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Wiltshire Queries - Sunday, 5 May 2002 The first game of the Jubilee season, against Wiltshire Queries, moved from its normal slot in the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May to the earlier May Day Bank Holiday weekend, provided a wonderful reminder for the Jubilee season that ultimately it is not cocktail parties, etc that make a cricket club but days when thoroughly enjoyable cricket is played despite the odds. Almost unbelievably, for the first game of such an important season, only seven LNZCC players made themselves available and for the record they were John McMullan, Rodger Finlay, Vance Thompson, Philip Bartle, Gordon Harcourt, Jason Hanley (an indoor cricketer playing his first game outdoors) and Andy Swann. All I can say is that those who did not play missed out on a magic day. To begin with, the ground at Tidworth (changed from the normal venue of Dauntseys School at West Lavington) was quite simply beautiful with, in addition, a fine pavilion styled, as Rodger knowledgeably pointed out, in the early 20th century "Arts & Crafts" tradition. It also had a nice roomy changing room and nifty electronic scoreboard. More importantly, Wiltshire Queries, rather than express disgust at our turning up with just seven, immediately got on the blower and within an hour had raised three players for us - two schoolboys from Dauntseys School and a very handy Army cricketer named John Caiger. Accordingly, the club owes a very big expression of gratitude to the Queries, in particular their captain, Dave Hayward, for ensuring that our Jubilee season started off in the fine (but appropriately competitive) spirit that LNZCC cricket was founded on. Moreover, on receiving the plaque especially made for the fixture, Dave also gave, during the tea interval, an excellent impromptu speech, which summed up everyone's positive, "we're here to enjoy it", attitude to the day. As for the game, for reasons of which I am still not entirely clear, perhaps the thought of us playing on with just seven and accordingly anticipating heavy defeat had relaxed our Kiwi muscles, the opening attack of Phil and Vance proceeded to reduce the Queries to 4-4, 8-5 and then 19-6. Phil, the first wicket-taker in the Jubilee season, at one stage had 3-0, and eventually finished with 3-33 in 15 overs. Vance, cutting the ball in superbly to the right handers, ended up with devastating final figures of 18-6-30-6, but could not quite manage his seventh wicket. Both Phil and Vance bowled - apart from lunch - unchanged and amazingly, all nine of their victims were bowled!! It took John Caiger, a handy bowler, to induce a nibble to the 'keeper (Andy Swann taking the first catch of the Jubilee season - oddly, the following day at Hartley Wintney, Andy also took the first outfield catch), leaving Queries all out for 90. Mention too for Rodger, who succeeded in turning a couple of offies "up the slope". In our reply, John McMullan deflected the club's first run of the season to fine leg, and with the assistance of Gordon and the two Dauntseys' boys established a firm, if slow, foundation to the innings. The very handy (and stylish) John Caiger then provided the acceleration with 33. Jason (despite looking for a single a la indoor cricket off every ball) provided the anchor and Vance (who else?) finished the game off with 19 not out, narrowly failing in his attempt to end with the maximum, getting a 4 rather than the desired 6! One question for trivia lovers. With 10 batsmen rather than 11, does 91-5 constitute a victory by 4 wickets or five. Scoreboard Wiltshire Queries 90 All Out LNZCC 91 - 5
Batting Runs Catches John McMullan 10 T. Schofield 6 Gordon Harcourt 7 John Caiger 33 G. Conran 5 Jason Handly 6* Vance Thompson 19* Rodger Finlay DNB Andrew Swann DNB 1 Philip Bartle DNB
Bowling O M R W Philip Bartle 15 5 33 3 Vance Thompson 18 6 30 6 J. Caiger 4.1 2 3 1 Rodger Finlay 2 0 11 0 |
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