MCCC v's Sunday 08 AUG WOODSIDE GREEN - Match Result - WON
By Sam Cope
Unfortunately work commitments have hindered the production of this match report by some weeks. You will, therefore, have to forgive my rather hazy recollection of the game. However, while the stats and figures have by now faded to the realms of Tony’s spreadsheet, I feel it my duty to report on two outstanding individual Corinthians performances.
The first of these came in the field.
Some setting of the scene is required to put the performance of Steve O’Neil in perspective. The sun was shinning, the wicket was good and the outfield like lightning. A mere glance on the ball and it raced away to the fence. The opposition got away to a rapid start thanks mainly to some ineffectual bowling from an opening bowler who shall remain nameless……
Standing at slip watching Steve bowl was, quite simply, a delight. He demonstrated the virtues of line and length bowling, never trying to bowl too fast (something, I hasten to add, we can all learn from). The economy with which he bowled kept Corinthians in the game and prevented the opposition posting too large a total. A score of three hundred had at times seemed likely. But thankfully we were left to chase around 230.
The run chase
Two indiscrete shots from the Corinthians openers (erm…..) and we were up against it at 10-2 in the fifth over. Enter Brian and our second man of the moment Jono. These two played some special cricket. Adding over a hundred. Brian departed for 60ish with around 50 or 60 still needed. While Brian played very well, Jono played one of the best innings I have seen from a Corinthians player (the only other that may have surpassed it, was Robin Hardwick smashing Sussex U16 all round the county ground at Horsham).
He timed his square drives through point sweetly and always along the ground, he was willing to hit straight down the ground over the infield and stole singles off the opposition with regularity. However, most impressive of all was the confidence and precision in which he swept behind square against the slower bowlers. He never seemed in trouble and dominated the bowling all evening. He will be sadly missed next year.
After Brian’s departure Jono was joined by Steve O’. Fresh from being left stranded on 90* Steve allowed Jono sufficient strike to reach his 100 just before Corinthians reached the target. The two men of the game led the sides off. Well played chaps.
