England League and Cup Discussion

[spark]

D. Ridimahaliyadda (rf) 9-1-21-3, R. Schneider 1 (5b), J. House 39 (53b)
End of over 28 (2 runs) - Ruff Royals(117-5) RR 4.18

We're really struggling here. Probably 100+ away from a defendable total and I think I'd want at least 250ish. Schmidt and Dennehy going cheaply has really hurt us.

Edit: And now Schneider's out too. House is the last batter and the rest are bowlers. It's looking like a big loss and a terrible week.

[spark]

Morning sparky - I'm batting first too - I find that when the team actually follow the orders set, it seems to work, but batting second, the NRR rubber band tends to mess with the RR triggering wickets by seemingly causing the team to panic if they're not within some imagined target corridor.

I find that when I bat first my best batters get out cheaply as if they've never batted before in their lives. Sometimes one or two of them do okay and we set what I think is an okay total. Then the oppostion start quickly with the bat and never have to worry about the run rate required and win by 5 or 6 wickets after we pick up a couple of late wickets.

[Atko]

Morning sparky - I'm batting first too - I find that when the team actually follow the orders set, it seems to work, but batting second, the NRR rubber band tends to mess with the RR triggering wickets by seemingly causing the team to panic if they're not within some imagined target corridor.

I find that when I bat first my best batters get out cheaply as if they've never batted before in their lives. Sometimes one or two of them do okay and we set what I think is an okay total. Then the oppostion start quickly with the bat and never have to worry about the run rate required and win by 5 or 6 wickets after we pick up a couple of late wickets.

I know orders are a top secret kind of thing (they are with me, anyway ) - but do you tend towards aggressive batting orders? Outside of T20, I mostly don't touch them, and usually I have at least two batsmen on defensive (sometimes more )

[Atko]

This -

P. van Rauenstein (rws) 9-0-36-1, C. Gatehouse 25 (35b), H. Charlton 53 (82b)
End of over 36 (6 runs) - The Raging Speed Horns(156-4) RR 4.33

then this -

36.1 W Ponga to Gatehouse : Loud scream for LBW. The umpire pauses for a moment before raising the finger. Superb bowling from Ponga, getting the ball to move off the seam.
C. Gatehouse lbw b. K. Ponga 25 (36b 4x4 0x6) SR:69.44

- means they're into the tail. Score's okay, although I had higher hopes until two quick wickets in succession scuppered dreams of 250ish.

Charlton's still there, though

[Atko]

Oh gawd, now they've just had three wickets in four balls - I'll partly blame Charlton for grabbing a single off the second ball of the over (way to farm the strike fella!) and hanging out the tail to dry. But come on, effing ME! I'd lowered my hopes to 200+, but we'll struggle to top 180 now

End of over 40 (2 runs) - The Raging Speed Horns(168-8) RR 4.20

[casperj]

*Should* be winning this match easily, but this is far more than I'd want to normally chase on a Cloudy / Sticky. So could well be in for a defeat. One of their batsmen made 76, with the rest not getting above 25, but on Sticky wickets that one innings is often the difference.

K. Carson (rfs) 9.3-0-37-3, A. Mapatuna 5 (4b)
End of over 44 (1 run) - Vivi(178-10) RR 4.05

[Atko]

Yep -

End of over 45 (2 runs) - The Raging Speed Horns(178-10) RR 3.96

Ridiculous - from 114-2 to 178 all out. I guess you could say them's the risks with a sticky, but I ain't buying it

That should still be enough though...he said...

[spark]

I know orders are a top secret kind of thing (they are with me, anyway ) - but do you tend towards aggressive batting orders? Outside of T20, I mostly don't touch them, and usually I have at least two batsmen on defensive (sometimes more )

I'd say I've tried lots of things over the seasons and it doesn't seem to make much difference. Generally, speaking I have 1 on defensive (2 or 3 if I think it's going to be tough batting conditions) and the rest normal. Occasionally, if I'm feeling bold, I have someone on aggressive too.

I actually tend to think that having better bowlers makes the batters perform that little bit better. Presumably due to less run rate pressure but, weirdly, I also think the better bowlers help the batters even if you're batting first.

[spark]

Yep -

End of over 45 (2 runs) - The Raging Speed Horns(178-10) RR 3.96

Ridiculous - from 114-2 to 178 all out. I guess you could say them's the risks with a sticky, but I ain't buying it

That should still be enough though...he said...

*Should* be winning this match easily, but this is far more than I'd want to normally chase on a Cloudy / Sticky. So could well be in for a defeat. One of their batsmen made 76, with the rest not getting above 25, but on Sticky wickets that one innings is often the difference.

K. Carson (rfs) 9.3-0-37-3, A. Mapatuna 5 (4b)
End of over 44 (1 run) - Vivi(178-10) RR 4.05

Seems like 178 is the par score on sticky today.

[spark]

L. Uluave (rfm) 9.3-1-52-2, D. Combs 2 (5b)
End of over 50 (2 runs) - Ruff Royals(214-10) RR 4.28

I guess that's defendable but I reckon it's at least 40 runs short of a good total. House was great and it was a shame he was out for 90 and couldn't quite get a deserved ton.

[casperj]

*Should* be winning this match easily, but this is far more than I'd want to normally chase on a Cloudy / Sticky. So could well be in for a defeat. One of their batsmen made 76, with the rest not getting above 25, but on Sticky wickets that one innings is often the difference.

K. Carson (rfs) 9.3-0-37-3, A. Mapatuna 5 (4b)
End of over 44 (1 run) - Vivi(178-10) RR 4.05

L. Richardson (lf) 5-0-24-0, J. Wambua 27 (28b), A. Aboobucker 14 (32b)
End of over 10 (2 runs) - Crestfallen Sidekicks(42-0). 137 runs required from 40 overs. RR 4.20 RRR 3.42

Their opening bowlers haven't even been able to get my sacrifice opener out (although they have dropped him). Suspicously comfortable at the moment, when will the collapse start...

[casperj]

L. Richardson (lf) 5-0-24-0, J. Wambua 27 (28b), A. Aboobucker 14 (32b)
End of over 10 (2 runs) - Crestfallen Sidekicks(42-0). 137 runs required from 40 overs. RR 4.20 RRR 3.42

Their opening bowlers haven't even been able to get my sacrifice opener out (although they have dropped him). Suspicously comfortable at the moment, when will the collapse start...

Yup, 84-1 to 109-5. Four frontline batsmen out in succession. Apart from Bunworth down to the allrounders and an inexperienced keeper.

L. Richardson (lf) 9-0-46-2, R. Bunworth 1 (4b), R. Kapur 0 (0b)
End of over 27 (6 runs) - Crestfallen Sidekicks(109-5). 70 runs required from 23 overs. RR 4.04 RRR 3.04

[spark]

C. Rush (lm) 6-0-35-1, D. Turich 4 (7b), B. Lette 16 (25b)
End of over 25 (6 runs) - Relegation reprobates(138-4). 77 runs required from 25 overs. RR 5.52 RRR 3.08

They're scoring a lot more rapidly than we did which could be the key. We might have a chance if we pick up 2 or 3 quick wickets just after the break like they did.

[casperj]

Crestfallen Sidekicks won by 2 wickets
M. Wijnaldum (rws) 6.5-0-36-1, C. Mansfield 19 (21b), K. Carson 11 (20b)
End of over 44 (5 runs) - Crestfallen Sidekicks(179-8) RR 4.07

Scraped home! 9th wicket partnership between one of our A/Rs and a tailender with finisher talent got us home! Would not have been happy with a 55k reversal, which was very much on the cards, especially given the quality of the bowling attack we were facing.

Vivi Crestfallen Sidekicks
Batting - Top Order 11,386 11,713
Batting - Middle Order 8,274 11,998
Batting - Tail 5,591 7,535
Bowling - Seam 9,997 (40) 13,321 (30)
Bowling - Spin 11,777 (10) 14,034 (20)
Fielding/Keeping 12,876 14,943
Overall 185,810 230,315

[Atko]

No scares in the end. The oppo made a solid enough start, 45 before the first wicket fell, but conditions plus a challenging total proved too much. Star bowler was our RFS, Ravanna (MoM), who bagged himself 5-34, taking out a couple of the top order and bullying the tail. Diablo (NBB) continues to struggle for wickets this season, but kept it incredibly tight with 1-12 off his ten (I mean, if they all bowled like that, who needs wickets?).

57 run win in the end. I noticed a couple of youngsters in Ffoh's lineup - a 24yo tucked down the order, just in for the xp, I guess. But the surprise was Bramble, a 24yo LFM who shone with 3-20 off 7.5 overs, including two of our top 3 batsmen . What can ya do?

Anyway, the numbers -

End of over 41 (maiden) - Ffoh(121-10). 58 runs required from 9 overs. RR 2.95 RRR 6.44
The Raging Speed Horns won by 57 runs

Match Ratings
The Raging Speed Horns Ffoh
Batting - Top Order 14,357 14,314
Batting - Middle Order 10,881 10,505
Batting - Tail 4,337 4,362
Bowling - Seam 14,151 (30) 13,430 (30)
Bowling - Spin 15,125 (20) 14,516 (20)
Fielding/Keeping 17,990 17,398
Overall 240,636 233,885

That should get the crowd back to enthusiastic after last weeks cup exit put a crimp in their mood.