Captains Report ( Marress v The Alps)

The game had all the makings of whoever won would be very strongly fancied to be promoted.

Unfortunately for the Marress team they were without at least 5 regular players due to several reasons and this meant that the Captain was looking in every phone book he had in his dungeon to try and find 11 players. Sadly by the time the match was due to start the captain could only muster up 10 players, one of whom had to start work at 5.00pm.

With this in mind the toss was probably the most crucial toss of the season and just when you need to win it lady luck deserts you and you've guessed it we lost the toss and were put into bat.

Mike Ingram knew that it would take all the resiliance of the major player within the team to produce their very highest standards to enable the Marress men to compete.

Mike and Gary McMeeking opened the batting and both batsmen were looking fairly comfortable, when Gary lost his discipline and tried to go for a big slog and was cleaned bowled.
This introduced David Ingram and Mike immediately went to david and asked for a controlled and disciplined effort.
Both players set about building an innings and David was showing great maturity in his batting and was relishing the challenge.
The score had progressed to 70/2 and the Marress men were well on top and cruising towards highest batting score for over 2 seasons. It was here that a bad batting mistake by Mike was made and he was caught by gully on 46. In reflection mike knew this was a day that he should have made 100+ but it wasn't to be.
This left David on 16 and introduced the ODM(One Dimensional Man)Derek Park(aka the squirrel). Derek did not waste much time in confirming his title as within 2 deliveries the opposition had 6 players awaiting his booming shot on the leg side boundary. it was a joy to watch as Derek unleashed his cannonball shots at the oppostion and he quickly moved onto 17, this included yet another massive 6. Sadly the one certainty with Derek is he will either by caught on the boundary or bowled and he was caught on this occasion.
The score had moved onto 94/3 and under normal circumstances this would have been a very good start but we always knew that the tail began at number 5 and we quickly lost Josh Taylor(King Duck). Ram Yerra came to the crease next and built a partnership with David worth 49 runs until Ram was dismissed LBW for 9. This left the score on 148/5 and James cooney was quickly in and out for 1 run.
This left David on 25 runs and the propostion of all the remaining batsmen had never even played before never mind bat.
David knew he would have to try and dominate when he had the chance and also protect the other batsmen when needed ( HOG THE STRIKE).
With the introduction of Ally Mitchell (debutant player) both he and David managed to hang around and David slowly dominated the bowlers with some classical shots and some inventive ones. The game was running out of overs and David was edging(literally) closer to his maiden fifty. With 3 over to go David required 9 runs, he eventually got down to needing 4 off the last over. First ball was fielded and the nerves were showing, was David going to miss out on this big opportunity. He then managed to get 2 off the third delivery and had 3 more balls to get that illusive first 50.
On the forth ball he tried to hit it out of the ground, but it went high into the air and was heading straight at the oppositons Captain, the batsmen set off for the runs and David knew that if it was dropped he would be able to come back for a second run and get his 50. Luck was obviously on Davids side as the oppos Captain dropped it and the 50 was Davids (Congratulations).
The Marress team finished on 172 for 5 and went into tea knowing that only a fantastic fielding display would prevent the opposition from reaching this total.

The game resumed with Marress taking the field with only 9 players and 3 regular bowlers. The Captain made the breakthrough early and had their opener back in the pavillion for 5 runs. Sadly this was the only break they got for a long time and the Alps were slowly well up to the run rate due to the lack of fielders. James Cooney came onto bowl after 12 over and between Mike, David and James they got through the first 20 overs, but still with the one wicket only.
Mike decided that something had to change so he introduced young Josh Taylor to deliver some of his off turns. The field was all put back to the boundary with the expectation of big shots, only for Josh to clean bowl their opener first ball, 4 balls later Josh got an edge of the bat and Ram Yerra made a great lunging catch and within the space of 1 over the Alps had gone from 80 for 1 to 80 for 3. Was the tide changing????
Next over and David cleaned bowled batsmen no.4 and they were 80 for 4. The team was bouyant and optomistic.
Sadly that was to be the last wicket taken as the next Alps batsmen steered their team to victory with a stand of 93.

Although the Marress team was defeated, a lot of encouragement was taken from this game and considering the team that was put on the field, it was a fantastic achievment.

Next week we should have all the regulars back and it will be a tough decision for the captain in his team selection.

Well done

Mike

Stats

Marres
Batting Figures

1. M.Ingram 46
2. G.McMeeking 7
3. D.Ingram 50 not out
4. D.Park 17
5. J.Taylor 0
6. R.Yerra 9
7. J.Cooney 1
8. A Mitchell 3 not out

extras 38

Total 172 for 5

Bowling Figures

M.Ingram 12 - 2- 36 -1
D.Ingram 13 - 0 -52 -1
J.Cooney 11 - 0 -55 -0
J.Taylor 4 - 0 -21 -2
D.Park 0.4 - 0 -7 - 0