Regal double-header ends in a rare win at Hurlingham

Regal Double header ends in rare victory against blue ribbon side.

LNZCC claimed a rare victory versus Hurlingham in an, at times, nerve wracking run chase. Fortunes ebbed and flowed until the final shot in anger reached the cover boundary.

LNZ had been reintroduced as a fixture against Hurlingham back in 2004 to provide some needed competition. Results since then, after a hiatus of 30 years, read; played 14, won 2, with 2 no results. Even with ranks bolstered by Hamish Marshall in 2016, this only enabled a moral victory as we were one wicket from sealing a rare victory. Remarkably this has been the only drawn match between the two sides excluding one rain affected game.

Looking to do one better, the class of 2017 was at one stage going to be gilded with the inclusion of double All Black and current White ferns captain Suzie Bates. Alas this coup didn’t quite materialise. The toss was made and with little hesitation Hurlingham were asked to bat. The only hesitation, was that our bowling attack was tired from the exploits the previous day against the Royal Household. I suspect there aren’t many clubs that can claim to have both The Royal Household and Hurlingham as opposition, let alone back to back over the course of a weekend.

It was an ominous start with the first ball sent crashing against the sightscreen, straight back past the bowler. But for as long as can be remembered, Sam Martin made the 1st breakthrough when the

3rd ball of the day was snaffled up at square leg by Josh Wright off a full blooded pull shot. 1-4. At the other end, The Hirsute Hungarian, Kiwi Adam Hovarth shared the new ball. After testing the middle of the pitch to limited effect, he soon settled onto a useful length, beating the outside edge on a number of occasions and deservedly picked up the 2nd wicket, nicked behind to the other Adam (Khanbai, behind the stumps).

Hurlingham were 3 – 13, when we’re joined by Test Match Special and former England opener Ed Smith. Ed has played against us on a couple of occasions. One time, when batting 3, he was surplus to requirements as we suffered the ignominy of a 10 wicket loss.

Ed was soon in his stride and played with elegance and grace. Having scored 6 4’s, which were mostly cover drives, he caught up with one down the leg side and comfortably taken by the other Adam. 6 – 52.

A hundred was put on by the next two wickets and a further 50 runs for the last wicket to bring Hurlingham’s total to a respectable 215. Keeper Adam K was involved in 4 dismissals including a sharp stumping. Notably no catches were dropped with a solid all round team performance.

Of the bowlers, Ben Fulton provided some flight not seen since John Morrison’s autumn leaves (a reference possibly lost on a number of our now-more-youthful demographic). Ben warmed up with some offies, before settling into some googlies in grabbing 3 wickets. Adam H picked up three further three wickets, with one being a second slip screamer plucked from the sky by the veteran Andrew Barkle, shaking off the years and a serious bout of tennis elbow.

Hurlingham were all out for 215 off 47.2 overs. LNZ had about 45 overs at their disposable to knock them off.

LNZ’s response was off to an inauspicious start. Both openers were back in the hutch without a run to their name, both caught in the slip cordon. The hopes of the side rested on the good form of Adam K and Josh Wright. They nudged the score to 50 before Adam was bowled whilst teeing off. Josh was joined by Ben Fulton. Now Ben is a man of pedigree. His father captained both Canterbury and Northern Districts during the eras of Hadlees, Wright, Parker et el. He’s also first cousin of NZ’s most recent test playing Fulton, Two Metre Peter. Ben himself is a left-handed batsman of no small degree of elegance.

Josh played a muscular innings peppered the corners of the ground. He brought up his much needed 50 in 37 balls with 10 4s. He fell soon after for 54, which added to his wicket and catch for a solid all round game. Conversely Barkle came and went, and LNZ were preciously placed at 104 – 6. LNZs tail was built full of experience. The first cab off the rank was Samuel who came in and offered up a fine cameo. Sam’s 26 came at a run a ball before being held out taking on the corner once too often. His partnership with Ben was worth 64 and swung the pendulum back in favour of LNZ. HH Adam H joined Ben who was on 48 and set about knocking off the final 50. Adam more than held up an end in scoring 19. Carnage ensued at the other end with Ben taking the long handle to the attack. He scored 30 off his last 16 deliveries, spanking three long, straight 6’s in doing so, which made it an easy decision to award him the Man of the Match bottle of Argentinian plonk, courtesy of Martin Conway and Berry Bros. & Rudd.

In total LNZ faced 33 overs in knocking off the 215.

Thanks to Martin for consolidating an end all day and to the wives, wags and off spring that joined us, finally to our friends of Hurlingham.