Records galore but no result
The history of games against Albamorphics has always followed a similar pattern and this was no exception. The formula of being asked to bat first, running up a good score and then struggling to bowl out the opposition on a flat wicket while they block out for a draw, was followed to a tee, although some minor excitement was created towards the end as their last pair hung on for the last 8 overs. The game was made interesting, however, by some fine individual performances and two club records.
Jordan Dyer and Ed Fernandes put on just over a 100 for the first wicket with Ed very much the aggressor in making a fine 68 in a welcome return to form, before he was very well held on the long on boundary. James Mann was disconsolate in making only 8 before being bowled by a good one, which brought Nick to the crease to join Jordan. These two then compiled the highest partnership in the club's history, of 185, and in so doing each completed undefeated centuries in differing ways. Jordan, having opened the innings, batted right through for 108no, a very mature innings, particularly noteworthy for some fine drives down the ground and he was the glue that allowed his partners to hit out with abandon. This is not to suggest that his innings was slow. Far from it as his century came from 97 balls which is a very good rate at any time.
Nick took an altogether different route in an extraordinary innings of raw power, smiting the ball to all corners but particularly straight and over square leg and his century came up in 47 balls and included 13 sixes, of which 5 came in one over and with 3 fours, 90 of his runs came in boundaries. This is believed to be the fastest century in the Clubs history eclipsing Alex Cudworth's mark of 60 balls set earlier this season. This mayhem was such that I was presented with a quandary in as much that I had intended to declare on 250 but at this point, Jordy had reached 95 and Nick had accelerated to somewhere in the region of 80. I did not feel sufficiently ruthless as to declare on either short of their 100 and so the declaration came at 305 for 2 after only 33 overs.
A fired up James Mann and Toby opened our attack and both bowled with pace to a very aggressive field. This paid dividends when Dean Holder held on to a fast edge low to his right at 3rd slip off james but despite plenty of alarms, we were not able to take another wicket for quite some time. The introduction of Ian paid off and he induced a catch behind, well taken by Chris Turvill and then he steadily worked his way through to pick up 5 wickets, the first time anyone has achieved this feat this season at Sendholme. One of these was a fine reaction catch over his head by Jordy in the gully.
Ed also bowled a fine spell but could only come away with one wicket taken by Nick at slip. The last pair at the wicket were obdurate, however, so after Toby and James had had another short spell, Ed and Nick, both bowling leg spin, were re introduced. Nick induced two edges which fell short but Ed passed the bat and Chris Turvill completed a superb stumping which, inexplicably, was refused by the umpire. Even the opposition in the clubhouse agreed it was out by some distance - but one has to accept these things and so the game ended in a very one sided draw.
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Addendum
have just realised that I made an unforgivable error in my report last week in asserting that Ian had been the only person to take a 5 wicket haul this year at Sendholme. In fact Alex has achieved the feat on two occasions, once against the Presidents XI and again only two weeks ago against Kensington & Chelsea. My apologies to Alex.