Kyne's 143 sets up a win at Goodwood

The weather was hot, the pitch bone dry, the setting as spectacular as ever in front of Goodwood House. Goodwood Chairman and groundsman Richard Geffen said teams needed an extra 100 runs due to the ultrafast outfield. He might be been proven right. We were set for a great day of cricket.

Game was reduced from usual 45 to 40 over due to the heat with drinks every 12 overs. Skipper Richard Fish won the toss and decided to bat, a relief for the team siting in the thatched pavilion on 32-degree heat.

With 10 genuine all-rounders in the team, someone had to step up to open with Dan Robinson who was still chasing the elusive 1000 runs. That man was Sam Martin. 1st over had a 4 from Sam and then Dan got a great ball and was bowled for 1. In came Harry Fish. He was off the mark with a streaky 4 while at the other end Sam was looking strong and finding the boundary regularly.

However, Sam was undone by a very sharp low catch to 1st slip. 30-2 in the 4th over!

Shaun Raumati joined Harry who was finding it hard to score against some tight bowling. The 50 came up in the 7th over before Harry was out for 5 to the impressive Owen Spicer. 53- 3 off 9. Not looking great at this stage with so many overs to go.

Russell Kyne joins Shaun at the crease. The bowling was tight with a young impressive Aussie in the Goodwood ranks. After some good bowling both batsmen started to find the gaps. No chasing necessary once the ball was through the field, so it was dots and 4s with quite a few wides and byes to help the score.

The 100 came up in the 18th over. By now Russell was flying with 1 or 2 boundaries an over with Shaun chipping in and rotating strike well. Kyne reached his 50 (45 balls) in the 23rd over and the 100 partnership came up in the 24th over and not to be outdone Shaun got his 50 in the 28th. Both were batting beautifully with chanceless innings.

The 150 partnership was reached in just another 4 overs after the 100 and score was 200 in the 27th

.

Kyne reached his 100 off only 75 balls, but Shaun was out next ball for a very well complied 56. A massive partnership of 186 not quite beating the club’s 4th wicket record of 198* also against Goodwood.

Bradley Norris, the Ripley overseas from Nelson/Orewa, had a brief stay at the crease. Shekar Aryan join Russell who continued to plunder the bowling to all parts including some massive 6s over the longest boundary at long on. They put on 27 before Shekar was out caught and bowled for 5.

Vance Thompson joined Russell at the crease with the score on 268 with 5 overs to go. Could we get to 300?

We certainly could. Russell and now Vance were finding the boundary and we raced to 300 in the 38th

, before Russell was caught at deep long off trying for another 6. One of the greatest LNZ innings I have witnessed and out for a stunning 143 off only 100 balls. A well-deserved standing ovation from Goodwood and LNZ teams mates and supporters and Russell’s own fan club.

Young Sheyan Ayran joined Vance and they put on another 21 in the last 2 overs to leave LNZ 321-7 off their 40 overs, with extras making up 59 with 27 byes due to very low and slow wicket making in hard for those behind the wicket. More of that to come.

Richard and Ann Geffen provided a sumptuous 3 course lunch to ensure LNZ would go into the field very well nourished but also a little full.

Bradley Norris and Sheyan Aryan, after receiving his Nottman cap, opened the bowling in still very hot and sunny conditions.

Bradley was getting both inswing and outswing and struggling to control the ball until he went cross seam.

In his first over Sheyan got the Goodwood captain Henry Whitby out bowled with a lovely in ducker. 12-1.

In next was the West Australian academy player. A great battle between he and Bradley ensured before the shackles were broken. Goodwood were 56-1 off 8.

A double change saw veterans Vance Thompson and Sam Martin into the attack. A couple of tight over applied the pressure to the Goodwood batsmen. Sam got his reward as the Aussie tried to go down the ground and was well bowled.

71-2 off 11 with the other opener Jamie Miles still in only on 2*! He started to open up a bit while the new batsman trying to keep the rate high and Goodwood in the game. Ever competitive Sam had a minor altercation with a young lad and the umpire, but no harm done, and he would get the last laugh. A double blow for them 2 in 2 from Sam both bowled in the 16th

. The next in youngster survived the hat trick ball well.

99-4 off 16 but with some good batsmen still to come the game was not over.

Another double change saw leg spinner Rana Pitesh and Shekar Aryan try their luck. Rana got a wicket in his first over with the arm ball and an lbw the batsmen did not read. No more wickets in their spells as the batsmen steadily complied runs on the fast outfield. 154-5 off 24 and 2 batsmen set.

Another double change saw Harry Fish and Dan Robinson come into the attack, Dan with his leg spin and Harry with his medium pace. Dan was getting some prodigious turn including one that pitched outside leg and went to 1st slip Sam Martin. He had one very sharp chance put down by keeper Fish.

Harry initially struggled with his line but got his reward with top scorer Dabinett-Jay bowled for 45 as the scoreboard pressure mounted. He then had another with second top scorer out lbw. 197-7 off 30 so still not all over especially as last year’s century maker Owen Spicer was still at the wicket.

With the weather cooling slightly, another double change had opening pair Sheyan and Bradley back into the attack for a 2 over spell. Both bowled tightly as the Internal run rate went up and Bradley go his reward and first wicket for LNZ when he bowled danger man Owen. 224-8 off 35.

Sam and Vance came back for the last 4 overs. Matt Geffen who had had trouble behind the stump was trying to improve his net run rate and succeeding with some lusty blows, but overs were running out. A drop by “golden hands” Russell Kyne on the cow corner boundary was a minor blemish in his day.

Sam got his final reward bowling Matt for 26, and Goodwood ending up 274-9 off their 40 overs with again extras featuring significantly with 61 including 28 byes giving Matt Geffen a moral victory over Richard Fish by 1 bye.

A comprehensive win set up by the outstanding innings and partnership from Russell and Shaun, then some great bowling across the 8 bowlers used. A special mention to Harry Fish for his tireless running in the outfield and great arm. It was great to seem many of the regulars at Goodwood again though many have started to retire, and thanks to Tim (son for singer Tom) Odell umpiring.

A big thank you to Owen’s mum Philippa Spicer for keeping score again in a brand-new scorer’s hut. Owen was also our man of the match again this year with is 4 wickets at under 6 an over and 27 runs. Now 18 he can enjoy the wine!

Unsurprisingly Goodwood voted our man of the match as Russel Kyne for this 143, though Sam did get a mention with his 4 wickets.

Many thanks to our many supporters on the day who made the effort and travelled down from London and Surrey.

A great day and a great game of cricket played in an excellent spirit.