2:44pm Tuesday 24th August 2010
With promotion at your fingertips it’s not the best time for performances to dip.
Woods finally gave the batting performance that recent weeks had hinted at and paid the full price, crashing to defeat against perennial bogey side Shepperton and putting their promotion plans at risk.
Initially things looked on-plan as Woods won the toss and inserted Shepperton, gaining an instant reward with Aldous removing Stabler for a diamond duck.
Olivia Anderson and Mark Osbon then quenched the Woods enthusiasm with a dour drawn-out defensive partnership of 73, with Anderson looking composed and timing the ball well off the pace of Aldous, Jacobs and Movel.
Woods had their moments too, with several half-chances spurned off edges.
The introduction of Hiscox (1-32) to the attack in helpful conditions for swing changed that, as he moved the ball both ways in the air.
A regulation chance to Aldous of Anderson (33) was shinned to the floor, but all the close fielders were somewhat non-plussed when what looked like a clear glove to Miller was not given out.
Hiscox had the final say though, when a perfect outswinger found the edge for Aldous to redeem himself.
At the other end Movel was bowling well after his enforced lay off and with overs running out and wickets in hand Shepperton’s batsmen swung the lead to try and get a reasonable score.
A flurry of wickets inevitably followed as 90-2 became 160-8 in only 12 overs at the end of the innings, with Movel (5-61) the main beneficiary as the bails were sent further and further with each dismissal.
Aldous (2-47) came back and claimed the wicket of the adhesive Osbon (66 off 148 balls) to deny him carrying his bat throughout.
Woods’ response got off to the worst start when Miller was harshly adjudged LBW in the 1st over for a duck.
This was the catalyst for a collapse of epic proportion, as Chirag Patel played one glorious drive only to edge the next, followed by skipper Hiren Patel’s miserable season continuing with a 3 ball duck as the ball rolled on to the stumps from a defensive shot.
Chairman Wells was caught and bowled for another three ball blob by Harn after a poor shot, and with leading run scorer Leaver well caught at mid-off, and then Houghton LBW Woods were all but sunk at 32-6.
Ross Jacobs and Evan Whyte started a mini-recovery, with Ross (24) blasting a huge straight six, but the ball popped on a defensive prod and ballooned to give Harn an easy caught and bowled for his 5th wicket. Movel (16) played as only he can, but tried for one sweep too many and was stumped off Carter.
With Whyte (20) falling to Harn the next over it was left to Hiscox and Aldous, who successfully negotiated Carter’s next over.
The first ball of the following over saw Harn put the ball in the perfect area - Hiscox had to play it and could only watch on as the edge was taken and the ball went to 3rd slip, where Jolly held a fine catch to end the game.
Carshalton’s victory now means that winning the league is almost impossible. However, other results mean a win away at Kempton in the final game would secure promotion for Woods in 2nd place ahead of the chasing pack of five teams.
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