OSAmag80

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 0
Tony Pigden 3 milliseconds from completing his innings!
Whilst our double bowling change - introducing Robin Baker
and Jack Cox - did not pay immediate dividends in term of
wickets, they conceded just seventeen runs in their first eight
overs, to slow the Epping score rate. Then, yet again, we took two
wickets within five balls - one caught by Jack off Robin, the
second bowled by Jack - and Epping were 116 for 6.
After a couple of 'lusty blows' by the Epping number eight, Sam
Easton, we wrapped up the innings in the space of fifteen balls,
as Epping collapsed from 134 for 6 to 139 all out. Both Jack
(2-31) and Robin (4-32) bowled superbly and Tony Pigden took
his second gulley catch to take the tenth wicket - although this
time he looked very comfortable and not at all shocked!!
After the obligatory teatime team photo, during which a number
of 'offers' to open the batting were declined, Geoff Blackmore
and Tony Pigden opened the OSA President's XI innings.
Whilst Geoff played their opening bowler with a straight bat,
Tony was bowled in the third over, having commented that "...
he chucks it...". After the game cricketing 'aficionados' Steve
Young and Tony Hemmings confirmed Tony's suspicions, but
how neither umpire even considered it a possibility, remains
unknown!!
Despite not seeing the 'suspect' action, Geoff can now only
conclude that it accounts for the reason he managed not to see
three full-tosses - the last of which hit him in the ribs as he
advanced down the pitch towards the bowler!! This prompted
Geoff's bat to be thrown and telling the opposing keeper, that
whilst the keeper thought it was accidental, given the control the
bowler had shown in the previous five or six overs, had Geoff
been umpiring in a League game, he would have removed the
bowler from the attack immediately, as he deemed it to be
deliberate.
Even though they were encouraged by the captain to remain
with him at the crease until the commencement of the last hour,
both Terry White (5) and Richard Slatford (4) were adjudged
lbw, and when Ben Cox was bowled first ball, the OSA
President's XI were 'in a hole' at 30 for 4. Whilst Jack Cox (7)
looked comfortable for five or six overs, when he and Ross
Blackmore (6) were bowled in the same over, we started the last
hour at 56 for 6, with Sam Rashid, their First XI bowler, having
taken five of the six wickets in an unchanged spell.
Despite the OSA President's XI still needing eighty-four runs
off the last twenty overs - with just four wickets in hand -
Epping CC were in no mood to loosen their grip on the game
with further bowling changes, until Geoff Blackmore dragged
the ball on to his stumps - off the aforementioned Rashid - for
Roger Melling’s Old Stationers’ President’s XI for the 42nd Fixture
Back Row (L>R): Dick Hersey (Umpire), Ben Cox, Neil Jervis, Ross Blackmore, Jack Cox, Richard Slatford, Bob Cole (Umpire).
Front Row (L>R): Tony Pigden, Robin Baker, Don Bewick, Roger Melling (President), Geoff Blackmore (Captain), Tim Westbrook, Terry White.
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