Irving knock in vain as Dons are dominant

Harry McInley writes...

It is rare that pen is put to paper reporting that the 2nd team have lost.
Today is one of those days, after the Park Lane onlookers witnessed a 39 run loss at the
African paceman had bowled a miserly seven a single off the 42nd over of hands of a strong Wimbledon 2s outfit on Saturday.
The thing is, these llamas simply aren’t that used to losing.
In 2015, the twos only fell to the sword once, which also came early in the season. In 2014, twice.
Individually, the stats are even more impressive. 2s Veteran MacDonald boasted a win ratio of over 80% in the last two years before Saturday, whilst Will Irving has lost only 14% in the league. Arguably most impressive is that Saturday was Harry McInley’s first loss in a second XI shirt - although to many this comes as much less of a surprise.
“Losing is part of the game”, the cliché so often heard in the wake of a defeat, rang around the dressing room and did not sit well on the llama humps. Despite this, it’s a truth that often more can be learned from failure than success, and as we go into next week, we must ask ourselves: how can we perform 5% better?
At danger of going into the nitty gritty details, I must first break the news to you that cricket unfortunately passed away on Saturday.
That’s right, Steve Hirst, after wearing it down over a career of 16 club cricketing years, put to bed what will only be remembered as a great sport. Death of Cricket steamed in after the drinks break to serve up a pitiful leg stump full toss at the settled Wimbledon number 4. After hitting it straight to Wigley at cover, the confident number 5 walked in, almost sniggering. Sure enough, a similar delivery was served up, and the eyes lit up. When the ball was plinked comfortably into the hands of mid off, complete silence descended over the ground. It was a sad moment and is one that will live long in the memory of all who played the game. The Wimbledon number 5 walked off so slowly that it was difficult to tell from the middle whether he was actually moving. As time stood still, the game resumed.
Priory perhaps bowled and fielded a little too optimistically. The llamas have been known to bully opposition, using their superior skills to dictate proceedings and guide the course of the game. Wimbledon were smarter, with the openers pouncing on any width early on and running well lower down, putting pressure on what is usually a calm and confident outfit.
234 was always going to be a potential banana skin, and it was made even trickier when the in-form MacDonald, followed by Tye and Lister, fell in quick succession.
At 12-3, Gale and Irving looked to rebuild. From the veranda, the only thing that Henry Tye could chew were his nails, although the same cannot be said for the two at the crease. Irving got through a whole pack of chewits while John, looking much more at ease now his role is back to “chilled out entertainer” rather than “up-tight skipper”, started to open up and find the boundary.
He fell for a well played 42, and when the forgotten man, David Ramsden strolled out, things got really exciting.
I don’t know what the Prawn had for breakfast, but it was most likely microwavable, and his fleeting knock was mightily impressive. Taking on the 5th and 6th Wimbledon bowlers, at one stage the chased really looked on at 144-4.
These llamas never give up without a fight, especially Irving who fell for a desperately- close-to-match-winning-but-bottled 71. However, it wasn’t to be, as a few more quick wickets fell. Although Hirsty didn’t think the game was out of reach, everyone else did, and the llamas slumped to a disappointing loss.
A mention must go to Ben Donovan who bowled in excellent rhythm without reward in the first innings (6 overs for 17, 2 maidens).