HALVERSTOWN 2: 118 for 7 off 40 overs
Batting: J.Hodgson 24 M.Hodgson 23* Sean Conroy 9
Bowling J.Khan 8-0-24-2 J.Hodgson 2-0-13-1 G.O’Shea 2-0-14-1
Sn. Conroy 1-0-1-0 D.Drumm 6-0-19-0 M.Hodgson 5-1-22-0 W.Van Wyk 3-0-21-0
MERRION 7: 119 for 4 off 27 overs
Batting: H.D’Souza 25* O.Rye 24 S.Cunningham 20* S.Karanth 16
Bowling: K.Fredericks 8-2-22-2 T.Houchin 8-2-29-2 O.Rye 4-1-9-1
S.Bowling 8-2-15-1 S.Roets 8-1-23-1 M.Kennedy 4-0-12-0
My previous match report featured Bruce Springsteen. However, most of you are too young to remember Cat Stevens who released “Mathew and Son” in 1967. Well our game against Merrion 7 was all about “Matthew and Dad”, who put up a remarkable father and son 8th wicket stand of 56 runs, not out, which helped us to gain 2 bonus points and gave us respectability when we had looked like taking a drubbing.
We were always on the defensive, having 10 men and another having to leave by 6pm. Had I won the toss we would have fielded first but they won and sent us in to bat. The standard Halverstown collapse came earlier this time and wickets soon tumbled, Junaid a bit unlucky when he tried to repeat a big 6 but was caught. Merrion had a young team and a couple of ladies too, but their youngsters were no bad bowlers, though they did gift us 27 wides. They were well able to get swing and five of our batsmen were clean bowled. Then came Dad, Jim Hodgson. He bedded in, facing 15 balls before scoring a run. By the end he had faced 65 balls for his 24, with Matthew getting his 23 not out in a mere 47 balls in a remarkably mature innings which finished with a bang with 9 off the last 3 balls. Jim’s steadfastness was hugely needed but it was Mathew’s classy batting which really caught the eye. Junaid and Sean Conroy had added runs to the board but the rest of us failed to support in any meaningful way.
However it would have taken a lot to put us into a winning position. Merrion put out their more experienced players earl and we struggled. Usually I complain that bowlers are ten a penny in Halverstown but batsmen are gold dust. This time we were short of pace bowlers and I had to use quite a mixture. Only Junaid bowled his full quota, taking two good wickets. Ger got his first ever league wicket and Jim, who was used sparingly because of an injured shoulder, got out the solid opener Oliver Rye. Sean Conroy bowled one excellent over and I rued not bringing him on a few overs earlier, but I didn’t expect Merrion to punish the last few overs quite so heavily. Ten year old Wian made his H2 debut and did remarkably well for one so young, especially in the field.
Hansel, the good natured Merrion captain, finished off proceedings with a massive 6 that disappeared onto the road to win the game in 27 overs. A sporting and, ultimately, enjoyable game from which we ,deservedly, did not come away from empty handed.
Des Drumm 25/6/23