Scorecard

Purleigh CC Saturday 1st XI v Boreham and Roxwell on Sat 10 Jul 2021 at 1.00
Purleigh CC Won by ten runs

Match report CLASH OF THE CONTENDERS

Although there are seven games left and a lot can change, today's contest between the current top two sides in division five was certainly a contender for the best match of the season and also for Purleigh's best win in 2021.

Rain forced a ninety-minute delay to the start and the captains agreed a 35-over game. Winning the toss, skipper Steve Rynn again sensibly chose to bat first. Openers Chris Freegard and Josh Taylor set off at four an over until Taylor, deceived by a slower ball, was bowled for seven at 23 for 1. Mark Rynn then joined Freegard and they put on a partnership of 26 before the latter was caught at long off for 34 with the score on 49 for 2. After the loss of Rynn, caught off a high toe-ender, Andy Bowles, fortified by recent acupuncture and deep-tissue massage, scored 25 in an important stand of 44 with Jordan Oliver while maintaining the run rate of four an over. Jatin Bathla hit a quick 21 including two cleanly struck sixes when it was time to push the score along but was caught attempting a third. Jai Patel then batted well for 20 in 16 balls which pushed the scoring rate up a little, and once again Purleigh used up all their overs without being bowled out, albeit with last pair Paul Conway and Ed Oliver grimly hanging on at the end. 154 for 9 looked a competitive score if Purleigh could keep the Boreham hitters quiet.

Opening bowlers Jai Patel and Matt Oliver again provided Purleigh with the necessary controlled start. Thoughtful field placing cut off Boreham's scoring options, which led to Jai finding a way through the dangerous O'Halloran's defences to hit the stumps, 17 for 1. Matt then forced the shaky-looking number 3 bat to hoick a skier to mid on where Freegard pouched the catch. This brought Boreham skipper Kempster to the crease fresh from a previous century. But Josh Taylor welcomed him with a contender for 'mind game of the season', accusing him of hiding behind a nightwatchman number 3 to avoid the opening bowlers. This had the desired effect as the batter proceeded to hit his first ball in the air to Jordan Oliver who completed a good catch at mid off, 33 for 3 in 11 overs. A top catch by Jai Patel, who held his nerve having shelled an earlier tough chance, saw the end of the number 5 bat and Purleigh looked well in charge at drinks with Boreham on 59 for 4 after 20 overs with the bonus of a contender for 'flounce of the season' from one of the Boreham players who stropped off and left the ground when politely asked not to look at his phone while umpiring (very village).

After drinks, Boreham forced their way back in to the game, J. Gamat striking four sixes in a rapid innings of 42 before he was bowled by Steve Rynn with one that just snicked the leg stump. Some clean hitting did not entirely mask this knock from being a contender among several for 'agricultural innings of the season' with most of the runs coming from (and over) cow corner. With the score now at 125 for 5 from 28 overs and opener Edwards still batting sensibly the momentum had shifted back in Boreham's favour. However, the experienced Freegard had other ideas and sparked a contender for the Purleigh comeback of the season when he trapped Edwards lbw. Veteran Ken Greenaway threatened to see Boreham home with some good running between the wickets but he ran out of partners when Freegard, having seen a catch go begging off his bowling with a contender for 'missed sitter of the season' (perpetrator shall remain nameless) recovered from that disappointment and snuffed out the Boreham innings with a contender for 'single-handed hat-trick' of the season with a caught and bowled, then two clean bowleds, the last being the Boreham number 11 who had returned from his flounce only to receive the poetic justice of a well-deserved shiny golden duck to lose the game.

That was a good afternoon's cricket played in a good spirit in which Purleigh's mettle was tested and then rewarded by climbing to the top of division five, at least for one week!



Purleigh CC Saturday 1st XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 8w 2b 4lb 
for 9 wickets
15
154		        
Christian Freegard ct R. Sharif b Z. Akbar 34 3 2
Josh Taylor b Z. Akbar 7 1
Mark Rynn ct R. Sharif b K. Greenaway 7
Andy Bowles ct J. Gamat b G. O'Halloran 25 1
Jordan Oliver ct D. Kempster b G. O'Halloran 14
Jatin Bathla ct Z. Akbar b J. Baines 21 1 2
Matt Oliver ct Z. Akbar b J. Baines 9 1
Jai Patel b G. O'Halloran 20 1
Steve Rynn b G. O'Halloran 1
Paul Conway Not Out  1
Ed Oliver Not Out  0 1 0

Boreham and Roxwell Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
K. Greenaway8.0032132.004.00
Z. Akbar8.0037218.504.62
G. O'Halloran10.0041410.254.10
J. Baines9.0138219.004.22

Boreham and Roxwell Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
4nb 3w 4b  
for 10 wickets
11
144 (33.5 overs)		     
G. O'Halloran b J. Patel 9
D. Edwards lbw C. Freegard 50
R. Sharif ct C. Freegard b M. Oliver 2
D. Kempster ct J. Oliver b J. Patel 0
K. Haydn ct J. Patel b M. Oliver 6
J. Gamat b S. Rynn 42
Z. Akbar ct and bowled C. Freegard 12
J. Baines b C. Freegard 4
K. Greenaway Not Out  8
A Parker b C. Freegard 0
K. Cresswell b C. Freegard 0

Purleigh CC Saturday 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Jai Patel10.0227213.502.70
Matt Oliver10.0030215.003.00
Jatin Bathla5.003200.006.40
Christian Freegard6.503957.805.71
Steve Rynn2.0012112.006.00