Forget The Hundred, this was the Three Hundred

This year’s game at Oxted marked almost 70 years to the day since London New Zealand Cricket Club (“LNZ”) first played Oxted and Limpsfield Cricket Club (“Oxted”). Thankfully, the weather gods realized this and a beautiful sunny day was provided to continue one of LNZ’s longest standing fixtures.

Those of us that arrived in good time for the game sat down to watch the end of a local under 13 cricket match that provided plenty of entertainment prior to our game and an insight into the health of the wicket.

After chatting with the opposition and assessing the pitch, the Oxted skipper flipped the coin. We won the toss and decided to bat in the hope the worn pitch would slow down and be more difficult to bat on in the late evening sun.

Ratcliffe and Khanbhai opened up against the Oxted’s overseas player from Australia. We got off to a solid start and Adam carried on his form from last week at Hartley Witney with a few early boundaries. Ratcliffe stood strong at the other end in support. Khanbhai was first to go for 20. Tim Barringer was next in with expectation high that his obvious talent would shine on what was a good batting track

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Before Barringer could set about establishing himself, we lost Ratcliffe for 3. Enter Tim McLean, the batting twin brother of Mike McLean. Tim McLean, like Tim Barringer, played a good standard of cricket as a youngster and the team was hoping both would set about providing a good platform. This is exactly what they did with a superb partnership. Barringer eventually fell for 41 after narrowly avoiding a stumping the ball before and that was drinks.

Who was next? Cheyne Voss of course, fresh off interviewing half the team in his new role as Head of Digital Transformation. Vossy was straight into his work supporting McLean, who by this stage was getting into his work very nicely by attacking the spinners. Vossy hit a couple of lovely boundaries in quick time and continued the momentum built by Barringer and McLean. However, it was not to be for Vossy, he was out for 15. Next cab off the rank was sports lawyer, John Shea.

John Shea is one of our newest recruits to the LNZ family. John has a Kiwi parent and sensibly decided to join a Kiwi club to further entrench those Kiwi roots. John was quickly off the mark but not long after he fell for 2. At this stage we were starting to wobble a little and the good work from Barringer and McLean was potentially at risk. Not to worry, Dan Robinson was in next.

Robinson has been in splendid form this season with a couple of man of the match performances already under his belt. It was fair to say there was more than a little fragrant expectation from the team that Robinson would cement the foundation created by McLean and Barringer. Robinson did not disappoint, as he dispatched some of the Internal bowling with consummate ease. Sadly, McLean fell during this excellent partnership for a fine 80. A shame McLean missed out on his century, as it was there for taking. We think his insistence on sweeping the spinners emptied his tank prematurely. Ben Fulton joined the crease in the hope of getting off the mark after failing to trouble the scorers last week, a low bar had been set!

Robinson continued his dominant display and ended the game on 83 not out with Fulton contributing 29 not out. 305 for 7 off 45 overs. Three excellent knocks from Barringer, McLean and Robinson with good support from several others.

After enjoying a tea from Oxted, LNZ set about defending their total. By this stage Nick Teulon had returned from his local hiking tour with Andrew Barkle that conveniently included a stop at the local watering hole opposite the ground.

Teulon and Vaughan Robertson took the red cherry and got proceedings back underway. I don’t think a skipper could ask for a more enthusiastic pair of opening bowlers, both were as keen as mustard. Teulon looked to be in good rhythm, but he faced stiff resistance from a couple of stubborn opening batsmen (batters) who did a good job blunting our pace attack. We were slightly concerned for the well being of the Oxted umpire having called Robertson for a no ball about half a dozen times. The Big Rig was seething, so he was rested after four overs. Robertson was unlucky having had a few sharp chances put down by Barkle. All Barkle had to show for it was a bloody knee. Teulon picked up our first wicket taking the edge of their opening batsman (batter) with a peach and Khanbhai did the rest.

A double change was needed to conserve overs for the end given we didn’t have bowling riches on the day with loss of Shaun Rhamati earlier in the week. Enter Barkle and Robinson. Barkle bowled an excellent first spell and was duly helped by Robinson at the other end. While we were just about containing Oxted, we were not taking wickets and we were fairly sure there would be a decent middle order waiting in the wings. Robinson broke through and Oxted were two down.

At drinks Oxted needed about 200 runs off 22 overs. They had wickets in hand and young guns waiting in the shed.

Fulton replaced Barkle to ensure Barkle had a few overs left for the end. First ball after drinks and up went the googly (and it landed) and the Oxted umpire raised the finger. In came Oxted’s number five who plays in their first team but was recently dropped due to a lack of runs. Sadly, he went about changing that. By this stage the Aussie overseas had joined him and together they took the game to us.

Vossy was brought into the attack with his cap backwards. One huge appeal was turned down off Vossy. Bowlers came and went and each was wicketless. By this stage the ground seemed to get larger and larger and more difficult to defend. We were desperate for a wicket but sadly we didn’t hold our chances aside from two catches early on. Teulon was brought back and ended with figures of 1 for 33 off 9. A fine spell from the big man after being awarded his cap earlier in the day by Vossy. Two overs to go and 25 was needed by Oxted after Barkle, Robertson and Teulon had slowed Oxted’s progress. Fulton was forced to bowl himself in the penultimate over and it went for 10 runs leaving Barkle 15 to play with.

Barkle had been asking all week ‘how can I help’ to the Chariman in the group chat on Whatsapp. Here was Barkle’s chance to use all that wisdom from his 125 appearances for LNZ. Unfortunately, the Oxted number five was on about 120 at this stage and seeing it quite well. The first two balls were dispatched using a reverse sweep just out of reach of our fielder. However, a run out by Barringer of their star batsman (batter) left two to win. One ball was needed and Oxted won.

What a game with over 600 runs scored. Thanks to all that played for a great day out. The evening finished with awards for the men of the match. Tim McClean was selected from LNZCC and Ben Barney from Oxted.

Pictures below are the playing XI and also Nick Teulon and Andrew Barkle. The latter has Nick Teulon showcasing the LNZCC cap, finally presented after some administrative delays, and the spritely Andrew Barkle modelling the fine cut of an LNZCC jacket.