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Goodwood - Sunday 16th August 2009
The weather forecast was good, the patch was greener than it has ever been, and LNZ were there on time even if some did not have their own gear. Vancer was called on to help Ben Dormer out, who woke up on Sunday morning in an unknown flat with no jockeys! Vancer would be called on to help Dorms out again, but more of that latter. Some of the boys were claiming hangovers as well, with Mike ‘Miami Vice’ Oliver claiming he had drunk nothing but beer for a week. The supporters were treated to coffee by our excellent hosts. A good day beckoned.
With the pitch looking good, skipper Richard Fish decide to have a bat, sending in Ben and Matt Fanning to open. Ben adopted his usual style of trying to hit the bowlers out of the ground and was in some good form. The same could not be said of Matt who unusually for him succumbed after only 4 balls. Blair Simm came in and played his usual calm shots and he and Ben had the scoreboard moving along quite nicely without too much trouble.
Then it all started to go wrong. Ben and Blair both fell in quick succession, followed by Mike Oliver who fell to a good in ducker, and TP bowled. Suddenly we were 6 down for less than 80. Coops followed soon after to leave us 7 down for 104 at lunch, a long way off a par score of 250 on this wicket. Lunch as usual was a sumptuous affair with a fine selection of meat, salads, deserts and cheese.
After lunch Vancer and Fishy tried to repair some of the damage. A couple of lusty blow by Vance gave him confidence but then the tried one too many and was bowled. Josh (bridegroom to be) Denize got a nick to the keeper to leave us 111 for 9, with Blackie the last man in not having put on the whites for 2 years! Fishy and Blackie then put their heads down and blocked and hit the occasional boundary to keep the scoreboard ticking along and frustrating the Goodwood fielders. Blackie hit some very lust blows while Fishy pushed the gaps. They made batting look a lot easier than it had been in a partnership of 41 that lasted nearly 20 overs. Blackie, not having given a chance, was a little harshly judged lbw by Jamie, the bowler and captain’s Dad!
So 3:30pm, a target of 153, on an easy track on a warm afternoon, Goodwood I’m sure were thinking of a quick finish. They set about their task well. Runs were tight but wickets were hard to come by. Mike Oliver and Josh Denize opened the bowling and troubled the batsmen with no luck. Mike in particular had the ball flying through the slips but never to hand.
Vance, in his first game of the season, made the break through with some terrific controlled in swing bowling. The next wicket was hard to come by. Cooper bowled without much luck. TP was as miserly as ever and bowled Goodwood’s man of the match John Clifton just after he had made 50. 112 for 3. Just a sniff for LNZ. Mike Oliver and Josh returned to the attack and turned the game. Two wickets in 2 balls for Mike; score now 112 for 5. Soon after Mike took an excellent diving catch at mid wicket of Josh to make it 122 for 6. LNZ started to feel something was on here and kept up the pressure.
Runs were hard to come by with TP bowling maiden after maiden and Vance controlling the other end. Ben Dormer was as committed in the field as ever to the point of dislocating his finger. Vancer to the rescue again popping it back in while others looked on and winced. A couple more wickets to Vance and TP left Goodwood 125 for 8. Vance got Goodwood captain Jamie out lbw this time given by his Dad though I do not think he agreed with him! 129 for 9. The start of the final 20 arrived which never looked like being needed at the start of the innings. Goodwood’s Pete Wilmer, now drawing his bus pass, was a solid as he had been when he played against Blair Simm’s father back in 1973. He was not missed many or any games against LNZCC since. It became clear Goodwood had give up the chase even of 27 only were required. TP could not get the tail enders, Vance tried to bounce them out and had chances which did not quite fall within TP grasp at fine leg though Vancer had a different view on that!
Mike who had earlier claimed a bad back was still steaming in and getting the occasional lift and had numerous near misses in the slip and gully area. None would go to hand. With time running out Glenn Cooper was brought back on. One over of flat off spin did not dislodge Pete or his partner, but in the penultimate over of the game he started to float the ball a bit more and this did the trick. One turned and took the top of Pete Wilmer’s middle stump. The resistance was finally broken. Some were asking who would have bowled the final over but now we will never know.
5 bowlers took 2 wickets each which typified a very fine all round effort in the field by LNZ.
A low scoring but absorbing game of cricket with two 10th wicket stands, taking up over the third of the game, being the difference between the two sides. As usual big thanks to Marty for his fair and honest umpiring, Pete Coleman for his meticulous book work, and to all the travelling supporters young and old for their support. At least this year sleeping bags were not required to keep warm.
A final thanks to our wonderful hosts who again made us feel very welcome with their hospitality and fine food.
Fishy
Tricky, Fishy, Vancer, Blackie in deep conversation LNZ Captain Richard Fish won the toss and elected to bat in this declaration match with 20 overs from 6pm.
Scoreboard LNZCC 152 All Out (51.4 overs) Goodwood 129 All Out (59.5 overs) LNZCC win by 23 runs
Batting Runs Catches Stumpings Run outs Batting Stats Ben Dormer 40 caught Matt Fanning 0 bowled Blair Simm 30 caught Mike Oliver 4 1 lbw Richard Keyse 6 bowled Anthony Penman 0 bowled Vance Thompson 13 bowled Glenn Cooper 5 bowled *+Richard Fish 15* Josh Denize 0 1 caught Brandon Allen 29 lbw
Extras 10
FOW 7, 73, 78, 78, 79, 85,104, 111, 111, 152
At 15 overs 73 for 1, at 30 overs 104 for 7, at 45 overs 138 for 9
Bowling O M R W Bowling Stats Mike Oliver 13 7 24 2 caught, bowled Josh Denize 10 2 17 2 bowled, caught Vance Thompson 15 3 24 2 lbw x 2 Anthony Penman 10 7 4 2 bowled x 2 Glenn Cooper 9.5 1 46 2 bowled x 2 Matt Fanning 2 0 9 0
Extras 6
FOW 22, 77, 112, 112, 112, 122, 125, 125, 126, 129
At 15 overs 28 for 1, at 30 overs 85 for 2, at 45 overs 124 for 6
LNZ man of the match award to Goodwood’s John Clifton for his 52 Goodwood’s man of the match award to LNZCC’s captain Richard Fish GBK Man of the Match voucher Brandon Allen
Umpire: Martin Conway
Scorer: Peter Coleman |
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