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SNCL Division N

2nd XI v Ruddington II

Saturday 15-May-2004

Ruddington II 85 all out (3 points) lost to Wilsons II 86-9 (16 points) by 1 wicket

Vasim saves the day

Hope and expectations were high after the dramtic win at Awsworth on the opening day and the short trip to Ruddington offered promise of further success after last weekend's washout.

After losing the toss Wilsons were invited to bowl on a dampish, green wicket that looked decidedly dodgy for batting. Probably the fact that we only had 7 men at the start (due to the senility of Capt. Les not appreciating that the game started at 1.30 and not 2.00) was probably instrumental in Ruddington's decision to bat.

Nadeem Ghani and Andy Call opened the bowling and both found help from the pitch. Andy struck first bowling Marriott for 2 with the score on 10. Then Nadeem got one to lift and take the edge for Aziz to take the catch at point. The opening bowlers were now very much on top and Nadeem struck twice in one over - running out the luckless Densbury for 0 at the non-striker's end then bowling Thomson for 2 leaving the hosts 15-4.

Andy struck the next blow having Innocent caught behind for 4 as the score limped to 22-5 and then without addition Nadeem trapped Davies LBW for 4. At this point the Ruddington skipper Williams entered the fray and with the help of several lusty blows predominantly to the square leg boundary he took the score past 50. However, in the 20th over Vasim foxed him with a straight, arm ball that trapped him in front for 26 enterprising runs.

Gosling held up his end as the wickets fell around him. Vasim claimed his 2nd wicket as Chapman was caught behind without troubling the scorers. Mark then bowled Heffernan for 10 as the hosts slumped to 67-9. Gosling protected the 12 year old number 11 Hallam by keeping the strike until Gosling was smartly run out by a good throw from Nadeem to leave Ruddington all out for 85 and an early tea.

Wilsons reply got off to a calamatous start as Dave Nattrass was caught at mid-on in Williams' first over. Promising junior Ajaz could not cope with the spin of Williams and he was out 2nd ball. Then unbelievably in the next over Ray Smithson chopped the ball on to his stumps and the score was 3-3.

Mark came in at 5 and joined debutant Jamie Bowns who was wondering what was going on at the other end. Williams struck again, clean bowling Jamie for 6 leaving us really in the mire at 7-4. Nigel went the same way as the innings reached a farcical 11-5. Geoff Pook at 7 batted patiently and hope sprung eternal but in the 12th over Mark still on a high from his performace at Awsworth lost his patience and his bails to leave us reeling at 16-6.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man as Vasim marched in at number 8 to join Geoff and the pair inched the score along to 41-6 as drinks were taken when Williams had finished his bowling stint of 12 overs taking 5-20. However, soon after, Geoff walked after what appeared to be a bump ball and without waiting for the dreaded finger. Time would tell if this would cost us.

Andy Call came in at 9 with 46 runs still required. Vasim decided that the long handle was the order of the day and started to chance his arm. Andy was going along steadily at the other end until with the score on 64 he was bowled by Davies. Vasim was now batting in a most cavalier manner and he and Nadeem put on 16 valuable runs to leave us only 7 short of victory. However, the fortune that had prevailed deserted Vasim as he was stumped dancing down the wicket for a very valubale top score of 43.

This left last man Les Hardy to join Nadeem and nerves were frayed as both sides sensed victory or feared defeat. Nadeem hit one outrageous four and with the help of a couple of scrambled singles it was left to Les to nick the winning single to give us victory by just 1 wicket.

Vasim's 43 and Nadeem's 13* were the only batsmen in double figures in an otherwise woeful display.

Les Hardy

Bowling

Batting

Catches: Les Hardy 2 (w/k), Ajaz Aziz 1