The seconds began their campaign for the 2016 season away Chalgrove, a side that were somewhat of an unknown quantity. The day started off a little chilly and upon arrival there were a few spots on rain in the air. The pitch presented as a cliché early season pitch, it was very soft on top, the outfield was a little thick and also soft underfoot which indicated runs would be hard to come by early on. With all the rain around during the week and continuously throughout April, the toss was decisive with both teams wanting to have a bowl first. The toss was won by Chalgrove who had no hesitation about sticking Risinghurst into bat.

Opening the innings for Risinghurst was Matt Kennedy and Scott Thomas; pleasantly as the guys walked to the crease the sun came out and any rain in the air disappeared. The Chalgrove opening bowlers bowled with a good level of accuracy and this combined with the pitch offering some assistance the Risinghurst opening pair made a dogged start. Matt was showing some intent to score against the opening bowlers however the ball was holding up on the pitch making shot playing treacherous. With a thick outfield which still had the remnants of its latest cut, boundaries were hard to come by which meant any runs on offer were run hard.

The pitch quickly began to show wear as some chunks outside off were taken out of the surface, a reflection of how soft the top was at this stage of the game. Matt was caught for 13 after he was through his shot slightly early with the ball sticking in the pitch once more. This brought the 2015 star player to the crease, Shane. Today wasn’t his day, he chopped on playing a back cut after a facing just few deliveries. Raj’s demise brought Santha to the crease, batting at an elevated 4 this was a well-deserved opportunity after a few decent knocks at the back end of the 2015 campaign. After playing a lusty leg side whip for 4, Santha was trapped LBW. This was an outrageous dismissal that emphasised the inconsistence bounce on the wicket. The ball pitched on a good length with the ball getting no higher than ankle height. Santha was caught trapped on the back foot, plumb in front of the stumps. Santha could not believe it, a look of disgust washed over him as the umpires finger went up.
At this stage the Chalgrove openers were still on, perhaps 20 odd runs on the board. After Santha’s anguish, Anish Senan was brought to the crease; Anish making his league debut. He was greeted with a rare full toss to start with that he whipped to the midwicket boundary. Unfortunately next ball his eyes lit up once again, however on this occasion he was done in the flight and clean bowled. This brought the skipper, Kyle Brooks, to the crease. With the score around 28 for 4 off 14 overs, Chalgrove did change the bowling, with an old chap rumbling in from the top end. In the mould of GD, he was a johnny on the spot kind of fellow and was again difficult to get away. Kyle showed intent from the off, driving the ball firmly to long on. However he was not to last, as again with Kyle attempting to drive, the ball stuck in the pitch, he was through his shot, and offered a simple catch to mid on for 1.
The precession of wickets continued with Emrys Hughes joining Scott out in the middle. A fine opportunity for Emrys who was looking to build upon that 20 odd batting average during the 2015 campaign. After an exchange of a few singles, Emrys decided enough was enough and went to slog sweep the old boy over cow. Unfortunately it was a decent yorker which clattered the off pole, Emrys dismissed for just 2.

With great amazement this brought Matt Lardner to the crease at number 8. Averaging 0.33 with the bat during the entire 2015 campaign the writing appeared to be on the wall. However the Chalgrove second change was offering a little bit of fodder from the clubhouse end. It was great relief to the Risi innings when Matt crashed a couple of boundaries through the midwicket region. Scott also joined in with the odd firm sweep shot. The old boy then also had a rest from the top end, replaced by more fodder. The inaccurate off spinner was offering a few boundary balls and the lads cashed in when they could.

At drinks Risi were looking pretty miserly on around 60 odd for 6 off 22 overs. Drinks brought about the return of the Chalgrove opening bowlers and the proverbial ‘drinks wicket’ with Matt Lardner caught at mid on for 20, again driving after the ball stuck in the pitch. Not long after Asif Khan strolled out to the middle, Scott was dismissed for an innings high of 29. Hardly an innings of panache but just what the team required. Asif was joined by James Poulter and a game of duck, duck goose ensued. Asif being caught behind for 0, James getting bowled for 0; leaving the GD stranded on 0 not out.

With Risi staggering to 81 all out after just 30 overs, Chalgrove were asked to go out and bat for 8 overs. There was some huge reluctance from their openers and after the slightest touch of rain in the air they scarpered to the pub for tea with no ball bowled. Enough can’t be said about how much the pitch dried out throughout the Risi innings and over tea. A lot of the deviation and invariable bounce seen in the first innings wasn’t apparent after the interval.

Risinghurst opened the bowling with Santha and GD. After a few balls Santha was back into the swing of things looking sharp and bowling a tidy spell. He was richly rewarded for some nice bowling, dismissing the opening bat and number 3, both bowled in quick succession. GD then joined the party after a tidy opening few overs trapping the Chalgrove number 4 LBW for 0. With the Chalgrove on 20 odd for 3 Risi were in the game however the remaining opening bat and number 5 at the crease the wickets dried up. The ball was chucked around a little bit, Asif Khan and Raj Kumar bowled nicely leaking very few runs. Scott and Matt bowled offered little challenge to the Batsmen although Matt’s attempt at a double ball bouncer did add some amusement. The skipper looked to Santh to try and pick up a fourth wicket and an extra bowling point however it was to be with the batsmen well set.

Chalgrove got a comfortable win, with Risinghurst taking just two points from the game. It’s safe to say Chalgrove got the better of the pitch. However Risi came up short in all facets of the game, with 8 batsmen scoring less than 5, 4 dropped catches in the field and only 3 wickets taken.

Don’t panic Captain Mainwaring, we’ll put it right next week.

Team: Matt Kennedy, Scott Thomas, Raj Kumar, Santha Thirupathi, Anish Senan, Kyle Brooks (C), Emrysh Hughes, Matt Lardner, Asif Khan, James poulter, GD.