May 2015

On a dry and sunny morning it was a surprise when with an hour to go to the start it started to rain.  After a delayed start the game was reduced to 35 overs, with Adrian continuing his losing run with the toss, and the oppo electing to field.

The Ives innings didn’t get off to the greatest start and with 4 wickets falling for just 24, and with 10 overs gone it didn’t look like the Ives would get to the their desired goal.  Then first  Phil K (17) and then Saqib and Phil P  went into bat and with a hard working display Phil (35) and Saqib put on a partnership of 63 before Phil was caught off of the bowling of Connor. Another wicket fell quickly after that with Adrian departing for 1, but  another battling display from Ciaran (21no) in partnership with Saqib (43no) put on 42 as the Ives inning came to a close on 142 for 6.

Mayfield’s innings mirrored Ives with wickets falling in quick succession from the bowling of Adrian and Andy H. Andy H as ever keeping the economy rate low while taking wickets finishing his spell on 7-2-22-3. Then Bowden came in to bat adding runs for the oppo, scoring quickly before being run out by Richard for 36. With the introduction of the new bowlers the game was finely poised with Mayfield on the desired run rate but the Ives taking wickets.   Richard (4.5-2-25-3)  and Ciaran came on to bowl with Richard starting his spell with a maiden  before  struggling with  his footing on a slippery surface in the middle of his spell, before taking 2 the final 2 wickets.  While Rich was struggling with his footing ,Ciaran (3-1-3-2) bowled his best session of the season  taking 2 wickets including a  catch by Denis who  ‘didn’t see the ball until it was 2 feet in front of me’.Other catches went to Ciaran (2) and Earle (1)  ThevMayfeild Innings came to an end on 85 all out and another great victory for the Ives bringing this season to played 6, won 3 lost 3.

Man of the Match – Saqib

Lovely venue, Friendly crowd. That seemed to be the prognosis.

We turned up with 12 players, and donated 2 to their cause resulting in a 10 v 10 match.

Ivanhoe batted first, New player Andy hit 14, Adrian 23, and Richard high scored with 39 with a couple of
others (Andrew 16, Saqib 17) in the teens. Disappointing.. a larger score was to be had and we ended up with
only 132 on a pitch that offered much more.

Bentlley Heath batted and got the runs for the loss of 7 wickets despite some tight bowling from Andrew and some
good wickets from Adrian(2) and Richard(2). At times it seemed quite close, and despite our donated team mates throwing themselves
on their swords when batting for the Oppo (0 and 1? I think) we simply did not have enough runs on the board.

The Boddingtons tasted fine though and we soon cleared out their Fridge.

The skipper having lost the toss for the 4^th time this season Ives were put in to bat on  a green early season wicket. Den and Malcolm opened and after a slow start both departed with the score on 24 to be quickly followed by Phil K and Richard with only 55 on the board.  A small recovery with Bob digging in for the long term followed but at 82 for 5 a score of 150 looked the best that could be hoped for. Enter the fray to join Bob came Ali in his first game to plunder a quick fire 21 but with his and Saqib ‘s departure, at 114 for 7,  a big score still looked long odds.  But with Bob still there he was joined by Ciaran in an entertaining 8th wicket stand of 78 that took the score to 192 before both fell,  Bob for 72 and Ciaran for 34, and with overs running out a final total of 199 all out which had seemed unlikely an hour earlier.

After tea Andy H and Adrian opened and kept the Arkley scoring in check (aided by some outstanding fielding from Phil K) whilst taking valuable wickets early on in spells of 1 for 22 in 11 overs from Andy and  2 for 32 in 11 from Adrian with catches for Matthew and Malcolm. With the final 20 overs coming up it was the turn of Ciaran and Richard to take over and with further catches for Adrian and Bob, both took wickets in their first over to eventually reduce Arkley from 59 for 3 to 91 all out with10 overs remaining, Ciaran taking 4 for 17 in 6 overs and Richard 3 for 17 in 7.1 overs and a fine win for the Ives.

Man of the Match – Ciaran