Telling Tails — Ravens vs Hungerford

Part of cricket is the ups and downs, in other words the winning and losing, having an off day with the bat, getting wickets with the ball, being dropped in the field or an absolute screamer of a take turning a crap ball into a moment of success.

After 2024 with a 100% success rate it was key that we faced some additional opposition and some which would naturally challenge us, as such we've arranged fixtures against teams who, not only want to play us (like this week's opponents Hungerford) but also who are a league or two above the teams we've played before. If you think back to that winless season, we learnt more about how to play the game then and where we can improve, than we have from the run of wins since. The game against Hungerford this week was always going to involve a touch of the unknown, we'd not played them before and with that we were somewhat guessing with what kind of team would show up.

As it turned out, we got beaten by much better opposition. With signs of true strength for Wiltshire Cricket too, it was a youthful side that came down the The Rec.

With solid bowling and batting from the opposition, with minimal opportunities for us to capitalise on weaker bowlers or hold down batsman, it was always going to take us being on our A game to come close.

After winning the toss and electing to bat in the hopes we could set a decent target to defend in the overcast conditions, it was speed in over rates that was required (you'll have heard ALL about this on TMS last week if you were listening in). Unfortunately speed with the run rate was what we really needed.

Whilst the visitors bowled really well, found movement with the ball in the early humid conditions and brought the game to us, we didn't actually bat badly. Sure, they held us to 128 after 20 overs. But we still scored more than a run a ball, held on to wickets through the order, only dropping them quickly as we really pushed in the final few overs and on a Sunday at that rate, we'd have achieved a respectable score of around 225 after 35 overs.

Harry looked to be getting off to a cracker before a hooping delivery bowled him pretty clean... sometimes a good ball is just a good ball (but at least he hit the only 6 of our innings). But with Steve Hawes joining him, we looked to get started with pace. Nick followed up and a mix up and hesitation with running unfortunately saw Steve return to the clubhouse for an early beer. The rest of the team however, quickly got the message and backed up more than before as we looked to beg, borrow and steal as many runs as we could. Nick batted with his usual steady head and retired on a healthy 29. With Robocop taking a plum yorker to the foot to go lbw in an umpires nightmare (literally nothing you can do to help keep him there), it was Seano who joined Nick. A wonderful partnership which saw Sean retire! Hitting 27 including a 5 boundaries, well played mate! In that time Nick and Sean combined with over 70 runs, a great partnership and a real highlight of our innings.

Will, Joe and I pushed on with the over count nearing the three-quarter stage, grabbing and snatching runs where we could and in my case running out Joe in our 'hit it and run whatever' agreement, maybe it was a bit daft, but worth a go. Jamie looked to go big and with the last ball looming went '6 or out' and unfortunately the latter held us under 130.

Nevertheless, its a game of two halves and we've held teams to low scores before in T20s. Having not seen Hungerford bat, we didn't know if they'd brought a bowling heavy attack or a group of all rounders. Sadly, it was the latter. But with good batters comes switched on bowlers, fielders paying attention and that extra effort to do whatever we can to make a difference (even if it just meant doing our best to see the ball).

Hungerford got off to a good start, rotated the strike well and found the gaps in the field to put us under some early pressure. We were nearly blocked a lot, were nearly underneath catches and were nearly in perfect position a lot! It wasn't flowing as smoothly as it needed to in the field. The outfield was quick and the wicket played beautifully (big thanks to Colin and team, from a bowling and batting perspective, the wickets have had loads in them this year, bounce, variety, swing, movement, spin, its been great to play on!).

Having bowled 'at the death' last week it was Jamie and Seano opening proceedings this. With Seano grabbing a vital opening wicket in the 4th over, a plum LBW to send a healthy batter on his way. We hoped the incomer might have less ability. Unfortunately not so as they retired on 28.

But things weren't over, Ian grabbed two wickets last week and looked ready to do the same this week. With a new batter at the crease and 3 back to back boundaries, a chance was skyed, a big fat top edge went high down to the '45'. A brim full of asha later (IYKYK) and I held on to send the visitors 2 down.

Looking to team up with Ian and break through further, the 'nearly' moments continued. Off a big leg side shot, Joe did well to get to the ball, but couldn't hold on, an edge flew at head height at first slip, right where Jamie had been stood a ball or two before, another edge went through quickly to Nick who did well to get a hand to it and I narrowly missed leg stump on my final ball with a fuller delivery. All in all, a series of more 'nearlys'. On another day, a few of these converting could have turned the tide and brought in the lower order, and potentially less capable batters. But not to be.

As we struggled on and with the fading light, Malcolm brought a few close chances as he tried to add to his wicket tally from 2024. And The Wall bowled sensationally once more. That pairing of pace on and pace off does give batters some difficulty, and how Warwick didn't get a wicket, once again surprises me. Unfortunately Harry only got two balls, Will just the one over prior and Joe (who I was planning to use at the death with his darting deliveries) was unused as Hungerford crossed the finishing line before we could call it a draw for bad light (lol).

But whilst we nearly did a lot, nearly caught some tricky ones, nearly stood in the right places in the field and nearly got vital wickets, we likely learnt a lot. The future will tell us if we have or not, but we know the challenge is there and the heights we need to reach to beat a team of the class that showed up through well-spirited lads at Hungerford. And more than anything getting outside on an overcast evening, stealing a game of cricket against the light Gods and everyone getting involved somehow is a win within a loss. Freddie the Falcon also got a few hours off, but is now back on duty trying to stop those crows.

A few bottles and tins shared afterwards thanks to Joe and Seano and it's happy days in the middle of a busy work week.

We look ahead and try to get back to winning ways, as we take on Falkland this Sunday at home. At the time of writing, there is still a potential spot available to fill the 11, get in there and grab it if you can! And next Thursday it was 'Downlanders', sadly they've pulled but we have new opposition lined up against Lambourne Allstars, thanks to Sam, and they have a full 11 ready to go, Spond to be updated, but everything else remains the same. A spot or two available for us in that one, so get your name down if you fancy having a go!

Go well. Cheers!