England League and Cup Discussion

[Atko]

All's well that ends well -

End of over 35 (5 runs) - The Raging Speed Horns(128-5) RR 3.66
S. Ravana 7 (17b), W. Fadington 42 (65b), C. Lillie (rws) 7.4-1-19-0

Result: The Raging Speed Horns won by 5 wickets

Fadington brings it home with a bucket of overs and wickets to spare.

Big shout out for new boy Saxon, with a very tidy 3-17 from his eight overs - definitely earned his place today

That win pops us back on top by 4 points - but possibly only temporarily. Egham Town look like they may get pipped by Ffoh (fingers crossed!), who are closing in on a target of 217 with 8 wickets still to fall, but chickens, hatching and all that...

Numbers -

Match Ratings
The Raging Speed Horns Inchigeela Angels
Batting - Top Order 15,043 15,163
Batting - Middle Order 10,601 12,352
Batting - Tail 4,461 5,471
Bowling - Seam 14,232 (40) 13,751 (40)
Bowling - Spin 14,508 (10) 15,418 (10)
Fielding/Keeping 18,211 17,256
Overall 242,033 248,669

[spark]

Ruff Royals Goondiwindi
Batting - Top Order 14,933 12,946
Batting - Middle Order 12,064 12,446
Batting - Tail 4,902 5,563
Bowling - Seam 13,697 (20) 14,440 (20)
Bowling - Spin 13,379 (30) 13,191 (30)
Fielding/Keeping 17,951 16,559
Overall 244,083 236,388

Goondiwindi won by 3 wickets

I guess there wasn't too much in it but that collapse cost us big time. My spinners weren't great with my worst skilled one doing the best. Patterson was very poor and he really needs to up his One Day game. On the positive side, Zondeki was pretty good with the ball and outperformed his more senior strike partner.

That results leaves us in 3rd and 4 points off the top.

[casperj]

Snakey's Kent Stars Crestfallen Sidekicks
Batting - Top Order 14,529 13,869
Batting - Middle Order 12,974 12,228
Batting - Tail 6,414 6,010
Bowling - Seam 12,873 (30) 13,003 (40)
Bowling - Spin 14,662 (20) 13,854 (10)
Fielding/Keeping 16,995 16,086
Overall 248,182 236,543

Crestfallen Sidekicks won by 85 runs

Can't remember the last time I won a senior match whilst surrendering >10k in ratings. Strange match. Humid/Even and we batted well but didn't accelerate.Meaning that I suspected the 324/4 we got wouldnt be enough. However my FMs took 3 quick wickets and they never fully recovered.

Having lost the first 3 matches, We've won the next 3. A win against bottom placed Bedfordshire Jats next week might even move us into Prize money contention given that the teams around us are playing each other.

<Edit> The difference appears to be that their 70k rated medium pacer went for 91 (but took 2 wickets). Possibly they were on attacking orders?

[Atko]

Chesney Champions vs The Raging Speed Horns
Cup Matt Krevs Memorial Cup

Weather Humid
Pitch Dry

Big Match Day as we travel to Ireland to take on Chesney Champions in the MKMC. Chezza has picked a dry pitch, although humid conditions have somewhat neutralized its spin-friendliness. I'm still packing a couple of finger spinners along with the usual seam suspects. Big old stadium this, with 28,000 packed in, it means a nice payday too

So far -

C. Pert (rws) 1-0-8-0, H. Charlton 15 (30b), J. Shalidor 26 (30b)
End of over 12 (8 runs) - The Raging Speed Horns(56-1) RR 4.67

Very steady start - these two are on defensive, so they may stick around - Labyrinth wasn't, and didn't last p###ing time

Hoping for something around 250-270-ish.

EDIT : Meant to say the oppo won the toss and put us in, which isn't what I would have preferred

[Atko]

We almost made it to drinks for the loss of just the one more wicket, but alas, in the 24th over, Charlton, after a good stonewalling effort, joined Shalidor and Labyrinth back in the shed.

C. Pert (rws) 6-0-34-0, W. Fadington 19 (20b), J. Cruse 0 (6b)
End of over 25 (1 run) - The Raging Speed Horns(114-3) RR 4.56

Moderately pleased so far, but I'd say it's delicately poised - a solid partnership now can push us on from a good base, although a couple of quick wickets will sink us. Ah, the joys of cricket!

[Atko]

Okay, what's amusing me here is Wolf Fadington's complete disregard for farming the strike - admittedly Ravana and Baldwin can bat a bit, but the Wolfman is hanging 'em out to dry at any and every opportunity

Still, they've kept the board ticking over - uh-oh, as I type we've lost a couple of quick ones to stand at 177-8. Surely he'll farm the strike now?

Nope -

41.2 1 Niebeling to Fadington : [misfield] Carrington thunders onto the ball to stop the single and rips it into Blurton. Unfortunately the ball is a good 3 metres wide of the stumps and the batsmen stroll through for an overthrow.

[Atko]

It all ended rather quickly and feebly -

End of over 45 (1 run) - The Raging Speed Horns(193-10) RR 4.29

The oppo's wristies did the majority of the damage with six wickets between them. That Astra Zeneca fella is op; think he should be tested for drugs (I'll get me coat).

Well, barring a bowling effort for the ages, there's no way we'll defend 193 - we just don't have the ammo. All hopes rest with Speed (LF) and the finger spinners getting lucky. I imagine our medium pacers are gonna get slaughtered.

[Atko]

A couple of consolation wickets towards the end, but the result was never in doubt as the oppo cruised to victory with overs and wickets to spare. Oddly enough, of my guys, it was the medium pacers who were the better bowlers, taking the four wickets that fell; what can ya do?

Final result -

Chesney Champions won by 6 wickets

The numbers -

Match Ratings
Chesney Champions The Raging Speed Horns
Batting - Top Order 15,046 14,506
Batting - Middle Order 14,356 10,570
Batting - Tail 7,996 4,262
Bowling - Seam 13,869 (20) 14,186 (30)
Bowling - Spin 15,362 (30) 14,630 (20)
Fielding/Keeping 17,960 17,716
Overall 269,301 238,058

Good luck to Chezza and his crew for the rest of the competition - that's a frighteningly strong team he's got there.

Now we need to focus on bagging a league title ...

[spark]

D. Buck (rfm) 4-0-24-4, G. Gunn 1 (1b), D. Shaffer 0 (0b)
End of over 20 (8 runs) - Ffoh(143-7) RR 7.15

It was looking really bad at one stage but 3 wickets in a Buck over (1 was a run out) helped restrict them. It's still a challenging total on an uneven pitch but we've given ourselves a chance. Buck's 4-24 was the best figures.

[spark]

Ruff Royals Ffoh
Batting - Top Order 7,523 7,199
Batting - Middle Order 5,011 6,267
Batting - Tail 3,582 4,104
Bowling - Seam 6,269 (16) 8,046 (12)
Bowling - Spin 8,638 (4) 8,035 (8)
Fielding/Keeping 8,610 8,317
Overall 120,424 131,342

Ruff Royals won by 7 wickets

56 from Vinson and 52 from Howe meant we got the win with just over a couple of overs to spare. Howe was run out going for the winning run when there was no need to rush. As mentioned earlier, Buck 4-24 was key to keeping them down to a reasonable total.

We're one of 4 teams level on points at the top so we're now well clear of relegation which was the main aim for this season.

[Atko]

Fiery's XI vs The Raging Speed Horns
League Youth Twenty20 2.2

Weather Sunny
Pitch Slow

Facing 2nd placed Fiery's XI today in their back yard. Slow suits our bowlers down to the ground, that coupled with our ever-increasing strength over the last few weeks (we've gone from Crud ---> mediocre ----> reasonable since the end of last season) gave me some hope for a result. The oppo did win the toss though, and plonked us in to bat. This week I just went with normal across the board (although I was gambling on us bowling first with that decision!). Not to worry, the guys seemed to have eaten their weetabix, and set about posting a good total with the minimum of fuss. We ended our twenty overs on 168-3 - we're still carrying a couple of passengers in our bowling attack, so this total was much needed.

The oppo got off to a sparkling start, making 50 for no loss off the first seven overs, but then on came my wristies, going about their business like a couple of assassins; three overs later the score was 65-4, and after that, the runs pressure just kept mounting. The oppo made a valiant effort, but fell 26 runs short at 140-7.

A good result, plus, we finally got to upgrade our academy this morning to luxurious, making it a most satisfying start to the week

The numbers -

Match Ratings
Fiery's XI The Raging Speed Horns
Batting - Top Order 5,653 5,948
Batting - Middle Order 5,055 6,127
Batting - Tail 3,371 3,982
Bowling - Seam 6,949 (12) 6,221 (6)
Bowling - Spin 6,704 (8) 7,157 (14)
Fielding/Keeping 6,156 8,393
Overall 105,675 119,808

Fiery's XI's ratings have dropped precipitously in the last couple of weeks - I've not done the research ('cos, T20 ), but I'm guessing he's going through the same pain my lot did a couple of seasons ago with multiple promotions to seniors).

[wolfberries]

wolfberries Oxhey Players
Batting - Top Order 7,783 6,778
Batting - Middle Order 5,405 5,788
Batting - Tail 3,025 3,520
Bowling - Seam 7,058 (6) 6,479 (12)
Bowling - Spin 7,268 (14) 7,854 (8)
Fielding/Keeping 9,071 7,349
Overall 125,070 118,021

Result: wolfberries won by 2 wickets

Despite losing wickets late on we managed to beat top spot, we are currently two points behind top but to be honest second place would be perfect for us to end up.

[Atko]

More T20 shenanigans today -

Vivi vs The Raging Speed Horns
League Twenty20 3.3

Weather Cloudy
Pitch Sticky

The 2nd XI visit Vivi today. They also like to play on sticky, so my lads will feel right at home. We're second from bottom with 4 points; Vivi are one spot above us, so quite a bit riding on this one. The oppo won the toss and popped us in to bat. Thusfar -

End of over 10 (2 runs) - The Raging Speed Horns(67-2) RR 6.70

I dunno if that's good or bad

[spark]

J. Westerveld (rfs) 4-0-42-0, L. Luxford 5 (3b), M. Tekere 22 (11b)
End of over 20 (13 runs) - Trevor Francis Tracksuit(174-5) RR 8.70

It's an even pitch so I don't know it that score is good or bad either. I suspect they're better than us so I'd definitely edge towards saying it's bad.

3-28 for Mwai was good as was Combs' 2-21.

[Atko]

We got to 148-2 after our twenty, then skittled the opposition for 74. Big shout out to Alex Applebee, who took 5-13 including a hattrick. That fellow has always been a bridesmaid-never-the-bride sort, being an RM, living in the shadow of Dominic Diablo (RM, NBB, Nat) doesn't help either. He occasionally gets first team time when the nationals are away, but generally performs in the reserves, good solid sort. Saxon (RF) did his usual thing scooping up 3-18.

Result : The Raging Speed Horns won by 74 runs

Match Ratings
Vivi The Raging Speed Horns
Batting - Top Order 11,048 11,385
Batting - Middle Order 7,453 8,154
Batting - Tail 5,106 5,885
Bowling - Seam 8,916 (16) 11,165 (16)
Bowling - Spin 12,289 (4) 10,859 (4)
Fielding/Keeping 12,113 15,293
Overall 173,613 197,214

Dunno if that'll get us out of the drop zone, but it's better than a poke in the eye.