Morden won the toss, batted first and won the game.
Name How Out Bowler R B M 4 6 P.Bodman ct.Roberts Lambert 0 2 7 J.Goddard Deleon 5 14 16 1 B.Sargent-Cain ct & b Carroll 28 40 38 4 J.Blanchard Lambert 2 4 3 J.Davidson ct.Lambert Raison 5 25 37 1 A.Gilley ct.Deleon Raison 1 3 2 N.Brooker ct.Deleon Condron 10 35 39 1 S.Alexander Chick 13 22 18 2 T.Latham ct.Roberts Chick 0 7 7 B.C.Patel not out 0 0 3 Extras (b.4,w.2,nb.8) 14 Total all out (24.4 overs) 78
FOW 1-1, 2-7, 3-10, 4-44, 5-45, 6-50, 7-71, 8-76, 9-78
B.Sargent-Cain 11-6-9-4 T.Latham 6-1-26-0 B.C.Patel 10-5-13-4 J.Goddard 8-4-9-0 A.Gilley 2.1-0-7-1
Ten man Morden produced an incredible bowling and fielding performance to defend a total of just 78, thus winning their first ever meeting with Old Ruts 4th XI. Morden welcomed Ben and Alan back into the side that had tied the previous game, whilst Bharat returned for his 2nd appearance. John Blanchard came in for his first game this season and there was a debut for 15 year old Tom Latham.
Morden decided to bat first, but Phil Bodman (0), John Goddard (5) and John Blanchard all went quickly, leaving the Parish 10-3 after 6 overs. Ben and James fought back well, adding 34 before Ben was caught for 28, making 337 runs for him this season and just 74 behind Peter Bassett's all time record for runs in a season. Alan Gilley (1) and James Davidson (5) fell soon after, as Morden reached 50-6 off 15.3 overs. Another promising partnership then developed, with Neil Brooker and Steve Alexander putting on 21, but 71-6 after 21 overs deteriorated to 78 all out off 24.4 overs, as Steve (11), Tom (0) and Neil (10) departed in quick succession.
The innings ended 46 minutes early, so the 21 hungry players got their hands on Lil Gilley's tasty treats sooner than expected. Whatever she put into the tea, it had the desired effect on the Parish ten, who emerged from the pavilion in the mood to make the visitors fight hard for every run. The Chairman Richard Polley turned up to umpire the second innings and he only had to wait 6.2 overs to see a wicket fall, when Neil took a catch off Ben. 7-1 became 14-2 when Ben got his second wicket in his next over. Young Tom had opened the bowling from the other end and when he was replaced by Bharat Patel, the third wicket came immediately, thanks to a great catch at mid on by Alan Gilley removing the dangerous number three, who had made a quick 19. Old Ruts knew they had plenty of time to win this match, illustrated by their score of 34 after 12 overs progressing to 44 off 27 overs. Bharat and John Goddard were bowling during this phase and both did a great job for their side. Bharat got 4-13 off 10 overs, whilst John was very unlucky not to get a wicket, 0-9 off 8 overs. They were well supported by the fielders, most notably when the visitors skipper was run out by Neil, following an excellent throw by his cousin Tom in the deep. Old Ruts were 44-7 with two overs left before the final 20 was announced, so in theory, plenty of time to get 35 to win, and so the batsmen were in no hurry. A stubborn left hander and the West Indian opening bowler batted well for their side at this stage, adding a crucial 16 runs for the 8th wicket, before Ben was recalled to the attack. In his first over, he shattered the young boy's stumps, making it 60-8 with 19 to win off 18 overs. Alan came on to bowl at the other end, and the No.10 hit a juicy full toss for 4, as the next partnership grew to 9 and the tension mounted. Morden needed 2 quick wickets and the visitors needed 10 to win. In Ben's next over however, the No.10 edged a rapid delivery to Neil who dived to take another great catch.
The wicket was not only of vital importance to the outcome of the match, it was also of huge significance to Ben personally, because it was his 212th wicket for Morden Parish, making him the Club's third highest wicket taker ever. It took him past his old friend and rival, Peter Bassett, who is now fourth on 211. Only Peter Smith (581) and Richard Polley (263) have taken more. Ben has taken 26 wickets this season, so has two matches left to beat his personal best of 34 in a season.
Anyway, back to the match, and after Ben's wicket, two runs came off Alan's next over, then Ben bowled a maiden to the No.11, so it was 71-9, 8 to win off 12 overs. Alan stepped up to bowl to the left handed No.7, who had been in for 14 overs and was 7 not out, ahving survived a confusing run out then not out decision from Richard Polley early in his innings, and this man swept Alan's first ball towards the square leg boundary hoping for a vital four runs, but Phil Bodman clung on to take a pretty decent catch and secure a 7 run win, only the third victory of the season.