After a disappointing brace of defeats, UCLES bounced back in style last night with a comfortable 57 run victory against Chemical Engineering.
The original attempt to beat Chemical Engineering had been stymied earlier in the season by a relentless rain shower and UCLES were keen to finish to job this time. Batting first for only the second time this season beneath a sky that threatened moist wonderment, Linsdell and Lawrence made a typically steady if unadventurous start. Chemical Engineering were assisted in their early prudence by some bowler-friendly umpiring from Bean who found giving leg side wides surprisingly challenging. In Jerry's defence, he's a lovely man.
Slowly but surely the opening pair began to unearth runs until, with a partnership of 50 on the horizon, Linsdell was undone by a devilish straight ball bowled by a young man resplendent in Wrangler's very finest cricketing attire - more C&A than MCC. Obviously it would have been much better had he been playing against Sanger then I could have made some lame jeans/genes observation. Life is such a tapestry of disappointments.
Linsdell's now traditional got-in-but-never-really-looked-like-making-a-big-score departure brought Monk to the crease and it was only a matter of seconds before UCLES' leading run scorer began peppering the greying skyline with fizzing spheres of scolding red leather. With Lawrence also displaying decent form, the home side looked well-placed to batter Chemical Engineering out of the contest - until the Denim Destroyer returned to uproot the Antipodean's evening with another magical combination of slow and straight.
Wylie joined a well-set Monk and began by striking a massive blow back over the bowler's head. Unfortunately the ball gained more height than distance and a smart catch was taken five yards in front on the boundary. Wylie had spend a number of minutes before the game explaining to his colleagues about the difficulty he was experiencing with his new briefs. As yet we can not tell the extent to which the fresh undercrackers were hindering his performance.
Monk continued to keep the scoreboard flapping in growing gloom but the UCLES batsmen were struggling to stay with him - Dagless the next to fall attempting an optimistic square cut. Bean's arrival at the wicket heralded the usual display of enthusiastic scampering and diving but at the other end Monk was to fall just short of another deserved half-century - caught behind for 47. With a number of options at his disposal, Skipper James decided to send Visage in for the closing balls and it proved to be a wise decision as Golden Hurls sent both of the two deliveries he faced careering to the leg side boundary.
After a slowish start and a spluttering middle order, Monk and Lawrence has seen UCLES to an imposing 141-5 after 20 overs and confidence was high as the home side took to the field.
Danson and Siyambalapitiya began the defence in impressive style, with tidy and accurate opening overs. Danson provided the breakthrough, feeding Wylie with the opportunity to take a catch in his belly button before striking again with a ball that bounced like a fridge hitting sand. Siyambalapitiya took the opportunity to turn the screw at the other end, bowling a precious maiden.
With a rusty and dusty sky threatening another game-saving downfall for Chemical Engineering, UCLES were keen to ensure the tempo of their bowling and fielding remained high. And after a number of downright impudent singles, UCLES finally conjured the obligatory run-out, Lawrence turning a wild Skipper James throw on to the woodwork.
After a brief period of consolidation from the visitors, Skipper James threw the ball to Bean and after a swiftly dispatched loosener, the all-rounder was moved into his stride - irritating the batsmen with his nagging round the wicket line. With the UCLES fielding beginning to purr and bristle like a recently shaved tom cat and the skies above adopting a far less threatening stance, Chemical Engineering were beginning to feel the heat. Another panicky single allowed Bean to affect an ice cool run-out. At the other end Danson collected a third wicket to close with an impressive 3 for 21.
With Dagless keeping everyone informed of the required rate like a PA announcer peddling donkey rides at a country fayre, Skipper James and Bean began to display their prize-winning produce. Bean gave Lawrence both a juggling caught behind and a comfortable skier whilst Skipper James was coping admirably with a dangerously short leg side boundary. Wickets were now falling more regularly than one-legged Irish dancers and the pick saw Lawrence complete an impressive display with some sharp glovesmanship to stump the Chemical Engineering No.10 off Skipper James. With a thankfully dry evening becoming a blissfully mysterious night Skipper James unleashed an 'arm ball' (straight, no turn) to end the evenings events and see UCLES comfortably home.
Another top-notch display sees UCLES stay in with a shout for league triumph. Monk (yet again) and Lawrence starred with the bat whilst an excellent all-round bowling display was very well supported by dogged and relentless fielding. One more victory in Thursday's final league game against the beloved Judge will take UCLES to 8 league wins out of 10 and a very handy clubhouse lead.
