AVCC Club day
Nice weather greeted our 2nd AVCC Club Day. It was great to see a large crowd around for the opening of our new grand pavilion by Judge Turner.
The Judge also set us a challenge... a bottle of champagne for the first player to hit a ball into his garden (without breaking a window and providing he was there to acknowledge the event).The pavilion is major plus (although the old club stalwarts will talk wistfully about the old shed and its broken roof and windows for years to come)...and many thanks to Nigel Wookey for leading and sorting the reconstruction, and also to Bruce Carter who led the late night painting. We could also see the influence of Nikki......never been in a pavilion before with cushions, cut flowers and even flowers in the loo. I assume this is to soften up the opposition.
Once the ceremonies were done, 2 determined teams took the field. We had 22 players committed and another 7 - all members of the committee - sorting umpiring, barbeques and general co-ordination of the fun and refreshments. Great to see so many players, and it was especially great to see so many youngsters turn up and get stuck in. This is our future.
Jon Wolverson led his team to bat first. Bit of a rocky start as they were quickly 5-9 with Tim Law and Dan Thorburn both taking a couple of early wickets (for Paddy Bond's team) as the Flack family contributed 1 between them for openers. Emi Thorburn then came in, and had to face hubbie Dan's bowling. She won the sledging hands-down with the best put down I've heard on a cricket pitch for many a year as she sweetly and demurely pointed out to Dan after one of his efforts that she preferred more length. No idea what she was talking about, but Dan blushed, the umpire coughed and she struck 3 sweet runs before being bowled by the aggressive fast bowling of Tim. I did feel cheated at this time, as I think Emi could have contributed much more we would have liked to learn about Dan, if she had stayed in. Alex Brown came in for a quick flourish...one well struck 4, 1 miss to Dan's straight ball.
There was a cameo from Robin Youngs (0) before Ben Eveling came in and steadied the ship with an in-control 26 - with 5 sweetly struck 4's to show the youngsters how to do it. 50 beckoned until Ben Pugh-Cook spoilt his party. Ben P-C then went on to take the side's danger man - Matt White - early for 6 (including one massive 4). This was a major blow and the tail end needed to wag (a lot). But what a tail.....Simon Borthwick got 19, Jon Wolverson played a captain's innings for 19, and Louis Glibbery supported them with 7. However, no one got going as Ben PC, Morgan Holden, Alex Hitchens and Ben Jones kept them in check and kept sneaking wickets with deadly straight balls. Thus, with not enough overs used, the team started again and were finally sent back to the pavilion at the interesting score of 125 for 15 wckets. Good news...no one got a pair (so to speak).
The team interval saw a children's game....in which the girls dominated (shades of Emi to come), a BBQ was well operated by Tim Gent and Mark Pugh-Cook, and lots of nice cakes (thanks Nikki and the girls) and beer (thanks Mike and Stacey) were consumed. This umpire was particularly inspired by a Tim Gent burnt-sausage special, 2 good large helpings of chocolate cake, washed down by a pint of local wallop.
Having gathered their strength, Jon's team took the field knowing something special was required in the field to save their collective honour.What a start... 0-3 off 3 overs as Harry Flack bowled Alex Hitchen and J Corden took out Ben Jones and Rory Law. However, Ben PC came to the crease and with Dan Thorburn and they put on 43 for the next wicket before Ben was out for 14....caught by Robyn Youngs off Archie Flack. Morgan Holden was run out unluckily and this brought a decisive partnership together as Paul Glibbery scored 21 (before being bowled by Alex Brown) and Dan recovered from his wife's encouragements to make 32 before he was retired as he looked like he could win things single-handed with 5x4's and 1 towering 6. Tim Law came in and showed no mercy with a 30 not out, and after quick innings from Rory Plank and Jack Glibbery (combined total of less than 1), and captain Paddy supported Tim to victory with a not out 19, including 3x4's and 1x6. Paddy obviously needed to get back to the beer quickly.126-9 and victory was claimed by Paddy Bond and team. The pick of the bowlers were Harry Flack 1-4 off 3 overs of hostile pace bowling, J Corden with 2-20 off 4 overs, and Alex Brown 3-10 off 2.
The evening was long and social. Believe Simon consumed most of the beer, and a good time was had by all. Our spirits are revived and I know we will take this spirit into future victories against Erlestoke, Wilcot and the PSR Maharajahs.
Graham Newland