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Wiltshire Queries - Sunday 24th June 2009
After three consecutive bank holiday wash outs, this fixture was finally played again, and for the first time at Devizes CC, a new venue for LNZCC. And a stunning, warm (bordering on hot), near cloudless day perfect for cricket. Backdrop of the variously shaded greens of Wiltshire plus a "white horse" chalked out on a near hill, a police helicopter ascending from the close-by police compound, to patrol no doubt the county's by-ways (or perhaps the M4), plus heavy duty military aircraft apparently silently taking off in the distance over the downs to the North, presumably from RAF Lineham. Otherwise, sunny, peaceful, and the noises only of cricket on the green.
Nice spacious pavilion/changing rooms complex too, and civilised drinks intervals from table by the sideline with choices of drinks and indeed, pre-match teas.
As to the match, well I am pleased to report that we did get eleven, including Dan Lagan from Devizes CC, George Holden (3 inches taller than when last spotted in a club team at Ventnor last August) and, after his excellent display at Hartley Wintney, Hampshire resident and 15 years old Sam Matthews, son of occasional club player over many years, Andy. Also I am pleased to report that the toss was won; and after much consideration (especially concerning the uncertainty as to how much Mike Oliver and Tony Penman might be able to bowl) elected to bat first on the basis that the flat, dry, semi-hard pitch seemed - there was a speckled covering of grass - likely to take turn later on. Further comment on the pitch later, which by and large was true and good to bat on, but which could reward the bowlers for extra effort.
Agreed match conditions - 45 overs a side, maximum 10 overs per bowler, two umpires (our own Martin Conway and Barry Aitken from the Queries, each dressed in immaculate umpiring attire). Both sides probably believing they had better batting line ups than bowling, or at least that's what they told each other.
And under the early afternoon sun, off we went. Opening up for LNZCC, Pete Tippen concentrating hard at hitting everything in the V, off back foot and front. And trying to hit the ball hard too, but one with which he connected arrowed straight back to the opening bowler, Garman, who held on. Pete gone for 3 early in the seventh over. 18 for one.
This brought in the in-form Oliver and right from the off, the ball found the middle of his bat, piercing or over the field on both sides of the wicket for a succession of boundaries.
With Blair Simm settling in nicely, it looked as though the two were simply continuing on from their unbroken 170 partnership the week before at Chenies. However, the Queries skipper for the day, Simon Campbell was certainly adventurous (and indeed shrewd) in his bowling and fielding changes, and at 47-1 after 12 overs he brought on a gentleman by the name of Ninian McGregor. Ninian eventually had three short spells during the afternoon - all decisive. His bowling style .... well, er, .... old fashioned, shall we say. Tempting lack of pace, plenty of inviting air, but generally well directed "leggies". On another day, as I am sure Ninian himself would admit, he could have gone for plenty and more. On Sunday, 24 May 2009 he finished with 5-24 in 8.1 overs. In his first over, he nearly had Blair caught at deep midwicket off the initial delivery. Mike, off the middle of the bat to a waist high full toss, unerringly picked out square leg on the second, and after an aerial single to the new man in, Dan Langan, Blair smacked the last ball of the over straight to extra cover, who, again, did not have to move. By the time Dan chipped on up to midwicket at the other end three overs later, we had mini-collapsed to 51-4.
Enter the likely hero, one Anthony Penman, moody, concerned for his hamstring, but armed for the first time with the Gray-Nicholls donated to the club gear by Pete Gibson. He joined club newcomer, Conal Alderson, and the two of them made a sturdy, combative pairing, and rebuilt the innings admirably. Conal, watchful and strong on the back foot. TP dogged at first, but soon aggressive on the front foot, and then, after a quick single (from which he benefited by 4 overthrows but lost as his hammy twinged again, resulting in the need for a runner), fluent with lovely shots both sides of the wicket, especially a back cut to the third man boundary. They were facing some challenging bowling, especially from the wristy off-spinner Rupert Bunday, who was very accurate and extracted considerable bounce - perhaps his repertoire was dominantly top-spinners - but they were looking comfortable, and with a 70 run partnership (Conal 23 and Tony 38) took the score up to 121-4.
Re-enter Ninian McGregor. In his first over back, Conal hit one straight, you guessed it, to a fielder who didn't have to move. This time at midwicket. In his second, LNZCC skipper for the day, Mr Swann, missed a sweep down the leg-side and carelessly left his crease. Not for long, mind, but long enough for the sharp Queries' 'keeper to whip the bails off. In the over in between, a sudden pressure building change in the field (the Queries captain, Campbell, brought himself into short cover) worked when TP checked rather than stroked a drive and merely chipped it up to said Simon Campbell. So 121-4 had become 121-7; and then 127-9 as George Holden and Phil Bartle fell in quick succession to Bunday; who finished with the figures of 8-2-9-3.
So how could the pieces be picked up after that? No runs to play with, Mike Oliver probably only able to bowl 5-6 overs in 2-3 over spells because of his dodgy back, and TP not only already restricted to bowling his off-spinners, but after aggravating his hamstring, possibly not able to bowl much at all.
Well, to begin with, the oldest and youngest members of the team, Rich Holden and Sam Matthews, added an invaluable 20 for the last wicket. Richard, after nearly 30 balls getting off the mark, finished 11 not out (two boundaries) and Sam, eventually stumped off McGregor, looking resolute and very compact in scoring 8 (which seemed a lot more). All out 147 in 42.1 overs.
Warm afternoon though and with the muscles warming, Oliver was soon warming to his task. Accurate, just short of a length, generating a bit of pace and swinging away, Mike (possibly still brooding over his earlier demise when perhaps he had another ton in his sights) found the pitch to his liking from a bowling perspective, especially as the odd ball cut and flew. Three times, catchable edges flew off through the slips-gully cordon. Three times they undeservedly ran away to the third man boundary. But on the fourth, Mike had his reward, Conal snaffling it in the gully.
Both Mike and Tony (who opened from the other end bowling spinners, but, after finding he couldn't pivot, mainly using seamers as his stock ball) were on a watching brief, i.e. it wasn't expected that either would be able to return for a second spell, so they just carried on until either they broke down or they spent their 10 overs allocation. It proved the latter. Mike was fired up and Tony accurate with sudden, explosive off-cutters. That said, it did not seem that the flow or luck of the game was with either of them or us. Another chance went begging in the slips off Mike; this time there was blood as Dan Langan's sunglasses broke on impact (but luckily the cut above the eye proved shallow, and after a few overs on the sideline, he could continue). Mike appeared to have an lbw but he'd no-balled. Then he was through the batsman's defences again, and the finger was straight up. Suddenly, game was really on as TP snaffled two wickets in two balls. Persistence brought a skied catch to deep backward point (well judged by Blair) and the new man in inexplicably padded up on the back foot against a delivery that pitched on off, and turned slightly to hit him right in front of middle! Score, Queries 35-4, but concern that by this stage 16 overs had gone by, and Mike and Tony only had a maximum four left between them.
They tried their utmost in those four (and wry comment was passed by the opposition that the batsman who had needed a runner, was able to get through 10 overs, but in truth Tony was very restricted and it was only his indomitable and individual determination that allowed him to bowl on). But no further successes.
Accordingly, the match entered a new phase, all through which the Queries opener McCann, whilst never looking comfortable, and playing across his body on numerous occasions, doggedly fought on. At one end, young Sam Matthews bowled a tight line, with occasion sharp spin, trying to tempt the batsmen into indiscretions. At the other, successively Phil Bartle, George Holden and then Richard Holden sought to eek the batters out. But they faced a more calculated assault and McCann and number six batsman, Foster, with a mixture of watchful defence and clean hitting, gradually appeared to be taking the game away from us, adding 64 for the fifth wicket before George's persistent off stump line found its reward when Foster skewed one down to backward point where Blair, this time diving forward, again judged the catch perfectly.
The runs continued to tick by, but the fielding remained resilient, with all (terrific example set by Pete Tippen) maintaining a tight inner cloak round the batsmen, plus all down solidly behind balls hit in their direction, and chasing hard anything hit into the outfield. Moreover, at the northern end Sam was manfully refusing to concede, and took his first wickets for LNZCC when first Mike Oliver safely made the catching of a steeping mishit down to deep mid-off look easy, and then, secondly, got a delivery to spit at Queries' skipper, Campbell, who, somewhat startled, chopped in onto his stumps. 127-7 and still 21 for them to get.
There was scrambling of a few runs, then McCann, still in on 67 not out, was beaten in flight by Sam. Agonisingly, the ball bobbled up in the direction of midwicket. The pair who had added the 20 for our last wicket were the closest. Richard Holden at orthodox midwicket and Sam Matthews the bowler. Both went for it, but each equally uncertainly. As skipper and 'keeper, I probably should have called for one or other to claim the catch as theirs. But I, like everyone, was silent through the moment. And the ball dropped to the turf no more than a yard away from each!
Next over, the Queries number 9, their opening bowler, Garman, took it on himself to win the game quickly, and with lovely clean straight hitting went 4-6-4-4 against Richard to finish us off.
A loss by three wickets, but an excellent game played in a competitive but sociable manner, with friendly and fun banter and de-brief with the Queries afterwards. Both teams agreed that the low scoring match was a surprise, each having thought a 250 plays 240 type of game more likely. The pitch was slightly mysterious, however. It didn't break up as possibly expected, but nonetheless offered assistance throughout. TP probably called it right by commenting that it was made for a seamer with the ability to cut it either or both ways. Perhaps a chance missed for one or two club members?
In any event, thanks to everyone, some wives and families included, for a great day out. Handy debut from Conal Alderson, although unfortunately Conal is now off travelling over Europe for the rest of the summer. Man of the match was a close run thing between Mike, Tony and Sam. It could have gone to all three, but young Sam's gutsy refusal to concede with either bat or ball, on in the field, meant he was a popular winner of the GBK voucher.
Toss won by Captain Andrew Swann who elected to bat. 45 Over match with a 10 over limit per bowler
Scoreboard LNZCC 147 All Out (42 Overs) Wiltshire Queries 148 for 7 (36 Overs) Wilshire Queries win by 3 wickets
Batting Runs Catches Stumpings Statistics Peter Tippen 3 c&b Blair Simm 20 2 caught Mike Oliver 29 1 caught Ben Langan 2 caught (Devizes CC) Conal Alderson 23 1 caught Anthony Penman 38 caught Andrew Swann 0 stumped Sam Matthews 8 stumped George Holden 3 bowled Philip Bartle 0 caught Richard Holden 11*
Extras 15
Bowling O M R W Mike Oliver 10 3 31 2 Tony Penman 10 5 18 2 Sam Matthews 8 1 18 2 Philip Bartle 2 0 24 0 George Holden 3 1 23 1 Richard Holden 3 0 29 0
Extras 15
FOW 17, 30, 35, 35, 99, 120, 127
Umpires - Martin Conway, Barry Aitkin Scorer - Hamish Penman
GBK Man of the Match Award - Sam Matthews |
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