Chubb
International Regular
Norwich & Coltishall Wanderers IIs 194 a/o (J. Bunting 54*, R. Humphries 38, Chubb 27)
Thetford IIs 183-9 (R. Keiser 4-30, J. Bunting 3-9)
This was a really good match. NCWCC are a big club in the Norfolk Cricket Alliance, the senior county league. They are the kind of club that has two overseas pros (although they do not draw a salary direct from the club- instead, the club finds them work and coaching gigs etc.), alongside a bevy of county players in their ranks. The IIs overseas pro this year is Rudolph Keiser, an 19-year-old Afrikaans allrounder who has played for South Africa Universities and has been tipped for international honours. I felt I was lucky to be playing in such exalted company. Former pros at this club include Ross Taylor (who by all accounts acted like an arsehole and received a ban for excessive sledging), Gareth Hopkins and Mohammed Wasim, who I believe has played for Pakistan.
It was a really hot day and the pitch looked pretty flat so we batted first on winning the toss. Rudolph opened the batting and hit his first two deliveries for four dismissively. We all sat back and waited for him to ton up. Unfortunately, the third ball he played back to and dropped it down in front of him, whereupon it rolled back onto the stumps and dislodged a bail. He was nonplussed to say the least. We lost another two wickets quickly, and I walked out to bat at 30-3.
I batted pretty well- the ball was swinging a bit but I just batted out of the crease and played with soft hands- I got lucky a couple of times but still felt really calm and in control. It helped I was batting with Humphries, a naturalised Aussie with a typical Aussie style, if you get what I mean. We saw it through to drinks at 93-3. Unfortunately Humphries got a shocker of a decision soon after and then I stupidly lost my concentration and played a terrible shot against a leggie I was having no problems with before- I was angry with myself. I must correct this problem. Fortunately for the team Johnny, my housemate and captain of UEA IIs, batted superbly to score a fifty. He received good support from the Number 11, who made 21.
We bowled pretty well, with Rudy taking out three of the Thetford top order fairly quickly- unfortunately their 5 and 6 proved harder to dislodge, and a final rearguard from their last pair took them to a losing draw, despite Johnny taking 2 wickets with his first two deliveries.
It was a really good match and it was fantastic to play and have some measure of success at a higher standard than I usually play- I fully intend to make this experience- and any more I get during my last few weeks at uni- tell when I return to Devon.
Unfortunately the match today against Derby University was cancelled on Friday because they could not raise a team.
Thetford IIs 183-9 (R. Keiser 4-30, J. Bunting 3-9)
This was a really good match. NCWCC are a big club in the Norfolk Cricket Alliance, the senior county league. They are the kind of club that has two overseas pros (although they do not draw a salary direct from the club- instead, the club finds them work and coaching gigs etc.), alongside a bevy of county players in their ranks. The IIs overseas pro this year is Rudolph Keiser, an 19-year-old Afrikaans allrounder who has played for South Africa Universities and has been tipped for international honours. I felt I was lucky to be playing in such exalted company. Former pros at this club include Ross Taylor (who by all accounts acted like an arsehole and received a ban for excessive sledging), Gareth Hopkins and Mohammed Wasim, who I believe has played for Pakistan.
It was a really hot day and the pitch looked pretty flat so we batted first on winning the toss. Rudolph opened the batting and hit his first two deliveries for four dismissively. We all sat back and waited for him to ton up. Unfortunately, the third ball he played back to and dropped it down in front of him, whereupon it rolled back onto the stumps and dislodged a bail. He was nonplussed to say the least. We lost another two wickets quickly, and I walked out to bat at 30-3.
I batted pretty well- the ball was swinging a bit but I just batted out of the crease and played with soft hands- I got lucky a couple of times but still felt really calm and in control. It helped I was batting with Humphries, a naturalised Aussie with a typical Aussie style, if you get what I mean. We saw it through to drinks at 93-3. Unfortunately Humphries got a shocker of a decision soon after and then I stupidly lost my concentration and played a terrible shot against a leggie I was having no problems with before- I was angry with myself. I must correct this problem. Fortunately for the team Johnny, my housemate and captain of UEA IIs, batted superbly to score a fifty. He received good support from the Number 11, who made 21.
We bowled pretty well, with Rudy taking out three of the Thetford top order fairly quickly- unfortunately their 5 and 6 proved harder to dislodge, and a final rearguard from their last pair took them to a losing draw, despite Johnny taking 2 wickets with his first two deliveries.
It was a really good match and it was fantastic to play and have some measure of success at a higher standard than I usually play- I fully intend to make this experience- and any more I get during my last few weeks at uni- tell when I return to Devon.
Unfortunately the match today against Derby University was cancelled on Friday because they could not raise a team.
