Match Scorecard

Match Report

Wokingham pitch shocker

Wooburn 2nds travelled to Wokingham in high hopes of a successful start to the season. Their hopes were dashed before the game had started. The Bigshotte Park wicket being the cause for concern with some large ‘Savoy’ cabbage weeds growing in abundance. Probably the worst wicket seen in Thames Valley cricket by a Wooburn side. Difficult to imagine that Wokingham 3rds will possibly play here for all of their home matches. A great leveller one might say.

Wooburn lost the toss and were put in. Steady progress was made and at 42-2 Wooburn players in the dressing room were thinking that a score of 100 could easily be a winning total. Derek Milsom scored a fantastic eleven worth a standing ovation. Adam Chivers starred with an incredible twenty runs including 3 consecutive fours - all mighty blows over mid wicket. The wobbled happened. 42-2 quickly became 61 for 6 leading to 61 all out in just 25.2 overs. Bowl straight on this wicket and you could take wickets all day, and that’s just what Milne and Fisher did. All 10 wickets between the youngsters.

Wooburn still felt they could win this game. The ball had been leaping, running along the ground, helmets had been struck, even ‘leg cutters’ going at right angles. Phil Cuthbert steamed in from the top end, perhaps annoyed at being trapped in front earlier to a ‘grasscutter’.

After several maiden overs he had his reward trapping Bacon in line. Anderson and Evans stayed around and tried to work the ball through the gaps over long on. Cuthbert then struck again, cartwheeling Anderson’s middle stump. Fisher then joined Evans and together saw Wokingham home, not without playing and missing on numerous occasions and Evans being roughed up by Cuthbert. Game over by 4.30pm.

No complaints can be made, Wokingham played the better cricket in all aspects. HOWEVER, this could be termed a win for the pitch. It will be interesting to see the Wokingham home results for the rest of the season. The toss here will definitely be the deciding factor.



Curtley

Wooburn Narkovians correspondent