Ross-on-Wye Cricket club, sponsored by Now Storage, had a disappointing start to the shortened 2020 season in the Marches League on Saturday 1st August; both firsts and seconds losing their opening games.
New Club Captain, Tony Laws, took his side to neighbours Ledbury’s new ground opposite the rugby club on the Ross Road, and was asked to bat first. Continuing their consistent form from 2019, Angus McIntyre and Andrew Bevan put on a 89 run stand for the second wicket, although reflecting their respective styles, Bevan scored 71 of those from just 46 balls before being given leg before. McIntyre (67) had a second significant partnership, 96 with Laws (45) for the fifth wicket, but an alarming collapse of four wickets – all clean bowled – in six balls saw the Ross innings end on 216 with four overs unused. Local quickie Tom Hill shone for Ledbury with 5-31 from seven overs.
It took Ross ten overs to get a Ledbury batsman out, Laws again making the breakthrough; but by the time dangerman Josh Emery was dismissed by Bevan seven overs later, Emery had moved to 80, and his team to 116-2. Owen Collingbourne scored an unbeaten half century, and Finely Morris punished some short Ross bowling finishing with 44 from 35 to secure a seven wicket win, with nearly four over remaining. Adam Parkes took the other wicket for Ross in a punishing fielding experience.
At The Park in Wilton, Theo Minnie took charge of the Ross Second team against Herefordians. Minnie chose to bat first, openers Ben Rimington and Philip Davies taking their time to 30 runs from twelve overs before Davies (5) started a trend of being bowled – the first of eight Ross batsmen falling that way. Only Si Timewell succeeded in putting pressure back on Herefordians with a quickfire 30 from 26 with three fours.
Hopes of reaching 100 were dashed when Minnie was the last man out – bowled, of course – whilst trying to hit out. Not-out batsman, Andrew Stacey was particularly disappointed to have left seven overs unused, as the target for the opposition was only 96. The home bowlers found it difficult to apply pressure, with so little to defend, although youngster Tom Northcott took a well received wicket as new club member Dave Bagg held on well to a top edged catch at point. However Adeel Sahal and Asim Majeed put a stand of over 50, before the latter rather gifted his wicket coming down the track, allowing Timewell (pictured with his Captain Minnie) to take a good stumping, completing a productive day for the Ross keeper, who did not concede any byes. Herefordians won by eight wickets with almost half the allotted 40 over remaining.
As fourteen of the Ross wickets to fall were bowled, forward defenses will be on the training plan for Thursday night, in preparation for Brockhampton and Moccas CC next Saturday.
Report by Philip Davies
