AVCC v Urchfont
AVCC played their first game of the season at home on Wednesday, a T20 clash against established local big noises, Urchfont.
The pitch, many thanks to Nigel Wookey and a number of others, was impressive, the setting great, and the weather perfect (if a little Pearl Harbour later on).
The skipper lost the toss again, but the team manfully restricted Urchfont 135 for 4 off their 20. Pick of the bowlers was Jon Wolverson, bit of a find from Sutton Veny, bowling left arm round with pace. He picked up two wickets, despite an alleged cracked rib from an unspecified drinking injury (UDI). Mike (why would you ever go to Tesco) Parr and James Hayward picked up one each. Rob Hedderwick (not played for three years) bowled some useful induckers.
Rob and Peter Williams employed the so far unused tactic of actually catching the ball when hit at them. Team mates were bemused and impressed. Skipper took executive action by replacing Mike on the long-on boundary after a couple of uncertain attempts, only to deck one himself. It was established and agreed by all afterwards that it was a very difficult catch. Rory Plank did sterling work on haring round the mid-wicket boundary (cow corner).
Tim Gent opened up and anchored the innings with 18, with Rob hitting a stylish 28 (ret). This allowed the team to accelerate in second half. Joe Wookey (big name star, but on the Devizes transfer list) threatened to take the game by the scruff, watched admiringly (sometimes, when she wasn't chatting) by significant other, but he fell for 18 holing out at deep-square. Needing 16 off the last two, AVCC fell 5 runs short; down, but not disgraced.
The board swiftly convened and, whilst not specifically blaming the skipper for the recent run of bad results, felt that in the interests of the team, they might "go in another direction" for the next game. A compensation package has not been agreed.
Urchfont were a pleasure to play against and we managed to sort a few things out in the Ship afterwards.