Batsman friendly conditions at Teddington Town contrived to produce 548 runs for the loss of just 9 wickets, as the 1st XI were forced to settle for a draw.
With the late withdrawal of hamstring victim, Gerry Tennant, Wooburn opted to field (how we would rue that later). On a good pitch, Teddington made a steady start, watchful defence punctuated by the occasional boundary. Frank White probed while the returning golden-locked Smally, rampaged. Frank drew first blood, yorking Tamblinson with a beauty. Simmonds replaced him, and for a time it looked as though the tail had been exposed. Sadly, this was not the case.
Watchorn drove powerfully and reached 50 from 75-1. More runs looked certain to follow, when he tamely spooned a drive to cover. Pidge gratefully took the catch. The run rate increased with the arrival of Patel. Simmonds revealed his shot, a flashing cut behind point, while Patel made a rapid 29, before Frank broke through again. Dave Rogers taking a sharp catch at backward point.
Dark socks emerged from the pavilion, was this the start of the tail? No, not yet. Looks can be deceptive. Worth, a victim in Curtley\s famous over two years ago, proceeded to hammer the ball to all parts of their tiny ground, and on five occasions out of it. He amassed 95 from just 50 balls, in 15 overs spent at the wicket. A ferocious display. It wasn\t pretty, certainly not to us or possibly the purist, but it was mightily effective. One had to feel for Terry White when he was thrown the ball in the middle of this onslaught. No prisoners were being taken today.
The more experienced Patel added an equally effective 50, and Teddington passed 300 in the final over followed by a curious declaration with 3 balls to spare. A little over generous perhaps? The thinking was to deny the Narks the chance of another bowling point, a rather odd tactic in the second game of the season. Has league cricket really come to this, or are we naively missing a trick?
No matter, a target of 304 in 48 overs was an imposing one. It didn\t need a statto to point out that a club record run chase was required. We started badly, Angus falling early on, caught off the slow left-arm medium pace of Holt.
Dave Rogers and Ian Cuthbert got the innings moving with a 50 stand. The chip shop opened, while hampered by a side strain, Ian played pleasingly straight. One beautiful on-drive for four standing out. If only extra runs were given for style. Unfortunately, Worth was not finished, not quite. A brilliant catch removed Dave R., before Teddington\s talisman made haste for a wedding reception. If we had batted first, would he have been equally punctual? Perhaps not.
The runs continued to flow across the speedy outfield. Frank White, batteries recharged after his long spell, was in fine form, passing Ian\s score with a flurry of high class boundaries. Frank then fell disappointingly when in command, spooning a catch to mid wicket after hitting his boot. Ian had become becalmed, and frustration may have played a part in his dismissal. He was eventually bowled trying to play through mid wicket, but a better season lies ahead for the Wooburn legend.
Two new batsmen then, and 130 required from 15 overs, with the deer circling. It was a tall order, despite the conditions. The run rate slowed, and both teams now settled for the draw. The Narks reached 200, then a late surge took the total close to 250, Dave Pidgeon taking advantage of some occasional bowling to reach 49, Andy Tennant ending on 22. A useful net for our middle order men.
A frustrating game in many ways. A man short, a tame pitch, we hit fours while they hit sixes, and if only we had known about Worth\s social engagement that evening.
