England League and Cup Discussion

[spark]

Ruff Royals won by 3 wickets

Knockout Heroes Ruff Royals
Batting - Top Order 13,639 13,716
Batting - Middle Order 9,837 11,519
Batting - Tail 3,775 6,307
Bowling - Seam 12,661 (12) 12,955 (8)
Bowling - Spin 13,651 (8) 12,740 (12)
Fielding/Keeping 15,707 16,844
Overall 217,642 234,531

The batting was tough as I expected but Dennehy's 42 not out from 35 balls and 21 by Laurence was enough to help us to the victory.

I'm happy and a little surprised by the ratings considering we've got 3 players away although I did play an extra allrounder.

We're still 4 points off the top as South Yorkshire continue to win despite having ratings deficits on occasions.

[eagles123]

Snakey's Kent Stars v South London's Number One CC >> Match Ratings
Match Ratings
Snakey's Kent Stars South London's Number One CC
Batting - Top Order 14,351 14,451
Batting - Middle Order 12,795 12,020
Batting - Tail 8,710 6,284
Bowling - Seam 12,430 (12) 13,711 (12)
Bowling - Spin 14,103 (8) 13,221 (8)
Fielding/Keeping 16,771 16,923
Overall 250,529 243,082

loss the toss on Hot/Even and opps chose to bat. Their 188/6 felt very competitive, but in reply King and Van Den Bergh both hit 80's and we always looked in control. Result: Won by 6 wickets.

Our 6th win in a row ... and finally we move up from 4th in the table. Promotion looks a long shot, but hopefully we can have a positive end to the season and get as much prize money as possible!

[casperj]

Cavendish Zeros Crestfallen Sidekicks
Batting - Top Order 11,639 13,027
Batting - Middle Order 9,658 11,152
Batting - Tail 5,260 5,630
Bowling - Seam 9,876 (20) 13,084 (12)
Bowling - Spin 0 (0) 15,039 (8)
Fielding/Keeping 12,471 16,508
Overall 187,764 232,466

Crestfallen Sidekicks won by 7 wickets

Edging closer to finally getting out of Division 3. Fast and FM bowlers on both teams struggled to contain the run rate in uneven conditions, but my spinners managed to make the difference.

[Atko]

The Raging Speed Horns vs Egham Town CC
Youth 2.1

Weather Humid
Pitch Sticky

3rd vs 2nd today. But I'm under no illusions - Egham outrate us by nearly 30k on the last count!

As anyone who reads my ramblings knows, our youth squad has been short a bowler for some weeks now. But we finally pulled this guy on Monday -

16y0w | 24,802 rating | $980 wage (5% discount)

Left hand batsman | Right arm Finger spin
Talents Finisher

Batting average Endurance ordinary
Bowling average Technique poor
Keeping ordinary Power poor
Fielding average

Oddly, despite rfs's being ten a penny, we didn't have one, so he's a welcome addition to the line up, and with that talent and batting level, will be very useful down the order.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch -

End of over 33 (12 runs) - Egham Town CC(155-3) RR 4.70

That's starting to look formidable on a sticky.

But wouldn't ya know it - our best bowler so far is the batsman who's been subbing as a seamer the last half of this season with 2-25 from his 8 overs! To be fair, he has average summary, currently better than our latest pull, but even so, that fella's earning his spondoolicks big time styley.

[spark]

D. Stanton (lm) 8-0-33-2, G. Pithey 14 (19b), D. Buck 1 (8b)
End of over 40 (6 runs) - Ruff Royals(147-9) RR 3.67

Awful batting by us on an even pitch. This could see us relegated as my side will be much weakened next week with a couple of players on international duty.

R. Reynolds (rfm) 6-0-25-1, G. Davila 11 (18b), C. Sargent 47 (57b)
End of over 20 (6 runs) - The Dross(99-3). 49 runs required from 20 overs. RR 4.95 RRR 2.45

I can't really blame the bowlers as they don't have a decent total to defend so can't put any pressure on The Dross.

[spark]

The Dross Ruff Royals
Batting - Top Order 6,416 6,960
Batting - Middle Order 6,335 6,868
Batting - Tail 3,838 3,870
Bowling - Seam 7,124 (32) 6,841 (32)
Bowling - Spin 6,908 (8) 10,624 (8)
Fielding/Keeping 7,121 9,681
Overall 119,291 133,961

The Dross won by 7 wickets

Despite a fairly large ratings advantage for us, we were never really in the game. We might have been able to recover from 17-3 but as soon as we were 45-4 it was all over. The bowlers didn't produce any miracles and it's a heavy defeat.

I'm pretty sure we've dropped into the relegation zone.

[Atko]

....

I'm pretty sure we've dropped into the relegation zone.

Don't be too down mate, you can come and play my lot in 2.1 if you're lucky!

As I feared, we got spanked by 82 runs. We're currently at the bottom of the sine wave regarding ratings -

Match Ratings
The Raging Speed Horns Egham Town CC
Batting - Top Order 6,727 7,673
Batting - Middle Order 6,179 7,705
Batting - Tail 3,376 3,977
Bowling - Seam 5,980 (24) 7,496 (32)
Bowling - Spin 6,250 (16) 9,881 (8)
Fielding/Keeping 7,461 9,785
Overall 114,578 142,666

- demotion is not possible, we are fifth, but we still had a good team for the first half of the season, so there's a 20 point gap between us and the 7th placed team. Small mercies and all that...

[Atko]

The Raging Speed Horns vs Surrey Cricket Club
League One Day 2.1

Weather Hot
Pitch Sticky

Massive total accumulating here -

End of over 44 (7 runs) - The Raging Speed Horns(278-3) RR 6.32

Should be good for the NRR if we can skittle 'em cheaply. Only fly in the ointment is Max Speed being on tour - our demon LF is the only real strike bowler we have, and usually bags the early wickets - don't want this to drag out too long....

[Atko]

Yep, good total on a sticky -

End of over 50 (12 runs) - The Raging Speed Horns(336-5) RR 6.72

My attack's a bit boring with two RM's, two RFS's and an LM, but that should be enought to juice up the NRR. I've got a beady eye on DangerDave's game, and it looks like Relegation Reprobates are making a fist of it with 261-6 on a dry track. Fingers crossed that a few things click today.

[spark]

Yep, good total on a sticky -

End of over 50 (12 runs) - The Raging Speed Horns(336-5) RR 6.72

My attack's a bit boring with two RM's, two RFS's and an LM, but that should be enought to juice up the NRR. I've got a beady eye on DangerDave's game, and it looks like Relegation Reprobates are making a fist of it with 261-6 on a dry track. Fingers crossed that a few things click today.

That's a great total for you and that could easily be a 150+ run win.


And I thought my lot had done well to get to 224 all out on a crumbling pitch.

S. Doran (rfm) 9.5-0-36-4, J. Westerveld 9 (9b)
End of over 49 (maiden) - Ruff Royals(224-10) RR 4.57

Bullock top scored with 80. He was dropped a number of times but there are early signs that one of my favourite youth players is going to become one of my favourite senior players. The main negative so far is that 3 run outs on a crumbling pitch is criminal.

T. Zondeki (rf) 3-1-6-1, C. Hone 10 (15b), U. Hiscock 0 (1b)
End of over 6 (maiden) - Snakey's Kent Stars(21-1). 204 runs required from 44 overs. RR 3.50 RRR 4.64

I've unleashed Tiny Zondeki who has been itching to get more games and he's just picked up our first wicket. I wouldn't rule out Snakey's Kent Stars from chasing this total down just yet.

[spark]

M. Patterson (rfs) 8-1-19-1, S. Doran 5 (15b), G. Townley 0 (6b)
End of over 34 (1 run) - Snakey's Kent Stars(124-7). 101 runs required from 16 overs. RR 3.65 RRR 6.31

Going well now. As soon as Delap got Hiscock out after the drinks break I was confident we'd get the win.

[Atko]

Bowled 'em out for 112 to secure a 224 run win -

Match Ratings
The Raging Speed Horns Surrey Cricket Club
Batting - Top Order 13,587 10,846
Batting - Middle Order 10,991 9,865
Batting - Tail 4,547 5,142
Bowling - Seam 13,549 (30) 12,053 (20)
Bowling - Spin 15,071 (20) 11,743 (30)
Fielding/Keeping 18,105 12,643
Overall 237,062 195,539

A good match to have during Nats week. Although Dave gets a pop at 'em next week and I'm sure his lot'll be feathering their NRR too.

Well done sparky - that win keeps you in with a sniff.

Dave's mob needing 40 off 9 overs with 4 wickets left...

[spark]

Ruff Royals won by 88 runs

Ruff Royals Snakey's Kent Stars
Batting - Top Order 13,325 14,283
Batting - Middle Order 11,578 12,775
Batting - Tail 4,787 8,725
Bowling - Seam 12,625 (20) 12,530 (30)
Bowling - Spin 12,760 (30) 14,273 (20)
Fielding/Keeping 16,880 16,412
Overall 228,144 249,782

What a win for us. I can still pretend we've got a chance of promotion!

Bullock and Dickerson's 115 run partnership put us in a great position to get the win and a good team bowling performance got us over the line. Zondeki got the best figures with 2-12 from his 7 overs. With my 2 medium pacers away on international duty, the move away from a slow pitch worked out nicely.

[Atko]

Hello, it's getting interesting at White Hot Lane -

End of over 43 (10 runs) - Danger Hotspurs(241-8). 21 runs required from 7 overs. RR 5.60 RRR 3.00

[Atko]

End of over 47 (maiden) - Danger Hotspurs(253-10). 9 runs required from 3 overs. RR 5.38 RRR 3.00

Wow! The cat is most definitely among the birdies now...