As a first time LNZCC match manager I thought the job was pretty simple – assemble a squad of 25 superstars, conduct a late night one-man selectorial meeting over brandy and cigars, and name your eleven heroes for the Sunday battle. As evidenced by my increasingly frenzied emails, getting a team together proved to be a battle in itself - 3 days out from the game I had eight players confirmed, a mounting pile of rejections (honestly, who gets married in cricket season) and a hangover from axing half a bottle of brandy by myself. A desperation appeal to some uni mates resulted in LNZCC debuts for Glenn Cooper (Mr Poverty Bay 1994) and Lachlan Wilson (7-26 against Taneatua Under 15 2nd X1 1992), and a welcome Friday night call from former player Brett Radford (back in the fold after a couple of seasons away) meant we had the full complement.

Arriving at the ground on the hottest day of the summer so far, winning the toss looked crucial to the health and wellbeing of an already-slightly-sweaty-and-red-faced LNZCC line-up. With the coin coming down in our favour Pete Tippen and yours truly got into the action while the rest of the line-up sought out some shade. A gentle serving of pies from the Harefield opening pair ensured a rapid start before Pete nicked an away swinger to slip, and when Brett Radford came and swiftly went it was an action packed opening stanza at 2 for 55 after 7 overs. Richard Tricky Keyes provided some solidity at number four, and with the first and second change bowlers for Harefield proving considerably superior to the opening pair the run rate slowed slightly. A 75-run partnership ensued and at 125-2 just after drinks we were looking a sizeable total……anyone with a vague knowledge of LNZCC may have an inkling of what happened next.

Tricky fell soon after the break slashing to backward point, swiftly followed by TP, adjudged leg before by a brave Swanny. 15 runs later I was back in the shed following a fine running catch on the mid-wicket boundary to an ill-judged swipe, and we’re 144-5. G Walsh quadrupled his entire aggregate from last season in compiling a swashbuckling 12 before being caught, debutant Cooper looked very tidy but was bowled trying to accelerate the rate, The Swan (smarting from being placed at 9 in the order) took his frustration out on a long hop but picked out midwicket, and after Phil Bartle and Richard Holden had their castles disturbed we were done and dusted for 167, new man Wilson left stranded 49 runs short of a maiden LNZ fifty on debut. Significantly short of what we were looking at halfway through, having lost our last eight wickets for 37.

Resolve duly stiffed by a substantial tea, TP opened coming up the slope off a shortened run, and with Gerard at the other end basking in his got-the-slope-and-the-wind strike bowler status we immediately had them in difficulties. TP bowled superbly, eight overs unchanged to finish with 1-15. Gerard took a tidy caught and bowled through self preservation, and risked the ire of former lover Marty Conway by extracting an LBW decision from umpire at the other end. Brett Radford then bowled 6 tidy overs, generating good pace and bounce at times, and was unlucky to go wicketless. Handy 3-over spells up the hill from Phil Bartle and Tricky followed, and with an athletic run-out from Cooper at backward point the game was evenly poised with Harefield 80-4. A spin duo of Rich Holden and Cooper then came on, Rich settling into his work nicely after a catch going down off his first ball, and Glenn celebrating his maiden LNZ wicket courtesy of an outrageous full stretch one-handed catch-of-the-season contender from Tricky at deep mid-on. With the asking rate still easily manageable but wickets falling at regular intervals, the remaining danger came in the form a beefy South African bowler, but after Walsh came back to take his wicket and another next ball, Harefield needed 15 to win off the final two overs with two wickets in hand. This proved too big an ask, with Swanny stumping the final batsman for us to steal a victory by 14 runs.

Big thanks to everyone who turned out, with a tidy all-round performance in the field enough to mask some batting frailties. Particular thanks to ring-ins G Cooper and L Wilson, and Brett Radford who is a welcome re-addition to the squad. Big thanks also to Marty, eschewing all MCC Umpiring Regulations by breaking out the footy shorts, and Pete Coleman for another tidy performance with the coloured pens. GBK Man of the Match was G Walsh, a welcome return to form at the bowling crease with 4-24 off 7.

Blair

From The Swann, it is worth  noting that Blair's own contribution to this victory should not be underestimated. Valuable toss to win, a very fine 84 on a difficult pitch (variable pace and bounce), well judged bowling changes and a running, diving outfield catch to dismiss above mentioned Saffer at crucial time.

Captain Blair Simm won the toss and elected to bat in this 40 over match with an 8 over limit per bowler.

Peter Tippen          9                             caught

Blair Simm           84         1                   caught 14x4s

Brett Radford         4                             caught

Richard Keyse        27         1                   caught

Anthony Penman        0                             lbw

Glenn Cooper          8                             bowled

Gerard Walsh         12         1                   caught

Lachlan Wilson        1*

Andrew Swann          0                    1        caught

Philip Bartle         1                             bowled

Richard Holden        0                             bowled

Extras               21

FOW 36, 55, 130, 130, 144, 164, 166, 166, 167, 167

Anthony Penman      8    3   15    1       bowled

Gerard Walsh        7    1   24    4       c&b, lbw, bowled, caught

Brett Radford       6    3   18    0

Philip Bartle       3    0   12    0

Richard Keyse       3    0   17    0

Richard Holden      6    0   25    1       bowled

Glenn Cooper        5.4  0   35    2       caught, stumped

Extras 16

FOW 20, 23, 30, 30, 84, 85, 128, 128, 153, 153

Umpire - Martin Conway

Scorer - Peter Coleman

GBK Man of the Match - Gerard Walsh