Ivanhoe v Ruislip – 3 July 2010  

If we start by saying Ruislip scored 194 all out in their 40 overs, and bearing in mind our batting form in recent matches you’ve probably already guessed the result.   

Well read on as lead by Captain Fantastic Adrian Dancer who turned in an all round man of the match performance with both bat, ball and throwing in 20 overs behind the stumps as well, Ive’s cruised to a 7 wicket victory with 3 overs to spare.  

With a wicket for Max (1 for 13 in 5 overs) in his first over from a fine juggling catch by Andy H at first slip hopes were high that Ruislip’s innings would be kept down to a score we might hope to achieve with our recent batting frailities.  But with the other opener scoring regularly a second wicket stand soon pushed the score past 50 and it was only after Richard (5 overs 0 for 28) on at first change for Max was replaced by Andy H (8 overs 1 for 28) that the 2nd wicket fell.  Ciaran (7 overs 1 for 53) assisted by a diving catch by Richard in the covers removed the Ruislip opener for 52 and then whilst two Ruislip batsmen made over 40 it was it was down to Adrian to finish of the innings but not before congratulating Andy C (8 overs 1 for 32) who came back for his 2nd spell and celebrated a milestone by taking his 500th wicket for the club with a caught and bowled. Adrain closed out the innings, taking 6 for 32 from 6.2 overs aided by a catch from Richard and 2 stumpings from Malcolm as Ruislip closed on 194 all out.  

As Adrian rallied his troups at tea by stating it was 220 wicket (who was he kidding!) 195 to win looked a daunting prospect, but with 50 coming up in the 8th over and 100 in the 18th,  runs came regularly as Adrian and Denis (36) put on 112 for the first wicket helped by a number of extras from the Ruislip bowlers.  Max then joined Adrian for a 2nd wicket stand of 67 and as the Ruislip score was run down a 9 wicket win looked a possibility.  However with the win in sight both Max (35) and Adrain (63) departed but with 13 required Andy H (9no) and Ciaran (4no), hit the winning runs to see Ive’s home by 7 wickets with 3 overs to spare.  An excellent win and hopefully the start of another winning run.