Reigate Pilgrims - Sunday 10th June 2001

Thompson's Efforts in Vain"

A valiant effort by London New Zealand all rounder Vance Thompson was not enough to allow the visiting team to overhaul a determined Reigate Pilgrims side at Betchworth on Sunday, local time.

After doing all the right things such as having eleven players and arriving on time LNZ lost the toss and the local side elected to bat under threatening skies. Despite some early movement the chances were few and far between for the visitors and Reigate went to lunch in a solid position with only two wickets down.

After a couple of helpings of seemingly BSE free beef in the pavilion and a quick pint at the Red Lion the visiting team retook the field full of optimism. However any confidence was soon sapped by the very broad blades of the Pilgrims batsmen who despite the attacking fields seemed quite content to bat in a leisurely manner without any real impetus towards a declaration.

After 54 overs the Pilgrims innings was wrapped by visiting paceman Mike Byers who ripped through the tail with a blistering spell of 2-13. Left arm "spinner" Richard Holden bamboozled the home side to claim 2-24 and was well supported by opening bowler Ryan Edwards with 2-47 and Philip Bartle with 2-23. Thompson and Graham Diedrichs, who would both feature with the bat later in the day, each took one wicket. Thompson laid a further marker on the match through three very well taken catches, despite being embroiled in our discussion with his skipper where he appeared to be debating the wisdom of the captains field settings immediately before his first catch at long off off Holden.

This left LNZ needing 189 to win in the time remaining. The visitors got off to a poor start and never recovered until Diedrichs joined Thompson at the fall of the seventh wicket. The task facing the pair at this stage seemed daunting however they set about attempting to overhaul the seemingly tall order. Through a combination of attacking stroke play from Thompson and excellent running and resolute defence from Diedrichs the pendulum swung in favour of the visitors. However when LNZ were within 16 runs of the target with four overs remaining tragedy struck and Diedrichs was caught for a very well compiled 22.

The task remaining proved too stiff for tail enders Holden and Bartle who were dismissed leaving LNZ 11 short of their target and Thompson stranded at the non strikers end on 88.

A gripping conclusion made possible both by LNZ's poor top order batting and it's willingness to play positive cricket both in the field and with the bat when the challenges seemed beyond it.

Local sources have reported that the visitors and local team then adjourned for a couple of drinks at the adjoining Red Lion tavern where the good spirit in which the match was played continued. From all accounts any animosity between the teams as a result of Mike "Dog Killer" Byers barbaric act of savagery on a local canine seems to thankfully have been consigned to the annals of history and Barkle's memory!

Scoreboard   Reigate Pilgrims 188 All Out (54 Overs)     LNZ 177 All Out     Reigate win by 11 Runs

Batting

Graham Deitrichs 22

Bolwing

Ryan Edwards   2-47

Philip Barkle  2-23

Mike Byers     2-13