Armadillos CC

Match Report

‘Sodden’ was the word used by players on arrival at picturesque Sheffield Park.  Due to the rain in the week leading up to the game, the Armadillos ground staff were working overtime to ensure the game could proceed.  Thankfully, the temperature was warm, and the sun came out as the two captains met for the toss.  Jasper, skippering the game in place of brother Al, won the toss and decided to get some runs on the board early. George B-W and Will Fenwick started watchfully against a good Armadillos bowling attack.  It seemed hard going in the middle and whilst George and Will were trying to pick up the run rate with some quick singles, Will (15) was run out by the ever-enthusiastic Charlie Kingsman who was playing for the opposition (not sure that his transfer request had been approved). Drinks were taken with the Straggs 55-1 from 16 overs.  With Patch Mitchell out the very next ball to a test match quality delivery and a stunning catch behind the stumps, the Straggs were now 55-2 from 17 overs.  With an increasing run rate and more aggression shown from Jasper (22) and Toby (17), George B-W (67) and Ben (40) managed to get the Straggs to a respectable total of 175-7 from their allotted 35 overs.

With the pitch drying out and the outfield getting a little faster, the Straggs knew that early wickets would be key.  The well-used combination of Toby and Nick Wright opened the bowling for the Straggs and kept it very tight and tidy in the early exchanges. In the 4^th over, Nick got the early breakthrough with a fantastic caught and bowled that surprised Nick as much as the batsman, as he managed to trap the ball against his stomach. With the match very much in the balance, Jasper turned to his two strike bowlers, Simpson and Clews.  As housemates and double dating partners, these two are known to have a special relationship.  It’s fair to say that this is much the same on the pitch, bowling beautifully in tandem.  Patch kept it tight with figures of 0-40 from his 7 overs, while Ben was a wicket machine finishing with 4 for 7 from his spell.  With some great catches from Patch M, Harry Churchill and Nick Wright, the Straggs continued to pick up wickets, the Armadillos finishing on 155 all out from 34 overs; and the Straggs picked up a well-earned victory.  A great day at a wonderful location.  It was a brilliant first fixture against the Armadillos, and we very much look forward to taking them on again next year, but this time on our home patch, Belmont.