31-07-2010 - Away - TVL - Yateley vs Finch

Faltering Finch in Yateley thriller

A Finch batting collapse to impress even the Pakistanis nearly snatched defeat for Finch on yet another dodgy wicket. At a sightscreenless Yateley 2^nd ground with bumpy outfield and with 4 enforced changes due to late drop-outs in the higher ranks, a wedding and a workshift, the Finch Cap’n/Vice brains trust still set the plan as “bowl ‘em out, knock ‘em off” after a rare toss-win.

On a new but uncovered wicket on a square in its first season, it was clear that batting would never be easy but gauged (correctly) to improve, assuming no further rain. Much horizontal bat swishing and the Finch attacking model of only 2 fielders in front of the bat gave every opportunity to Yateley batsmen initially ill-equipped to deal with the hostile and skilful bowling from openers Dylan and Liam but unable to get out (or unwilling to walk when out). Surprisingly, only 1 wicket fell in the opening 14-over allocation and the pressure switched to the back-up bowlers James Osler (playing under no parental duress whatsoever) and a rebuilt Simmo. The batters continued to ride their luck and clattered the too-regular bad balls to the boundaries either side of the wicket. Not until Simmo persuaded the young number 3 to hit straight into the safe hands of Neil Tinsley in the 24^th over did Finch manage to re-apply the earlier pressure. With Cap’n Bob bowling like a man unaccustomed to so doing for 5 weeks, it became a question of when not if Dylan should return. Meanwhile, Cap’n Bob called up Kanki Kaneria in place of Simmo, meaning we missed out on a repeat of the “Kanki and Clanky” double act of earlier games. Kanki showed what mayhem a good leg-spinner can cause, when he added wickets to pressure, clearing the way for Dylan to eventually oust the reluctant opener for an unapplauded 50.  With Liam recalled to the attack, Finch closed out the inning by 4.15. Dylan’s commendable figures of 5-21 from 14 justly reflected his performance and an unlucky Liam ended with  2-38. James and Simmo with 1 apiece and Kanki with 2 completed the innings.

The long trek to the main clubhouse was rewarded by a surprisingly good tea, highlighted by chicken drumsticks, but ultimately disappointed due to poor-quality brown, warm liquid.

Another good start by openers Lay and Osler, who put on 47, made Yateley look like a team with few tricks, however this was no ordinary wicket. Matt spanked anything short boundary-wards, Cap’n Bob rotated the strike with ease and no little skill. However, an unplayable (with a horizontal bat) shooter unluckily put paid to Matt for 31 but brought hot prospect Billie Beswick to the crease. Admirable straight-bat defence on this difficult track understandably slowed the scoreboard but impressive glances and gap-finding pushes kept the scoreboard moving to 70. Cap’n Bob was fingered by umpire Metcalf, again the dreaded shooter causing the damage. Billie was joined by a promoted Ramskis and continued confidently to an outstanding 50 on a difficult track, thanks to some indifferent bowling and fielding. Yatelet confidence ebbed as both he and Ramskir moved reasonably serenely onwards, putting on 80 to reach 158, only 14 short of the target. With pulls, cuts and drives, punctuated with luckily avoiding the inevitable unplayable deliveries on this unpleasant track surely nothing could stop the Finch boys from another win ? Er, not quite. With the Yateley captain bowling mighty slingers from the road-end, again an unjust shooter took a wicket, this time Billie the unlucky recipient, out for a superb 54. With Neil only lasting 2 balls, sent back by the Yateley captain to find a front foot, Paul Clayton, another welcome guest, came to the wicket. Ramskir the senior pro, veteran of many a successful run chase, etc., etc., was batting confidently, so the inevitable half-tracker should have been sent flying to the boundary, as had been the case several times previously. However, the variable bounce  caused a dreaded cue-ender and an easy return catch for the bowler. Still, no problem with the likes of Augustus, Osler, Simmonite, Matthews and Kanki to come, surely ? The famous Finch collapse then took a more serious grip, meaning a further 4 wickets fell for only 9 runs – Dylan to a leading edge (Canus not impressed !) for a rare duck,  James stumped/runout for 2 whilst gardening, Simmo drilling hard to  mid-on and Liam trying to hit the ball to Blackwater the mayhem continued whilst a jubilant Yateley crowded ever closer to each successive batter. Ultimately, this meant it was Kanki time - but where was he ? We had to quickly dress him up as a cricketer again following his shower and cool dude transformation.

Would he see the ball through those shades ? Would he show us the famous Kanki “leave” – fortunately not, but it was close. With only 3 to win and Yately fielders almost standing on him, Paul Clayton magnificently drove through the covers ofr an all-run 3, understood to be the furthest Kanki has ever run with pads on. This gave Finch the extra 12 points and kept the season alive.

So, Finch again prove inability to bat consistently well on rubbish tracks having comprehensively outclassed the opposition. On a positive note the the collective 160 runs by the scoring quartet of Lay, Osler, Beswick and Ramskir showed that Finch is not wholly dependent on bowling success – Phew !

 

Statistics

Finchampstead won the toss and elected to field
Result	Win
Umpires	P Metcalf & A Player
Scorers	We wish
Score
Finchampstead CC Scored 172 for 9 in 50
Yateley Scored 171 for 10 in 47

Player Performance - Batsmen

Player	How out	Runs	Catch	Stump
Bob Osler	LBW	13	0	0
Matt Lay	Caught	31	3	0
Kevin Ramskir	Caught	34	1	0
Dylan Augustus	Caught	0	0	0
Liam Matthews	Bowled	0	1	0
James Osler	Run Out	2	0	0
Kanki Sehmi	Not Out	0	0	0
Michael Simmonite	Caught	0	0	0

Player Performance - Bowlers

Player	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Bob Osler	2	0	16	0
Dylan Augustus	14	6	21	5
Liam Matthews	8	0	32	2
James Osler	7	0	23	0
Kanki Sehmi	5	1	26	2
Michael Simmonite	18	0	37	1