TIGERS HAPPY HUNTING AT COMBE AGAIN

Summer afternoon... the two most beautiful words in the English language.

Henry James, Author (1843 - 1916)

The Ambush fielders in action at beautiful Combe Cricket Club

Sunday 19th August 2012

Henry James, you hit the nail on the head sir.

Another Sunday afternoon at beautiful Combe Cricket Club. Cotton wool clouds in a blue, blue sky. An expanse of green running to the church and its yard on the far boundary and the little line of cottages that run alongside it. Oh, and a temperature of nearly 30.

Southfield Superstars

(Richard/James to provide names)

That was the setting for yesterday's match between SpecialEffect Tigers and Southfield Superstars. The Ambush came into the match still roaring from their first win of the season a fortnight before while the Superstars, missing some of their regulars, were feeling a little less confident.

Still, Southfield skipper Richard Carver won the toss and told Baz Floyd that the Superstars would be batting first. The day had started well for the visitors. It was going to change very soon.

Rowland and Hughes opened the batting for Southfield, while Robbie Nicholson took the new ball from the Church End. The Tiger was in no mood to allow the openers to settle. A ferocious opening spell saw Robbie remove Rowland for a duck. The opener beaten for speed as ball met off and middle stump. The Ambush had drawn first blood.

Meanwhile, Ben McPherson was working hard from the Pavillion End. Bowling up the hill, Ben plugged away at the Southfield batsman and it wasn't long before he got his reward. The no. 3 bat Roberts, looking aggressive from the outset, aimed to cut high and hard over point but looked on amazed as Cam Newton-Grain dived to his left and plucked the ball from the air one-handed. Certainly the most amazing catch I've seen and made more so considering Cam is the youngest Tiger in the Ambush. Another Southfield bat walking for a duck and the Superstars must have been fearing the worst. And there was worse to come.

   

Southfield resistance as Tigers' keeper Neyroud waits to pounce

McPherson, struggling over the wicket and coming up the hill, turned his medium pace to spin as he came round the wicket instead. An instant result. The second opener, Hughes, smashed through covers in an attempt to break the Tigers stranglehold on the game. The drive never gained the height Hughes had hoped, presenting fielder Rob Web with the choice of (a) catch the ball in front of face or (b) lose teeth. Rob opted for option (a) and Hughes became the 3rd batsman to walk for a duck.

With Nicholson volunteering to hand the ball over to Cam Newton-Grain after a spell of 3-1-4-1, the new batsmen might have hoped for a little respite. They received none. Aggarwal, undaunted by the Tigers bowling, attempted to go after Newton-Grain driving the youngster for four straight away. But the young Tiger came back with the perfect reply. Aggarwal's straight drive didn't have the height to pass Cam and once again the young man plucked the ball from the air to take the catch off his own bowling.    

Tigers' Newton-Grain 6.4-0-20-3 ... and THAT catch

As Ben McPherson bowled straight through for an excellent 7-0-23-2 he was replaced by John Grain. A Grain/Newton-Grain double pronged attack was brought into play. Cam would strike again first. Willoughby, who had looked to hoist boundaries several times, failed to connect with a good length ball from Newton-Grain and keeper Huw Neyroud sharply took the bails. Stumped for just the one and a potential big-hitter gone.

At this point Southfield were well and truly on the ropes but resistance was close at hand. Brazier-Tope decided to take the fight to the Tigers and began to pile on some runs. At the other end, Dan Raymond-Barker was looking solid. But this middle-order stand was about to self-destruct. The ball played out to Robbie Nicholson, a quick throw in to Neyroud and Raymond-Barker stranded two yards out when the Combe keeper broke the stumps. Raymond-Barker hardly even glanced at the Umpire's finger as he turned to walk back to the pavilion for 4.

The Ambush closes on Southfields' Attawooll

Brazier-Tope wasn't long in joining Dan back on the steps. Bowler John Grain, plonking the ball on the money time after time, finally found a way past the bat and ended his resistance for 22. A good innings in difficult circumstances.

The Southfield batting was now into the tail. But they weren't about to throw in the towel. Smith and Attwooll calmly steadied things. Attwooll allowing Smith to take the lead and the latter plundering runs wherever he picked out a loose ball. 

Attwooll finally lofted a drive off Bill Donegan's bowling to Robbie Nicholson. Robbie wasn't going to drop that one and the stand was broken. Attwooll's seven doesn't really tell the story of his stubborn stand. Richard Carver joined Smith at the crease.

Robbie Nicholson was in action again as he finally ended Smith's innings, catching Southfield's top scorer off the bowling of John Grain. The Southfield keeper finally departing for a well-deserved 32.

But the last word in Tigers' bowling would be had by Cam Newton-Grain. Brought back on at the Church End, the youngster trapped the Southfield skipper leg-before for three, bringing an end to the innings at 104 and leaving the Tigers needing just under 3 an over from their 35.

Lets just pause there a moment to reflect on the Tigers bowling and fielding. Yes, Southfield were missing some regular players but the Tigers' bowling and fielding was excellent. Every Tiger fielded well, some great catches but also some dogged chasing down and throwing in too. Paul Fagg was notable by way of the fact that, whilst he didn't take a catch or initiate a run out, he probably stopped more runs than any other Tiger. Great effort all round Tigers.

Right, tea taken (thanks to wife Julie Floyd on savouries and sister Donna Floyd for cakes) the Tigers regular father/son opening partnership of Robbie and Iain Nicholson strode out to the crease. The Southfield strike bowlers, Brazier-Tope and Roberts immediately set about trying to draw early blood from the Tigers with a barrage of pace.

The Ambush line up against Southfield Superstars

(Standing l-r) Bill Donegan, Baz Floyd, Rob Webb, John Grain, Ben McPherson, Paul Fagg

(Front l-r) Iain Nicholson, Cam Newton-Grain, James Grist-Perkins, Huw Neyroud, Robbie Nicholson

While Brazier-Tope suffered at the hands of Robbie Nicholson in a spell that, against other batsmen would have probably been fairly tight, Roberts removed Iain. The faintest of nicks, appeals from bowler and keeper, and a long-lingering look at the umpire from Nicholson Sr. The finger stayed up and, with one look back, Iain Nicholson walked. Caught Smith bowled Roberts, for two.

Southfield celebrations were measured as Paul Fagg joined Robbie Nicholson at the wicket. The breakthrough was welcome but Nicholson Jr was wreaking havoc on the bowling. As Nicholson helped himself to boundary after boundary, Fagg happily played a defensive innings. That is, he played a defensive innings until Roberts bowled him with another quick one that found its way past the outside edge. Fagg went on the long walk for a duck to be replaced by John Grain.

Tigers' Robbie Nicholson, 73 not out, in aggressive mode

And so the Nicholson onslaught continued until he reached 47. Now, this being a limited overs game, the rule is the batsman retires at the end of the over once he's hit his 50 (he can come back in later if needed). Nicholson took this as a cue to amass as many runs as possible, hoisting the unfortunate bowler, Julian Simons, for 4 (that's 51, Robbie), 4, dot, six, six, six. Job done. Nicholson leaves the crease on 73 not out and the rest of the Tigers batting with very little to do. 

But Southfield weren't finished. Aggarwal delivered the reliable John Grain an almost unplayable ball to remove him from the crease for 8. But the damage was done and as James Grist-Perkins joined Huw Neyroud at the crease, the pair were happy to take their time. The last piece of Tigers aggression, as Neyoud drove through mid-wicket for four, signalled the passing of the Southfield total.

The game was over and, after seven games without a win, the Tigers had won two on the bounce.

A good game played in beautiful surroundings and a promise from Southfield that they would return to West Oxfordshire next season with more of their regulars. Well done to Southfield Superstars. You're a great bunch of chaps and we look forward to meeting you again next season.

So, a great performance from every member of the Ambush against Southfield. Thanks to each and every Tiger who turned out for us on the day.

Lastly, my thanks go out to Richard Carver's partner Lisa who cheerfully took the camera and provided us with all the photos of the game. Cheers Lisa.   

The scorecards ...