Back
Hospitals win top of the table clash
Philip Chant26 Jun 2016 - 21:33
Share via
Toby Patrick century seals Hospitals victory
Google map showed that the Swindon “A” Cricket team playing at Ramsbury CC was a 50 mile journey from the Hospitals home ground of Prior Park. The village and civil parish of Ramsbury is nestled in the Kennet Valley near the Berkshire border and boasts a population of almost 2000. The residents of this picturesque village raised over one million pounds collectively, to establish a sporting arena for community use. They have now thriving bowls, tennis, cricket, football and hockey clubs.
The question on the lips of the cricketing media was who is going to come out the winners of this top of the table clash? Both sides have remained unbeaten all season and were eager to bridge a point’s gap between them. With key players missing the Hospitals had to call upon the old guard of Phil “The Power” Chant and Billy Minchin, and added with debutants Chris Barry and Ben Eyre, the Hospital top order had to dig deep, stand up and stand out.
Hospitals lost the toss and were asked to bat on what looked and proved a very fast wicket. Andy Boyce and Jon fair opened the batting. The Swindon bowlers found it difficult to find their line and length and O’Neil especially as he conceded 13 extras in his first over. This frustrated both batsman and so much so that Andy Boyce tried to cut a ball that was to be signalled a wide, it took an edge and he was caught behind without scoring. Hospital skipper Toby Patrick came to the middle knowing a lot rested on his young but capable shoulders. With the score on 21 Jon Fair lofted a simple chance to mid-off and he departed for just 5 runs. Vice Captain Jake Dyer joined Patrick and the pair of them set about their task of putting runs on the board. While Dyer played an anchor role Patrick went on an all out attack and the pair of them put on 81 runs before Dyer went to hit a long hop out of the ground when for no apparent reason the ball did not bounce, rolled along the ground and bowled him for 22 valuable runs. Henry Haydon took up the anchor role as Patrick past his fifty, and continued his onslaught Haydon then joined the party. With a rain interruption of 30 minutes and seven overs to go Patrick returned to complete his magnificent century and was finally out, caught for 115. Haydon (53) and Patrick compiled a partnership of 127. Stuart Webb-Martin hit two straight sixes to leave the Hospitals on 252 for 5 from their 45 overs.
Calculators were required to work out that due to the rain interruption Swindon required 184 to win from 33 overs. Opening the bowling with Stuart Webb-Martin and Jon Fair, Swindon were restricted to 11 runs from 6 overs when Webb-Martin bowled opener McGinley for six. Reaching 44 runs in the 13th over Dyer was brought into the attack and immediately took another wicket. This brought Dave O’Neil the Swindon all-rounder to the crease and he attacked from the outset. Hospitals mixed the bowlers at regular intervals as O’Neil bludgeoned any loose delivery to all parts of the ground. Swindon were up with the run rate and with requiring 40 from 7 overs Webb-Martin bowled danger man O’Neil for 70 runs. Miserly spells from Webb-Martin 7-3-15-3 and Jon Fair 7-1-12-1 tightened the grip on the remaining Swindon batsman and with support from Jake Dyer 7-1-26-2 Toby Patrick 6-1-34-2 and Ben Eyre, Swindon were restricted to 153 for 9 from their allotted overs. Hospitals now remain unbeaten at the halfway stage of the season and sit on the top of the Division.
The question on the lips of the cricketing media was who is going to come out the winners of this top of the table clash? Both sides have remained unbeaten all season and were eager to bridge a point’s gap between them. With key players missing the Hospitals had to call upon the old guard of Phil “The Power” Chant and Billy Minchin, and added with debutants Chris Barry and Ben Eyre, the Hospital top order had to dig deep, stand up and stand out.
Hospitals lost the toss and were asked to bat on what looked and proved a very fast wicket. Andy Boyce and Jon fair opened the batting. The Swindon bowlers found it difficult to find their line and length and O’Neil especially as he conceded 13 extras in his first over. This frustrated both batsman and so much so that Andy Boyce tried to cut a ball that was to be signalled a wide, it took an edge and he was caught behind without scoring. Hospital skipper Toby Patrick came to the middle knowing a lot rested on his young but capable shoulders. With the score on 21 Jon Fair lofted a simple chance to mid-off and he departed for just 5 runs. Vice Captain Jake Dyer joined Patrick and the pair of them set about their task of putting runs on the board. While Dyer played an anchor role Patrick went on an all out attack and the pair of them put on 81 runs before Dyer went to hit a long hop out of the ground when for no apparent reason the ball did not bounce, rolled along the ground and bowled him for 22 valuable runs. Henry Haydon took up the anchor role as Patrick past his fifty, and continued his onslaught Haydon then joined the party. With a rain interruption of 30 minutes and seven overs to go Patrick returned to complete his magnificent century and was finally out, caught for 115. Haydon (53) and Patrick compiled a partnership of 127. Stuart Webb-Martin hit two straight sixes to leave the Hospitals on 252 for 5 from their 45 overs.
Calculators were required to work out that due to the rain interruption Swindon required 184 to win from 33 overs. Opening the bowling with Stuart Webb-Martin and Jon Fair, Swindon were restricted to 11 runs from 6 overs when Webb-Martin bowled opener McGinley for six. Reaching 44 runs in the 13th over Dyer was brought into the attack and immediately took another wicket. This brought Dave O’Neil the Swindon all-rounder to the crease and he attacked from the outset. Hospitals mixed the bowlers at regular intervals as O’Neil bludgeoned any loose delivery to all parts of the ground. Swindon were up with the run rate and with requiring 40 from 7 overs Webb-Martin bowled danger man O’Neil for 70 runs. Miserly spells from Webb-Martin 7-3-15-3 and Jon Fair 7-1-12-1 tightened the grip on the remaining Swindon batsman and with support from Jake Dyer 7-1-26-2 Toby Patrick 6-1-34-2 and Ben Eyre, Swindon were restricted to 153 for 9 from their allotted overs. Hospitals now remain unbeaten at the halfway stage of the season and sit on the top of the Division.
Further reading