Matching arrived at Nazeing for the top of the table clash with the weather deteriorating on the journey over. It was light rain and with no covers prospects did not look good . However, the pitch was surprisingly dry and the game started on time .
It was good to see Nazeing's skipper Dan Reese back in action after a few weeks out with a broken finger. Dan won the toss and put Matching in to bat on a damp one .
Jason Green and Graeme Bowerman opened the batting for Matching and played really well before Bowerman had a memory lapse and helped himself to be run out (23) by lifting his foot out of the way of a shy at the stumps …quite comical but bemusing at the same time …this left Matching on 47-1 and raised the spirits of Nazeing somewhat. Taylor was bowling well especially with a wet ball. Matching carried on at about 4 an over losing the odd wicket .
Green was out by a good delivery by the always impressive Michael Blair caught behind for a well made 39. Dan Sibley batted powerfully for a superb 67 and Charlie Bass hit a quick fire 28 before the heavens opened after 41 overs with Matching on 227-7. A good total on that track. Jamie Stevens (3-58) and Peter Barker (2-61) took most of the wickets to fall.
The rain kept falling, but when it stopped, an inspection showed a wicket far better than could have been expected. After a further 25 minute delay the groundsman agreed to let the game carry on assuming it would be abandoned with any further down pour. Remarkably there was none and the game reached a conclusion .
In reply Nazeing lost two quick wickets in Crowley and Blair to Jason Green (2-39)and Charlie Bass , Rivers and Reese then batted well together before the former was nicely bowled by Simon Hartnell for29. Green's delivery to Crowley was a sublime slow outswinging Yorker! Reese continued to bat well and was obviously in pain , Matching did not help themselves by dropping him a few times possibly as they knew how important his wicket was , Taylor joined him and made a powerful 22 , but the rate was going up and in Matchings favour.
Matty taylor joined the attack and soon clean bowled Reese for a super 91 , this really put Nazeing on the back foot. Hartnell was wheeling away an excellent spell to the short boundary and ended with 3-34. In strolled stalwart Peter Barker , he had not given up and started to craft an innings , but the rate was going up. In the end Nazeing were 9 down and needed 20 off the last 2 overs , Barker(28no) decided to smash 14 off the penultimate over to leave just 6 off the last over , his only mistake may have been not to keep the strike .
So with one over to go Nazeing needed 6 and Matching one wicket or to keep the over to 5 (a tie would have meant a Matching win due to losing fewer wickets). Up stepped Matty Taylor who was desperate to be in the side following a groin injury. His increased maturity as a cricketer meant he kept his first deliver up to the bat and in it swung clipping the inside edge of Oliver’s bat and on to the stumps Taylor ending with 3-27.
What a match and what a finish ! Matching had won a game that had ebbed and flowed with both sides probably thinking they were on top at some point. With most other games rained off Matching move further ahead at the top of the table with a very long way to go though and hopefully not any more heart attacks !
Next week Matching are at home to South Loughton , after which half the season will be over …where did it go ?