After an unpromising morning of rain and cloud, the forecast proved accurate and the game was on, with a surprisingly dry and hard track.
Skipper Dancer lost the toss (nothing new there) and Ivanhoe were batting in a 40 over encounter.
Suddenly with Evan and Parnell P departing for ducks Ivanhoe were 5-2 after 3 overs. Unplayable opening bowlers? Not according to new man in, Parnell R, who hit the next few balls straight to the boundary destroying figures and confidence of the bowlers. With 67 scored for the 3rd wicket, Parnell R was caught for 43 and Bamville breathed a sigh of relief. The 4th wicket also brought up 67 runs with Raj negotiating some early difficulties to score 42, in an increasingly dominating innings. Again relief for Bamville, at 139 -4 with a high run rate chalked up. As Collins dried up in the 40s the pace of the innings slowed but progress was maintained with everyone contributing. Collins scored a lucky 5 to bring up his 50 and, to the surprise of some, scored a maximum, finishing on 67. Dancer raised the rate at the end with some well struck boundaries, reaching 22*.
218 all out with a few balls unused – enough?
The usual excellent Bamville tea followed and Ives rolled out ready to win. Bamville had other ideas and had obviously been watching the recent internationals. They set off at 8+ an over rivalling R Parnell’s rate. Rarely has Hausler been so expensive and treated with such contempt! He was not alone. The 1st wicket was a long time – too long- coming. Dropped catches and missed half chances were the story, and eventually the result was dictated by the Bamville opener from Stoke on Trent. He liked to chat and hit boundaries even more, scoring well over 100—if caught earlier????
Nevertheless the wickets began, and tumbled regularly , helped by an amazing catch from Kenchington and a spectacular direct hit run out from Parnell R- pity the regulation catches went down! Entering the last 3 overs, ahead of the run rate, Bamville lost their 9th wicket.. but, unlike a Thai massage, it was not to be a happy ending, despite some excellent bowling at the death by Parnell Matt 5-0-20-0 and Evans reliving the more supple times with 3.1-1-8-1.
So a 1 wicket defeat , but a great game, as always with Bamville – what a fantastic setting and hospitable club.
Man of the Match – Bamville opener– sorry guys.. he dictated the result and we should have won this one!