wickets. Arguably my second best bowler also picked up no wickets. Pithey really needs to start doing some good things with the ball as he seems to have dropped off a bit this season.

We're still in the bottom 2 with no points so far and we play the top side next week; the perfect time to start picking up the points that'll save us from relegation.

[casperj]

Crestfallen Sidekicks Old Baldonians
Batting - Top Order 4,359 5,922
Batting - Middle Order 5,168 4,641
Batting - Tail 2,622 4,300
Bowling - Seam 5,240 (24) 4,347 (32)
Bowling - Spin 5,465 (16) 8,638 (8)
Fielding/Keeping 6,198 6,086
Overall 91,221 99,440

Crestfallen Sidekicks won by 4 wickets

Surprisingly managed to chase down 206 on a windy/sticky. Out of the relegation zone (although not sure you can get relegated from Div 4).

[spark]

Home Ruff Royals
Away All Leeds Aren't We
Ground Ruff Royals CG
League One Day 2.1
Date 10 May 24 10:00
Crowd 17,916
Weather Windy
Pitch Slow

Attendances have been a bit low this season compared to last; I've already had more lower attendances this season than last.

They won the toss and decided to bat which I was okay with as we haven't been brilliant batting first on slow so far.

[spark]

C. Rush (lm) 3-0-11-0, G. Ennis 9 (12b), R. Tyrrell 20 (28b)
End of over 11 (5 runs) - All Leeds Aren't We(46-1) RR 4.18

Not going great so far. I'm going to need the spinners to pick up a lot of wickets soon.

[spark]

J. Westerveld (rfs) 3-0-21-0, G. Ennis 42 (50b), R. Tyrrell 33 (63b)
End of over 23 (7 runs) - All Leeds Aren't We(94-1) RR 4.09

Well, the spinners haven't helped. I'm not looking forward to the chase as it looks like we're going to be a big total for the conditions.

[Atko]

Egham Town CC vs The Raging Speed Horns
League One Day 1.1

Weather Windy
Pitch Even

We're visiting Egham today to do battle on an even (not sure I've ever played on one of these). My orders may have been a little more aggressive than they should have - somewhere in my mind a little voice said, "even = flat with benefits" - of course those benefits would go the bowlers way

Anyway, we're getting spanked - and a wicket falls as I type - currently sitting at -

End of over 32 (4 runs) - The Raging Speed Horns(152-7) RR 4.75

I suspect another 4 points is about to be flushed down the drain.

Think I'll go play Elden Ring for a bit (that usually cheers me up) ...

[Atko]

Well, we were all out for 171.

On the plus side, they're 19-2 after 4 overs. I still make them favourites though... and as I type Max Speed (our demon LF from Chipping Sodbury) blasts out another one!

End of over 5 (1 run) - Egham Town CC(20-3). 152 runs required from 45 overs. RR 4.00 RRR 3.38

The game's afoot - sod Elden Ring!

[spark]

From 151-2 to this:

J. Westerveld (rfs) 8.5-0-45-3, D. Goddard 4 (10b)
End of over 48 (1 run) - All Leeds Aren't We(196-10) RR 4.08

So it could have been so much worse. I'm still not entirely confident even though I probably should be. I played 2 medium pacers, 2 spinners and a fast bowler on this slow pitch. The fastie easily had the best figures with 4-34 for Combs.

[Atko]

End of over 25 (11 runs) - Egham Town CC(133-3). 39 runs required from 25 overs. RR 5.32 RRR 1.56

The bright start soon faded - that's us finished.

Gawd, if I had a pound for every time my mob skittled the top order only for the match engine to give the oppo a ~$@=ing match-winning partnership, I could eat out at the Ritz.