League Match vs Hackney Village
Sat 20th June 2009, Springfield Park
by Misha Maruma
An unbeaten century by Robin Friend spared London Fields in a slow paced game played at a largely overcast Springfield Park. Robin hit 107 not out, Fields first century of the season. His knock included 12 fours and 1 six. Set 212 to win, Fields passed their total with 8 overs left to play.
Having lost the toss again Chris Skinner’s men were invited to bowl. The clouds were heavy and grey, but the wicket was looking in surprisingly good shape compared to the last time Fields played at this venue. Opening with Ruby Quince and Misha Maruma Fields made the early breakthrough that they had wanted. This good start belied what was to become a slow cumbersome day in the field with wickets hard to come by and LBW’s non-existent.
New to the NELCL this year, Hackney Village had been on the end of some heavy defeats recently. Having taken the early wicket Fields seemed confident that they could again inflict a score of less than 100 on the Village, something that they have endured in their last two matches. This was not to be the case. The Village’s no. 3, Danny, came in with his unorthodox left hand hitting and set about putting the ball to all corners of the ground. With the support of opener Staz who went on to make a slow 56 the Village dug in. It seemed the experience of the previous two matches had dented some pride.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Paul ‘Riverdance’ Turley, returning to the side after an injury lay off, was straight into the action. His accurate bowling pressured Danny into a big shot which this time he did not get a hold of and the catch was taken at mid-off. The next man in was soon returning, again ‘Riverdance’ Turley bamboozling him with his Flatley shuffle, Robin taking a smart catch behind the stumps.
The Village’s no. 5 came to the crease and rode his luck, being dropped twice on his way to 53 not out. The last of the Fields four wickets came courtesy of Dave Lane, the Village’s opener eventually going, but not before taking Hackney Village past the 200 mark for the first time this season.
Fields seemed a little despondent upon finishing the innings, especially as the Village lads could be heard declaring, “C’mon boys, we could actually win this!”, words I don’t think had been uttered all season. With a record of no win in five, this was hardly a surprising response.
And so to London Fields innings. Rob strode out to the middle with the air of a man who was going to remain unbeaten. From the off he was into his stroke play, playing some beautiful drives through the covers. Steve Fernbank and Andy Wyatt went in quick succession, giving the wicket keeper some catching practice on the way.
In came Brock Martin who was looking in ominous form. He and Rob set about taking the Village bowling attack apart only for Robin to run Brock out for 14. The onus was now on Rob to finish the job off.
Once Dave Lane departed for 6, Fields were looking in a bit of bother. Skinner was next in with team really needing a captain’s innings. He duly obliged. With a pinch of luck and some great shots into the outfield, Skinner took over the strike to give Rob a breather. Skinner’s 35 not out took the game away from the Village and thrust London Fields onto their fifth win in six league games this season.
The only blemish on the Fields record this season was issued by their next opponents Island CC. Fields now sit joint top of the NELCL with Island due to play Fields on home soil for what should be a cracking top of the table clash and for what could be a potential league decider.
Here’s the scorecard:
Hackney Village Batting
212 for 4 in 36 overs
London Fields Bowling
Name O M R W Avg
1 Ruby Quince 6 0 42 0 –
2 Misha Maruma 4 0 34 1 34.00
3 Troy Utz 6 1 33 0 –
4 Paul Turley 6 2 16 2 8.00
5 Brock Martin 6 0 31 0 –
6 Chris Skinner 4 0 32 0 –
7 Dave Lane 4 0 37 1 37.00
London Fields Batting
Name Scoring How Out Bowler Runs
1 Robin Friend Not Out 107
2 Steve Fernbank Caught Unknown 11
3 Andy Wyatt Caught Unknown 5
4 Brock Martin Run Out 14
5 Dave Lane Bowled Unknown 6
6 Chris Skinner Not Out 35
7 Misha Maruma Did Not Bat –
8 Troy Utz Did Not Bat –
9 Ruby Quince Did Not Bat –
10 Paul Turley Did Not Bat –
Extras 35
Total 213 for 4
Hackney Village Bowling
No details
Original article published on www.londonfields.net
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