H&CHCC Lose in mamouth run chase to Mellis

Mellis 244 for 8

Farrant 98, Spence 62

D Armstrong 4 for 18 in 5 overs.

H&CHCC 208 All Out

Hodge 68, Ralling 41, P Richards & B Atkinson both 19


Ex Captain Roberts adulation on seeing Chris Farrant was undeniable one wonders that he has a picture on his wall at home and after today perhaps we will all have a picture of him on our wall as well!

Current Captain Bryant won the toss and decided to bat taking up the offer of a ten pound bet from ex skipper Roberts to bat first to who would win as yet I am unaware Captain Bryant to pay I am sure he will.

On a very green wicket with all the rain and it must be said that the Richards Oval ground staff did an amazing job to produce such a good wicket in the time available with it playing very well it seemed a good batting track but the new ball got D Spence out for 7 and the total just 12.

The "great" man Farrant came in and he was a bit shaky and was dropped behind the stumps to a difficult chance with only single figures to his name.

A "Superb" catch was taken by Roberts above his head in the slips after some confusion in last week match report the superb catch accredited to M Atkinson was meant to say the superb bowling last week of D Armstrong any one who saw last weeks catch should have realised that.

However Farrant was joined by N Spence and wow the fireworks began with the pitch situated in the middle of the oval making the boundaries more difficult to get did not matter a jot as Walton and J Armstrong both took some severe hammering from both batsmen.

Twenty four boundaries later amongst them nine sixes and a 115 partnership N Spence top edged one to be caught by Walton and that brought out another old adversary in the name of A Williamson who rattled along supporting Farrant.

John Ralling making his H&CHCC season debut today sprinted in off the boundary and hung onto a very good running catch to dismiss Farrant for a jug avoidance 98 and the score on 214 with damage already done the tail struggled and D Armstrong carrying on with his superb form from last week and pumped up with taking the Farrant wicket took three more in quick succession and after the 40 overs had been bowled Mellis set a very big target of 245 to win.

Hodge and Roberts opened the bowling after another very nice tea as usual this season but Roberts going for a big shot was sadly well caught in the deep for 5.

B Atkinson joined Hodge both looked comfortable and began to repair the early damage of Losing Roberts so early on in the innings.

B Atkinson was the next to go with the score on 64 to the spin Aussie Courridge bowled for 19 this brought John Ralling in and the H&CHCC fight back really took off with his new young son Peter in the crowd he went on to hit the ball hard and true scoring at a very fast rate catching the ever green in form Hodge.

In a partnership of 58 Ralling was finally caught for 41 on them and including two big sixes young Peter albeit a bit young would be proud as the H&CHCC score moved onto 122 in the 20th over well on target at this stage.

David Hodge was scoring fluently along with new batsman P Richards who over recent weeks has found his scoring touch and runs with a boundary most overs to keep up the run chase. Hodge passed his fifty and Mellis were under pressure trying to break this partnership and get the key wicket of Hodge which they did finally again an excellent catch deep on the boundary to dismiss Hodge for a great 68 including 3 sixes and 7 fours in only 67 balls.

The demise of Hodge which was greeted with a great cheer from a sizable crowd from Mellis was probably the turning point Richards trying to keep up with the scoring rate finally succumbed to another catch in cow corner territory for 19 the tail was exposed.

Hannan and M Atkinson needing to chase 8 an over were up against it a slow wicket and slow bowlers on with fielders deep no playing yourself in for any batsmen left and the cry of run on every ball was never likely to be although M Atkinson went to a top edge trying to force the pace and a mini partnership of 19 the rate required was getting away from H&CHCC.

Walton went cheap another trying to force the score along and J Armstrong with Hannan put on 18 to get the score over two hundred runs but with 2 overs to go chasing 35 both J & D Armstrong were out leaving Hannan not out on 17 and H&CHCC final score of 208 all out.

A great effort just a few runs to many given away it is hard to say but overall a good team effort but that little bit of luck does not seem to be with us this season and it looks like the only way we will see Mr Farrant again next season will be a friendly fixture.

Markie the Webmaster