FOSS v AVCC (20/20)
Well it finally happened… the sun was shining, and with no practice sessions behind us, we turned up for our first fixture of the season to face the Friends of Stonehenge School (FOSS) at the new Centenary Pavilion Ground in Amesbury. A new venue for us, and a new fixture. It was a 20/20 match, and so high excitement beckoned.
Not sure who FOSS pertain to be, but many of the players were from Shrewton’s 1st XI, who have refused to play us previously as allegedly “we were not good enough”. They had already played a couple of times this season…and were well battle-hardened for us.
Well besides re-introducing ourselves to willow and leather (no 50 Shades here)…we managed to assemble 12 players…many of which were new…including (and warm welcomes to) Jeremy Richards, Matt Dancey and Mel Green. Jamie Corden looked all grown up, whilst at the other end of the age pyramid, Dudley Perrin and Graham Newland brought decades of experience and worldliness. So, quite a mix. And one without a wicket keeper and so Tim Gent kindly took the gloves….mainly as he was the only one to volunteer.
They let us bat and we took the field only 11 minutes late (could be a record for timeliness for us) and Nic Westlake (new father - should improve his cricket based on Alex Brown's and Jon Wolverton's performances last year) and Geoff Smith took the field as our opening pair. Their bowling attack looked lively and promising on the green pitch, and runs were hard to come by on an extremely large pitch with a lot of long grass on it. Geoff and Nic knuckled down and scored at a steady rate. However, at the half way stage we were just 35 off 10 overs, our lowest ever score at this stage of a 20/20 and so we were getting a little concerned on the sidelines.
Shortly afterwards, Geoff pulled a calf muscle scampering between the wickets and retired hurt for 14. New boy Jeremy Richards (and relative of Michael Rae) came in and looked very classy. He played shots with a style and panache we haven’t seen since Jo Wookey turned up some time ago (big hint…..). Unfortunately, Jeremy was shortly out for 3 as he mis-timed a ball that rose a little higher than previously. Dudley Perrin took the field, our oldest player, and decided to not play too ambitiously as their bowling remained lively.
Nic Westlake retired on 26 not out (it was the rule to retire at 25 runs) after a good solid innings in which he played 3 mighty 4’s to the long boundaries. No signs of sleepless nights following recent fatherhood. Good innings! Debutant Mel Green came in but soon returned for a duck, unfortunately run out (and notably by our own umpire and fellow new boy, Matt Dancey…..note: must refresh instructions on how to umpire in village cricket). 51 off 14 overs……not looking good as a par score on this pitch had to be over 100.
This brought in our earnest captain, Simon Campbell. Bish, bosh, bang…shortly back in the pavilion having played an excellent 27 not out (retired) comprising 3 enormous 4s and 1 mighty 6. Simon hit 27 in less than 3 overs….and this brought us back into contention. Dudley went for 8 and Michael Rae came in and played an exciting knock with a couple of big 4’s for 13 not out, and, with the help of a large number of wides our innings came to an end at 117 for 3. Good score on this pitch and certainly did not look likely at the half-way stage. 82 from the last 10 overs was a fine haul. Peter Williams came in for a couple of balls at the end and finished on 3 not out.
So, our turn to take the field. FOSS (Shrewton 1st XI in disguise) looked like they could easily get our score…their batsmen looking strong, robust and big hitters. James Corden and Graham Newland kept them to the asking rate but the openers looked on top. Handing the ball to debutant Jeremy ("I only bat"), he promptly took the wicket of one of their openers with his first ball. He took their no.3 with his 4th ball! Great start and this started to turn the complexion of the game as they clearly did not like his left-handed medium pacers across their bodies. Their opener Gillot and no 5 Brewer continued to make progress, but more slowly and retired on 25 each.
At the half-way stage they were 48-2, ahead of our score at that stage but behind the run rate, and at 18 they were on 91. Michael Rae had bowled immaculately for just 7 runs in 3 lively overs off a short run-up; Matt Dancey (once he changed ends) held them back with 0-15 off 4 overs, and Mel Green kept them pegged for 0-4 off 2. Good contributions from the new boys with Jeremy leading the way with 2-12 off 3 overs. Tim Gent was keeping like a man possessed using most parts of his body and feet to stop the ball; indeed even his hands. Tim gave an inspired performance.
So we were expecting a big finale as they looked to have the big hitters left to do the job. In the 19th over, Peter Williams was called to the fore. We scattered our fielders to the boundaries and waited for the catches to come. Obviously this psyched-out their big hitter, Cooper, who promptly played and missed his first ball which came in low from Peter. Graham made the only appeal for lbw (despite not being sighted) and Cooper was given out! Amazing! Peter had struck a great blow with his first ball, just as Jeremy had. So carried away with the moment, Peter appealed next even though the bat hit the ball…but who cares AVCC were like a pack of wolves falling on FOSS (Shrewton in disguise) and Peter closed out the over for the loss of only 2 runs. This was partly achieved by Dudley’s amazing one-handed stop at short square leg of a ball destined for the boundary (we won’t mention it could have been a catch). Jamie Corden then kept them tightly bound up and FOSS (Shrewton in disguise) subsided to just 99 for 3.
And so for you mathematicians out there….we won our first game of the season by 18 runs. A great start, and we looked like a cricket team - all contributing, all backing each other, all encouraging. Felt good.
Simon Campbell clearly man of the match for his 27 not out that turned the game around, and also for a lot of tireless running and fielding around the long boundaries. Jeremy was a close second for turning around the bowling side at a crucial time, and Tim deserves an accolade for his unique brand of wicket-keeping. Only 3 byes were scored…..our lowest 20/20 total conceded.
And a foot note for Shrewton 1st XI….we’re not bad……indeed, we can be very good!
Foot note 2…we enjoyed the Orchard pub afterwards and I am pleased to note we had a convivial drink (or two) with the opposition there as well as running into club-mate Rory Plank who lives locally.