Kelly steps into
AN attractive attacking left handed batsmen making hay in the sun against a demoralised attack.
That’s the familiar story whose repeated telling has enthralled Rochdale supporters throughout summer of ‘18.
But although the plot was the same, the outcome familiar and most of the supporting roles unchanged we had a new hero on Saturday, a central character making his Redbrook debut.
Welcome to Rochdale, Nick Kelly, who must have been singing to himself, with a nod towards departed Dale professional Ed Moore, the old song Anything you can do I can do better. Or at least as well as.
For Kelly, newly arrived from New Zealand to replace Moore for the rest of the season, greeted his new colleagues by blasting Rawtenstall for 130.
Coming in in the fifth over with the score on 10, Kelly seemed at first anxious to get under way, his first scoring shot just going over mid off’s head and away for four. But three balls and two boundaries later Kelly was on his way.
His driving between extra cover and mid wicket was as punishing as it was delightful, as indeed was his square and late cutting, a product of quick movement in the crease. He cruised along at quicker than a run a ball and 102 of his runs came in boundaries, 24 fours and one six, a statistic bearing testament to the rapidity of the outfield.
When he passed his century there were still 19 overs left and Rochdale’s batting records began to be threatened. But on 130 he perished, somewhat unluckily, when in attempting a reverse sweep, the ball hit his glove, looped over his head and hit the stumps.
The rest of Rochdale’s batsmen, except for Jack Pilling, who continued his good form at the top of the order, and Jack Avery was non- existent, and the collapse after Kelly’s departure on 207 was unimaginable. Seven wickets fell for 11 runs and the team was bowled out for with nearly five overs left.
Rawtenstall, who had been dead on their feet half an hour previously now had a realistic target to chase and their veteran captain Keith Roscoe had claimed his 121st five wicket haul.
But if they thought it was one they could achieve, Steve Oddy had other ideas He quickly had
Imran Abid snaffled at gully, and when he bowled Keegan Petersen on 33, Rawtenstall’s chances plunged to zero.
In fact the visitors’ batting almost matched Dale’s for its haplessness and Oddy capitalised with his own five wicket return.
Ben Chapman and Will Avery also took the opportunity to improve their records, while Michael Harling made an impact by taking a brilliant diving catch his to his right at slip to dismiss Andrew Payne and when Rawtenstall finally succumbed for a paltry 94 there were 20 overs remaining of what had become a largely forgettable match.
Except, of course, for Kelly’s instant impact, which will live long in the memory. Rochdale J Pilling c&b Petersen ........................................ 2 M Harling c Excell b Roscoe ........................... 1 N Kelly b Abid .................................................. 130 J Avery c Petersen b Roscoe ....................... 17 A Dawson b Roscoe ........................................... 0 T Avery c Excell b Roscoe ................................ 5 H Hussain c Aziz b Abid ................................... 0 J O’Neil c&b Roscoe ........................................... 3 W Avery not out .................................................. 2 S Oddy b Abid ..................................................... 1. Extras ..................................................................... 30 Total (45.3 overs) ............................................ 218 Bowling: Roscoe 13 2 65 5; Abid 12.3 2 37 3; A Hussain 7 0 25 1; Petersen 10 2 52 1; Excell 3 0 18 0. Rawtenstall I Abid c W Avery b Oddy .................................. 6 T Aziz c Harling b Oddy ................................. 16 K Petersen b Oddy .......................................... 14 R Shafiq c Kelly b Oddy .................................... 8 A Ahmad lbw Chapman .................................. 0 A Payne c Harling b Chapman ...................... 0 B Excell lbw Oddy ............................................... 5 A Hussain lbw W Avery ................................. 20 D Walsh c J Avery b W Avery .......................... 7 J Hallows c J Avery b Kelly ........................... 10 K Roscoe not out ................................................. 2 Extras ........................................................................ 6 Total ( 30.3 overs) ............................................ 94. Bowling: Oddy 9 2 27 5; Harling 3 0 23 0; Chapman 7 2 12 2; Kelly 6.3 0 20 1; W Avery 5 3 10 2 Rochdale, 12 points, beat Rawtenstall, 2 points, by 124 runs.