The Risinghurst second string turned up to Eynsham CC looking for their first win of the season. After some pretty dismal weather during the week, it came as great surprise that the Eynsham wicket was very firm with little green to be seen on top. In assessing the pitch the toss wasn’t seen to be that critical to the outcome of the game and with some light rain in the air from time to time the soft outfield wasn’t going to change too much. Captain, Kyle Brooks won the toss for Risinghurst and elected to bowl first.

Opening the bowling for Risi was Santha Thirupathi, bowling with a strong breeze at his back. Santha started his spell with some very accurate and sprightly paced bowling which the Eynsham bats played cautiously. Complimenting Santha in the opening attack was Raj Kumar. Raj, bowling into strong gusts of wind opened his first spell with some accurate bowling with the batsmen again maintaining their cautious approach.
Not before too long, Santha was carrying out a thorough examination of the opening batsmen’s technique, passing the outside edge at will and with one or two thundering into the pads. With Raj bowling into a strong wind, it was decided to have the first look of spin for the day with the introduction of Asif Khan with 7 overs bowled thus far. Asif started his spell well, however early season rustiness was evident with a full toss per over being bowled which eased the pressure off the Eynsham opening pair.
After a great opening burst from Santha, he was replaced by James Elsmore. James commenced his spell with some very accurate bowling. Strangely, one of the Eynsham openers, who looked technically sufficient, was really exposed by James and his response was to try and hack. In perhaps, James’ second over or so, the stumps were re-arranged and Risi had a much deserved breakthrough.
After a sustained period of pressure from James, to his and the teams dismay, he did his hamstring during his 4th Over. With one ball remaining of the over, Tom Matthews came on and completed the over with a tidy delivery on off pole. Replacing Asif Khan at the other end was the return of Raj who looked a little bit sharper in his second spell. Soon enough he rattled the Eynsham number three on the pads, and with a great appeal from the slips and skipper alike, it was given, LBW. Following up, replacing Tom, was the introduction of Matt Lardner. Matt started his spell with a bouncer outside off pole, really trying to unsettle the batsmen early on. However with the odd loose ball, he was getting clapped to the offside boundary. Raj continued to support Matt, with some tight bowling, again trundling into the wind, and he was rewarded with his second wicket. This time the Eynsham number 4 was caught at point for nought by an athletic diving catch by Scott Thomas.
Matt continued his bertie bassett allsorts from the top end and with some wind assistance he did pass the outside edge on occasion although this supplemented with the odd wide and the juicy long hop which was dispatched by the one Eynsham opener proving difficult to remove. Raj, after a decent spell into the wind, was replaced by Asif for the second time. Asif started to find his groove after a couple of overs really starting to look dangerous, passing the outside edge on occasion and with Brooksy putting a very tough leg side catch down. More of a run saver than a dropped catch in all honestly. Santha replaced Matt Lardner after his expensive 3 overs for 23, and Santha hit the ground running, picking up the dangerous Eynsham opener, LBW for 52. This was a just reward for Santha who was unlucky not to get this chap out earlier during his opening blast.
Asif continued his probing bowling, was soon rewarded himself after some nice disciplined bowling was rewarded with James Elsmore, standing on one leg, taking a decent catch at slip. This spell by Asif will hopefully put him in good stead for forthcoming games as his bowling got better and better through the innings. Amazingly Santha had rattled through his 12 overs, and was replaced with the Scott. This a wise move by the skipper who with the weather closing in was eager to secure an additional bowling point with a 6th wicket. This confidence was richly rewarded with a fine display of left arm finger spin bowling. The batsman was set up a treat, two sliders going on the arm followed up with an orthodox spinner clipping the top of off pole. Take a bow son.
With Eynsham being 123 for 6, the weather worsened and the players were forced off the pitch due to persistent light rain. Unfortunately the weather didn’t improve over tea and the umpires abandoned the game with no further play possible.

Although this wasn’t a win for Risinghurst seconds, there was al awful lot to take out of the game. Eynsham got off to a decent start, nearly 50 on the board before the first wicket, but the Risi heads never dropped in the field and the bowling department showed real character taking the next 6 wickets for 60 runs or so on what can be described as a very decent batting wicket. This resilient performance should put the team in good stead for the next test, away to Westcott in the cup as to a man, through good bowling or super fielding there was something positive to take away from the game.

Team: Mark Salter, Scott Thomas, Matt Kennedy, Raj Kumar, Dave Hewes, Kyle Brookes (C) (W), Thomas Matthews, Santha Thirupathi, Matthew Lardner, James Elsmore, Asif Khan