SOA send the Wayfarers packing

Post date: 16-May-2010 17:39:24

Veteran members Geoff Ramsey and Andy Hobbart had reason to celebrate their return to an SOA XI for the first time in many years at Challow on Thursday, when the SOA entertained the Hampshire Wayfarers for the very first time. The SOA skipper rather surprised their visitors by requiring them to bat first on a flat track, and the opening pair could only admire the slick outfield as the ball raced to the boundary, crediting 'Extras' numerous times in the opening overs.

The youthful SOA opening attack of Tom King and Mohsin Khan proved a bit of a handful, but it was the old heads of Ramsey and APW that strangled the opposition and picked up the wickets eventually bringing the visitors innings to a close at 233-9. All SOA fielders and keeper Gillam backed up the bowlers, taking eight catches between them - some of which were far from straight forward.

James Ellwood was always in contention for the 'champaigne' moment taking a tricky catch deep in the outfield whilst adjusting his brand new SOA Cap ! However later he somehow contrived to drop a catch that couldn't have been more straightforward with the consequence we found ourselves chasing around 25 more runs in a few overs less than we deserved.

In the interests of balanced reporting I do have to mention his dashing 70 odd, when we needed around 8 an over, to more or less see us home and win the match, alongside Paddy's less dashing but quite breezy 70 odd. Rob Humphries briefly batted like a god for his 23, and opener Nigel Hume, on his return to Challow made sure the scoreboard got moving from the 'off'.

We made it home with 7 balls to spare - however the last over would have been bowled by a brute of a bowler who would have been difficult to take for more than a couple. Hence it was a close win by 6 wkts - but rather a glorious one considering we faced 10 overs less than the oppo were served up. Perhaps the return match in 2011 - which will be an all day affair close to Winchester - will require some helmets to be packed and perhaps a mini bus to be arranged.