Outcasts' Honour In Defeat

Outcasts v Rammy Traders

At Winton CC

Tuesday, 13th June

Rammy Traders 141 off 20 Overs

Outcasts 114 off 20 Overs

Rammy Traders Won By 27 Runs

Paul Lucas gets a 'nearly' hat-trick - Raging Bull's Champagne Moment - Colin achieves partial redemption - Outcasts welcome back old friend and colleague Tony T. - David Walsh hits 71 not out - Ted Noone reaches his 1,000 runs for the club

Outcasts won the toss and decided to insert Rammy Traders, who were playing their first game in this fixture at Outcasts' home ground at Winton. Batting at number 8 for the visitors, Outcasts welcomed back old friend and colleague Tony Threlfall who was turning out for the opposition on this occasion. Kenyon and Dickinson opened for the visitors and it soon became clear that Outcasts had a fight on their hands against a team fielding a handful of regular club cricketers. Despite the best efforts of the Outcasts' attack, Rammy openers both glided serenely to their self- allotted 25 retirement target, and with the visitors on 74-0 off the first 9 overs, things were looking distinctly ominous for the embattled hosts. It was to their considerable credit, though, that they never let their heads drop. Chris Truesdale achieved creditable figures of 23-3 off his four overs, and Scott and newcomer Paul Lucas also chipped in with 2 wickets apiece. Paul took two wickets with the 5th and 6th balls of his third over, and missed his hat-trick off the first ball of his last over by the narrowest of margins, the ball squirting past the bat and shaving the stumps without dislodging the bails.

Outcasts bowlers were assisted by some decent fielding, too, and although a few hard chances went down, Colin partially redeemed himself for aberrations earlier in the season by pouching a skier that took several hours to come down, and Nick also took a fine catch in the outfield. They were both outshone, though, by Paul Mooney, who took a magnificent running catch over his right shoulder at deep long on, the first candidate this season for a Champagne Moment. There were useful contributions lower down the order from Marcroft, Hayes and Rothwell for the Traders, and their final total of 141-8 off 20 overs was always going to be a stern test for an Outcasts side whose batting has too often let the side down.

Steve Potter and Nick Thompson opened the batting for Outcasts knowing that they had to step on the gas if they were to get anywhere near the 7 runs an over needed to match their target. Sadly, Nick soon departed, bowled by Hayes, which brought a determined David Walsh to the crease. Steve and David started to make inroads into bowling that the Traders were sharing around - each player taking two overs each. At 57-1 off the first 9 overs Outcasts were not that far behind the overall asking rate (though well down on the visitors' score at the same stage of their innings). Steve fell eventually for 20 with the score on 85, and David was joined at the crease by Ted Noone, seeking just one run to notch his 1,000th for the club. After several false starts and a few hesitations, Ted finally achieved his milestone to wild acclaim from colleagues in the pavilion. Well done, that man!

David Walsh finally retired, undefeated, for a very impressive 71 runs, that contained two 6s and no less than nine 4s, leaving Derek and Paul Mooney to see out the last few balls. Outcasts finished on 114-3 off their 20 overs, a total that would have been very competitive in most other games they've played this season. Traders spread the bowling around, with Kenyon, Hayes and Rothwell being the three wicket-takers.

After the game both sides enjoyed a pizza supper by kind order of Andy Broadhurst, with the delivery this week being on time!

Next match for Outcasts, seeking to break their losing streak, is against Albion at Astley Bridge on the 21st June.

MOTM: David Walsh for a splendid, undefeated 71 runs

Champagne Moment: Paul 'Raging Bull' Mooney for a stunning catch in the deep.

cw

15 June 2017