First win of 2017 against the Hampshire Hogs

This fixture has been a regular for LNZCC since 2009. It’s well known for its picturesque setting in the countryside of Hampshire, along with its generous hospitality which includes a sit down lunch and tea. A last minute struggle for numbers meant only 10 players were available for the LNZCC side. Neil Booth and Jimmy Walsh both made their debuts with Jeremy Childs playing in his Nottman Cap match. The LNZCC side for the day was largely a bowling driven side with many options available on this front. This was a slight worry given that LNZCC was bowled out cheaply the year before. Both reversing this result and getting the Club’s first win for the season were the overriding aims of the day. The match was delayed to 11:30am due to various members of both sides being held up by traffic. Nevertheless LNZCC won the toss and elected to bowl first. This was particularly important given that it was a time match, allowing us a little more control over the outcome of the game when batting second.

L to R Back Row: Dylan Kirschberg, Jeremy Childs, John Dennis, Hamish Laing, Neil Booth and Justin Fredrickson. L to R Front Row: Martin Conway (umpire), Jimmy Walsh, Adam Horvath, Chris Nolan (captain) and Tony Penman.

Our two debutants, Jimmy Walsh (Ed’s note: not related to the Chairman as far as we know) and Neil Booth, both opened the bowler. Neil took the first wicket with the score at 20, and then took two further wickets in reasonably quick succession to leave the home side struggling at 38 for 3. All of a sudden a quick win and an early finish were on the horizon. However, the fall of their third wicket brought to the crease their best batsman of the day, Gary Howorth. In addition to this the wicket was on the slow side making it easier for their batsman to defend our bowling, particularly Jimmy Walsh, who surely must be one of the quickest bowlers currently in the club.

Howorth began to build an innings and partnerships, frustrating our efforts to really get into the opposition’s middle to lower order. The opening bowlers were taken off after seven overs each, Jimmy extremely unlucky to go wicketless after his opening spell. On came Adam Horvath and Dylan Kirschberg, both again bowling well and getting little assistance from the wicket.

Lunch was taken at 1pm. It’s always a pleasure to have a sit down lunch in a cricket match. Pork pies, salad and new potatoes were had.

Certainly beats rushing off to the corner dairy during the lunch break for a pie and drink during a club match back in NZ.

After lunch Adam and Dylan continued, Adam taking our fourth wicket (bowled) with the score at 64. Due to having a bowling rich line-up, rotation of bowling was key with Adam and Dylan also being given seven over spells. Adam and

Dylan both bowled well, Dylan unlucky to not take a wicket.

Not long after his spell finished, Dylan needed to leave the field for a prolonged period due to a bad case of the sneezes, the downside of being in the countryside during summer for a hay fever sufferer. I’ve seen some injuries in my time but that must surely take the cake! Fortunately the opposition loaned us a fielder.

Jeremy Childs is presented with his Nottman Cap by

Chris Nolan in his fifth match for the Club

Our next spell of bowling was from Tony Penman and John Dennis. It’s fair to say the run rate at this stage was well under control, meaning patience was the key. Eventually they would get frustrated. Sure enough further wickets began to fall after they eyed up our medium pacers. Tony was unlucky to not have Howorth caught in the covers, however John had success taking our next four wickets and at one stage was on a hat trick, a superb spell of bowling.

After four wickets fell in the space of 38 runs, the opposition were 155 for 8. However, their key batsman, Howorth, was still at the crease but fast running out of partners. Our left arm paceman, Jimmy Walsh, was brought back into the attack to try and clean up their last two wickets. This strategy paid off with their ninth wicket falling on 163, bowled by Jimmy. Howorth making a well compiled 77. The importance of this innings is reflected in the next highest score for the opposition being extras at 34.

At 163 for 9, the end was in sight. A frustrating last stand of 24 resulted in them compiling 187 off 51.4 overs, Neil Booth taking the last wicket ending in outstanding figures of 4 for 27 on debut. 187 was always going to be a tricky target to chase on that wicket, particularly given the slow nature of it and that we were largely a bowling led side. Suggestion was quietly made for our tea break to be taken between innings. Not surprisingly, this was quickly turned down with a tricky hour long period to bat before our tea break at 5pm.

Chris Nolan and Hamish Laing opened the innings. Hamish putting away a couple of cracking shots to the boundary before retiring hurt due to a hamstring strain when coming back to the non-strikers end for a second run. This was unfortunate so early in our chase and after such a promising start. Dylan Kirschberg came in to bat next. Run rate is never a problem for Dylan, putting away five boundaries before being caught for 23 off just 18 balls. This brought Neil Booth to the crease who hung around until tea. At the tea break we were well placed, needing just over 100 runs with eight wickets in hand.

After our tea interval, runs again began to flow. Neil was unfortunate to be run out off a direct hit on 12. Jeremy Childs then came to the crease with the score at 99 for 2. Together, Chris and Jeremy put on a 31 run partnership before Chris was caught for 64 off 58 balls.

Justin Fredrickson came in to bat with the score at 130 for 3 off just 18.3 overs. Over the course of the next nine overs Jeremy and Justin brought us within striking distance of victory, putting together a quick partnership of 52. Jeremy used his hockey striking skills to great ability scoring 39 off 35 balls before being bowled just six short of victory. Tony Penman and Justin then saw us home with the side being 188 for 4 after just 29.4 overs in 1 hour and 56 minutes, Justin a well compiled 32 not out off 38 balls. This was a very impressive team batting effort after last year’s result.

Man of the Match performance was awarded to John Dennis for his 4 for 44 off nine overs, including being on a hat trick.

Overall, a great day out was had by the team, some good performances throughout with everyone contributing in some way. It’s always enjoyable coming to play cricket in such a scenic part of the country. Thank you to their captain, Paul Bailey, for his organisation and hospitality. This is always second to none and we look forward to coming back next year.

Photos