Freds report

After a number of days of horrific weather, fourth placed Theale and Tilehurst 2nd XI arrived to a beautiful sunny afternoon at the Recreation Ground ready to do battle with our own 2nd XI placed third in the league, both aiming to chase down Chiswick who currently occupy the promotion place above them.

Wargrave, realising the importance of the day, selected a strong looking side made up of players pushing for selection in the club’s 1st IX, along with Chris Lunn and James Moss. With Skipper Scott Walker running late (Something to do with sunburn and needing to get his nails done), Matt Townson took on the duty of tossing the coin, won, then decided Wargrave would have a bat first.

A slow start for the club soon went down hill, as Theale and Tilehurst took a grip on proceedings with Jamil removing first Colbourne (19) followed by Davies (23), who made it to double figures, got confused by that, and was bowled. Next to go was Matt Townson (15) before a rally from Chris Lunn, who looked very assured before being caught for 30 (Bet you’ve never heard that one before…).

Bowers (75*) stuck around despite trying his best to put the ball down long off’s throat, however Lanch (9) and Shamsi (0) fell in quick succession, leaving Wargrave in a precarious looking situation. Enter Jack Clark (55*), fresh off the back of burning his batting text book, to score some quick runs, and his first league 50, in an entertaining partnership putting Wargrave in the strong position of 247-6 at Tea.

Wargrave started the second innings with a bang, with Morton (2-39) and Clark (2-49) removing both openers quicker than the 1st XI can play a match. Thankfully for Theale and Tilehurst they had prepared for such a situation by paying off half the Wargrave fielders, who duely fulfilled their obligations by dropping everything that went anywhere near them. Theale and Tilehurst’s upper middle order made the most of this, putting themselves into a very commanding position.

After Lanch (0-15) was gracious enough to bring him self off and demand Davies (2-48) and Walker (3-38) be brought into the attack, the game changed. Their fantastic efforts with the ball were backed up firstly by Moss surprising everyone and moving like a man half his age and weight in the outfield to earn his side a run out, then followed by Lanch taking what he, and no else watching, would describe as “Catch of the century”.

As the final over was to be bowled by Clark, Wargrave requiried one wicket for victory, tensions couldn’t be higher. Captain Walker, clearly feeling the heat (Get it? Because he’s sunburnt), felt putting Morton in the slips and fellow fielding criminals Townson and Davies in equally important catching positions could only be a good idea. Clark decided using any of those avenues would be too risky, took it upon him self to clatter the stumps with two balls remaining, handing Wargrave a thrilling 27 run victory.

Man of the Match: Freddie Lanch