Risinghurst Cricket Club

Recap

By John Thompson

A complete contrast to the previous glorious Saturday’s nail-biting finish as a draw was again the result but this time under leaden skies and with only the home team threatening to win.

This did not always like it would be the case as Risinghurst were reduced to 42-4 in the 10th over thanks to three quick wickets to ‘Joe’ Kelly (3-43). But “Risi” bat deep, and after a steadying of the ship, Rakesh Nambiar (47) and Romio Fernandes (130*) took the attack to the Mills’ change bowlers. The fifty and then the hundred partnership came and went, and when Rakesh was finally bowled the stand had reached 146 with Romio just short of his century. He soon went past that milestone and finished unbeaten on 130, including 17 fours and 4 sixes helping the team past 1000 runs in only the fourth ‘at bat’ of the season. One of Romio’s sixes was possibly the biggest hit seen at Grovelands Road for many a year and his fourth off the final ball of the innings was pure class as he carressed the ball down the ground and over the sightscreen.

Facing their highest chase of the season, Mills started brightly, but were never up with the rate and wickets fell regularly. But it was not until skipper Steve Holford went for 35, excellently caught and bowled low down by skipper Martin Kalyan, did Risinghurst look like they could win. John Thompson chipped away with two caught and bowled’s himself, finishing with 3-29, but thanks to stubborn resistance from Eric Martin (32*) and the rest of the lower order, Risinghurst were once again unable to force a win. They do move up a place to second though thanks to East Oxford 2 losing the only other unbeaten record in Division 6B.