Collingbourne v AVCC
Wow…a match report at long last. Well I’ve been sulking since the gripes from Avebury, but I couldn’t let the last match pass without recording sterling tales of daring-do. The feats are worth recording and reading.
Well, confusion reigned at the start. We were kindly put in as we didn’t have enough players in attendance as it was not widely understood that we were starting at 1.30 (please note all players for the next match). It was grey, windy and with a few menacing clouds It was duly noted that long sleeved shirts and jumpers had made their way out of the kit bags for the occasion.
So Jon Wolverton and Simon Borthwick made their way to the crease. Jon had been press-ganged (volunteered) to open by the steely silence of the others. Collingbourne opened up with 2 maidens..and Tim Gent had not even arrived. What was going on? Bit of shuffling in the 3rd over and both Jon and Simon nicked singles before Jon was caught at slip wafting down the offside for 1. 3-1. Oh no….not the start we needed against our local adversaries and good buddies.
Our hero, and captain, Simon Campbell was back, from who knows where, and went in at 3 - where he is best placed to give momentum and depth to our innings. Although reluctantly he went; but bullied by Greg (Chappell) Caswell who seemed to be shepherding the troops and sending them over the top to charge the enemy. I sense Greg would have done Kitchener proud.
Well Simon B woke up and clobbered 10 of the next over, followed by Simon C who took 10 off the next. Very tasty. Did we sense competition from our 2 chargers? 23-1 off 5 overs quickly became 130 for 1 off 20.3 overs. The ball was flying everywhere as Simon C hit 7 4’s and 4 mighty 6’s - 2 over the car park and on to the road. Simon B (sounds like they are an offshoot of the Spice Girls…Spice Boys?) was on 52 and then Simon C sent a soaring difficult catch to our old player Ryan Fraser in the deep and was out for a well-struck and rapid 73 off 17 overs. Ryan was duly (but jovially) sledged throughout for playing for Colingbourne having previously played for us.
It was fun to see Collingbourne with 5 players deep on the boundary struggling to contain Simon C. Shades of Parker (let you stew on that one).
Our new boy - Matt Broocemay (probably murdered the spelling) - fresh from Zimbabwe and friend of our Twins of Terror took the crease for the first time. Jeremy Richards (faster twin…what do you think Michael Rae?) kept compensating in the score hut/commentary box that Matt had not played for a year and would be rusty. Well I would love to see what he is like when he is fluent. Bish, bosh, and I heard their captain asking where the rockets came from as Matt despatched their bowling around the ground and scored a rapid 52 - with hard hitting scoring and 6 excellent 4’s and 1 mighty 6. Great debut, Matt - looking forward to seeing more, and that first 100.
Talking of 6’s. Simon B hit a big one which went into the hands of a boundary fielder and popped out and went for 6. Very unusual. Well blow me…it also happened shortly afterwards to Matt B on the other side of the pitch who scored a mighty 6 the same way. Sore hands and bruised egos amongst the Collingbourne ranks.
Matt was run out trying to get Simon B the strike. Ben Jones had helpfully gone onto the pitch to tell Simon he was on 93 with 3 overs to go. Well he didn’t see much of the strike until the last over. Matt helped him by getting needlessly and heroically run out. Jeremy refused a run to keep Simon on strike and Simon B thrilled us all getting out on 94 finally, trying to hit a 6 off the final ball with 7 of their field on the boundary. Quite a challenge.
Brilliant innings form Simon B. However, he will be fined for 100-avoidance. Only fair.
Have you counted? Yes? Well the score was 245-3 - our highest ever innings in the 35 over game, probably our highest ever, and great cause for celebration.
So we took the field buoyed with plenty of sandwiches, scone and rather nice cake. We were alive. We were confident. We just had to sort out Ryan Fraser who was opening for the wrong side. For those, who like a statistic, Ryan averaged 80 for us last season and was out for 99 at Burbage (which he was reminded of multiple times).
Alex Richardson and Graham Newland opened the bowling as we held the pace and aggression back. Not sure why? They were on their metal and their 2 ringers (Ryan and a guy with Aldershot Cricket Club kit - C Nunn) took a lot of quick singles. There were a few chances as balls flew close to fielders in the air which on a better day would have carried to hands. Indeed, there was a difficult dropped catch. However, Graham halted the progress in the 8th over with Simon Campbell taking a gentle lofted catch after Graham had Nunn wafting around to some well flighted balls. Next over, Graham had their number 3 caught off a gentle top edge by Tim Gent who played well at wicket-keeper. Next ball, Gringell went to Graham (3rd time in 2 seasons, but I’m not counting), caught Simon Campbell again. 3 quick wickets and the cream of their batting gone. There was some commentary that the 3rd wicket went to a full-toss, but it was a superb ball to get the incoming batsman off his guard. Alex bowled well for 0-26 (7 overs) and Graham took 3-31.
Shortly after, Greg Caswell got their danger man Ryan out off a superb running and deep catch by Jon Wolverton (still fresh from his batting heroics taking the shine off the ball for the Spice Boys to hit). Ryan was out for 43, and so his average clearly better with us. Greg delivered a hostile, accurate spell and we could see the fight go out of them.
Their middle order poked, prodded and made some runs, but these were hard to come by with good bowling from Jon Wolverton (1-13), Peter Williams (1-23 - with much guile), Ben Jones (0-8 - accurate and probing despite a 5am finish), Jamie Corden (0-7 - very accurate and unlucky), Greg Caswell (1-11- hostile), and Jeremy Richards (0-7 - so fast we took him off). Matt B took an absolutely outstanding catch in the off-side off Peter Williams diving on a rocket and amazingly rolling over, arm upturned holding the ball. Wow, the boy can catch and field too.
Well we put a few down after that and Collingbourne subsided to 128-7. We won by 117 runs.
First win for 2.5 months. Richly deserved and with good contributions by all players - with both bat and ball.
The win was well celebrated in the Tipple afterwards, with the Collingbourne lads. Good friends and good rivalry. They edged us this season 2-1 and so let’s make up for it next season.