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ALL GOOD THINGS…
With the perfect July in the rear view mirror, the hope is that it hasn’t paved the way for an awful August, as Pompey 2s’ palate became reacquainted with the taste of defeat. Last Saturday’s narrow reverse at Bournemouth 2s brought an end to a five-game winning sequence. It also signifies a second successive setback when the majority of the side had clambered aboard Nicky Wyatt’s Fun Bus for an away trip, meaning a likely mothballing of any future journeys via the same mode of transport, due to the designated driver’s dangerous levels of superstition.
Looking back, the omens were foreboding after Wyatt lost the flip, and subjected his side to 45 overs of fielding in the afternoon heat. Given the flat, hard deck, and predictably quick outfield, Pompey’s bowlers performed admirably to restrict the home side to 221 for 9 - the wickets being shared out among Ishy Ahmad, Ethan Randall, Joe Kooner-Evans, and Paul Hungerford, along with another excellent run out being effected by the cannon arm of Tom Wallis and tidy glove-work by Martin Balland-Collins.
Chasing down a Double Nelson got off to a searing start for the visitors, with captain Wyatt leading the way, pulling, cutting, and generally scything his way to 60-odd, along with Sam Collins-Wells, who looked immoveable until a brain fade 40-odd. However, the free scoring couldn’t be maintained, as Bournemouth kept chipping away with wickets – in part thanks to some generous concessions from the visiting captain, who allowed the home side to field substitutes from their 3rd XI, to replace a pair of incapacitated players. A tight finish approached as Paul Hungerford biffed some late-overs boundaries, and at one point it appeared that he’d timed his run to perfection. Sadly, it was the Porchester (Poor Man’s) Brian Lara who blinked first, as Hungerford was clean bowled from the second ball of the final over, to leave Pompey 8 runs short.
The boys have an eye on a return to winning ways this Saturday, as they host Locks Heath at HQ.
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THINGS TO DO IN VENTNOR WHEN YOU'RE DEAD
The metaphorical track marks of a winning habit are becoming visible among the Pompey 2s contingent, as Saturday saw them notch up a third consecutive victory over fellow strugglers Ventnor 2s, at their undulating Steephill ground.
At the toss, Pompey’s personification of Napoleon Complex, Nicky Wyatt, called correctly, and once again, chose to bat first. Despite the long, multi-vessel-ed journey across the Solent & the Isle of Wight, The Unicorns’ openers Jamie Mitchell and Matt Shaw got off to a positive start, compiling a swift 55 for the opening wicket, before Shaw was caught and bowled for 25. As the run rate eased up, Mitchell (39) departed followed by the returning Rich Locke (to a questionable lbw decision), leaving youngsters Dan Wallis and Joe Kooner-Evans to shore the innings up during the middle overs.
Once Wallis and Kooner-Evans had exited stage right for 29 apiece, the spotlight fell on another one of Wyatt’s whippersnappers, Tom Wallis, and the skipper himself to pummel the Islanders’ bowlers to all parts of their picturesque ground. Wallis’ elegant strokeplay resembled a well-oiled machine, and can count himself extremely unlucky to end up on 49 not out, while Wyatt - to change a word from an oft-used phrase to describe his bedroom prowess - produced 25 balls of fireworks, finishing unbeaten on 51. The pair combined to add 88 from the last 10 overs, to accelerate Pompey’s score up to 237 for 5.
After the players and umpires savoured some shade and sustenance, Pompey’s defence of 237 got off to an inauspicious start, as opening bowler, Harlan Randall, was forced to leave the field after injuring his side as he delivered the fifth ball of the innings, leaving the visitors short of a bowler and a fielder. This was further compounded by Henry Woolfe dashing off, after copping a touch of (a geographically-confused) Delhi Belly, so within this context, Ethan Randall’s 1 for 19 from his 9 overs illustrates an outstanding spell of spin bowling – his figures would’ve been even more miserly were it not for some geriatric fielding from Mitchell.
With the changing room Doulton suitably dented, Woolfe returned to combine with Joe Kooner-Evans’ off-breaks to remove Ventnor’s two main batsmen – the latter courtesy of a sharp catch by gloveman Martin Balland-Collins. After that, wickets tumbled with the regularity of resignations from the current Conservative Government, as the hosts capitulated to 146 all out – Woolfe finishing with 1 for 31, Kooner-Evans 3 for 40, and Tom Wallis capped off an exquisite all-round performance with 3 for 12 from 5 overs (with a little help from older brother, Dan, who clung onto an excellent outfield catch off his bowling), along with several runs saved in the field.
The lads will be chasing the dragon again this Saturday, seeking to maintain a perfect July, as they travel to Sarisbury 2s.
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