Cricketing gods playing havoc.......

The Cricketing Gods obviously don’t think trying to defend an EAPL is difficult enough and, continually, keep throwing the Rams additional challenges. This week we were ‘delighted’ to lose our and the league’s leading wicket-taker Peter Hatzoglou when he was called up into the Oval Invincibles Hundred squad. Although, Peter’s career is a bit different to our norm we are always delighted when one of our own gets recognition and the chance to play at a higher level. Sometimes the game has to be bigger than the Club.

However, the Rams are very pleased to welcome back Nathan Buck and Noah Thain, fingers crossed for no new injuries at Northants or Essex, as they prepare to welcome Frinton to Spicers on Saturday. Chris Dixon, our second team overseas, an opening bowler from Perth gets a deserved call up after being the Whitings league leading bowler for most of the season. Mark Smith also returns following his illness last week. Thain and Buck will strengthen the batting line up. Will one of these two provide us with a third centurion in as many matches following on from the superb tons from Callum Guest and Luke Spears? I expect it would be greedy, and unlikely, to have two in one match? Can Guest get to the magical 1000 league runs?

Blaine Bannister for one will be hoping to stop anyone getting anywhere near to three figures. The Frinton opening bowler has thirty wickets to his name and seems to be relishing the challenge off his new shorter run. Of late he has been supported by Aussie Bryce Street, but its not clear whether he will be around on Saturday. Frinton may also be missing their leading run scorer as Josh Rymell who seems to be having a long run in the Essex One Day Cup side. If he and Street are both missing they will need runs from all rounders Bannister and Arshane Wijesuriya as well as keeper Billy Amas. Sawston will be wary of Josh Frame whose seven-fer gave Frinton a great chance of defeating the Rams in the drawn reverse fixture. The Rams will be looking to make it eight out of eight with the pink ball and take at least a thirty-six point lead into their final two games.

Their closest rivals Mildenhall are at home to Horsford. With the Rams second XI safely in mid table and the 1st and 3rd teams pressing for silverware I suspect that there will be some tactical selection. Chris Dixon has moved up to help the firsts but the seconds at least get Sean Ward in return. Josh Jordan makes his long awaited seasonal debut following his school duties and then his limp wrist! The Rams travel to Kimbolton hoping not to repeat the shocking batting performance that cost them the reverse fixture. Last year’s promotion was built around some stunning opening partnerships between Ben Benson and Jordan; however, Benson was back to form at number four last week so we will need to wait and see who opens up. We will need to wait to see if Marc Pearson can make it five fifty plus scores on the bounce after his fantastic ton last week. With Dixon missing skipper Nick Griggs will have to find another opening bowler.

The thirds need a couple of victories to guarantee themselves a third successive promotion and welcome back their talisman from 2020 and early 2021, Sean Jenkins, to boost their ranks as they travel for the first time ever to The Green, at Aspenden, Standon and Puckeridge. They will be looking to put last week’s disappointing defeat behind them. Looking at the fixtures they will probably need a victory to keep ahead of NCI who face Abington on Parker’s Piece.