Archie Redfern's debut fifty can't stop Goodwood

Goodwood's young side posted 255-4 on the Duke of Richmond's estate. Debutant Archie Redfern's 67 gave us hope before The Collapse left us 38 short.

There are some grounds where you know, before a ball is bowled, that you're in for a proper day out. Goodwood, home of the Duke of Richmond, is one of them. Nestled amongst the rolling Sussex countryside and looking every inch the stately cricket venue, it was the sort of place that makes you feel privileged to be playing village cricket... right up until you see the opposition warming up.

The Goodwood side appeared to have an average age of approximately 21. The LNZCC contingent, by contrast, looked like a travelling exhibition on the effects of gravity and time (apologies to anyone in our team under the age of 30 [there weren't many]). We suspected we might be in for a long afternoon. Those suspicions were only strengthened when we lost the toss.

The wicket, viewed at 11am, looked as barren as a forgotten motorway verge and about as trustworthy as a Jaffa Cake in a lunchbox on a hot day. The outfield resembled the Serengeti. All signs pointed to a difficult day in the field.

And so it proved.

Messrs Shaun and Shekar took the new ball. Both bowled with admirable discipline and economy early on. Cricket, however, is a fickle mistress. The Goodwood openers were never entirely comfortable. There were false shots, edges and moments of uncertainty. Sadly for LNZCC, uncertainty doesn't count on the scoreboard.

Through a combination of thick edges, powerful strokeplay and catches that will forever remain unrecorded in the official club archives, the hosts raced to an opening partnership of over 100 inside 15 overs, give or take - if you want to know exact figures check the utterly superb scoring from James and Maraka. They were sensational, all over the scoring like a blanket on a newborn baby. They scored the game in linear, traditional and digital form (the mind boggles). It made such a difference having them and I can't thank them enough for their time and efforts...

It should also be noted that Jacob Vanner definitely did not drop a modest skyer during this period. He certainly did not spin round more times than a novice ballerina before displaying slightly less balance than said novice. No such event occurred and any witnesses suggesting otherwise are reminded that memory can be unreliable.

The opening batsmen weren't content with merely retiring bowlers either. They also retired an umpire.

Poor Brian, the umpire from Goodwood, took a blow on the arm of such force that a tennis ball would have looked modest by comparison. Hard as a walnut shell though, he refused to leave the field. Eventually his players persuaded him to receive treatment and he was taken to hospital (having umpired another 30 overs). At the time of writing we're still awaiting news, but everyone at LNZCC sends their best wishes and hopes he's making a full recovery.

Callum McLean entered the attack and bowled a wonderfully probing spell. Against set batsmen on a quick-scoring ground he repeatedly beat the bat, inducing mistakes that somehow found gaps. On another day the same spell could easily have yielded several wickets.

Shayan followed his father into the attack and experienced something similar. He bowled with heart and skill, and on another afternoon the rewards would surely have come.

Then came skipper Baldwin and debutant Archie Redfern.

The captain is pleased to report that Archie claimed his first wicket for London New Zealand Cricket Club. A proud moment and richly deserved. There followed a brief spell where LNZCC managed to tighten the screws just enough to create a hint of pressure. To Goodwood's credit, their batsmen responded impressively and continued to accumulate.

Another debutant, James Baker, bowled with excellent rhythm and purpose. He too beat the bat on numerous occasions but found wickets to be in short supply. Dave Coutts similarly bowled intelligently during the closing stages of the innings.

All told, it was a disciplined effort in difficult conditions against a strong batting line-up.

And credit where it's due. The pitch which had looked so suspicious at the start of the day held up beautifully throughout both innings. Top marks must go to the Goodwood grounds team.

Special recognition also belongs to Monty behind the stumps. Having scored a century the previous day (sadly for another club), he was backing up on tired legs and worked tirelessly throughout.

Then came lunch.

What. A. Lunch.

Salmon drizzled with lemon. Quiche. Antipasti. Salads of every variety and the things I can't remember (it was vast). It was less cricket tea and more minor royal garden party. Heroic work from our hosts.

It was also at lunch that Josh Wright, sitting just two runs short of 2,000 career runs for LNZCC, was spotted enjoying an Inches cider.

This detail will become important.

Chasing a substantial total, Dave Coutts and Shayan opened the batting and immediately suggested that perhaps all was not lost.

Shayan was particularly positive, peppering the boundary and taking the attack to the bowlers. Unfortunately, his innings ended via a caught behind decision which some observers felt might have produced an "Snicko" verdict had DRS existed in rural Sussex.

Sadly, it does not.

Dave then departed attempting to employ the long handle on the captain's advice.

Apologies again, Dave.

At that point Jacob Vanner joined debutant Archie Redfern. As one Goodwood player later remarked:

"I thought the game was over."

For a while, so did everyone else. We were so smug. If only we had known.

The pair launched a magnificent counterattack, mixing elegant placement with unapologetic brutality. Boundaries flowed. The ball disappeared to all corners of the estate. The watching LNZCC members reclined safely on the boundary edge, convinced they might not even need to bat.

Archie, however, had never played for LNZCC before.

He didn't know.

He didn't know about The Collapse.

His sparkling 67 and partnershiip of loads with Jacob transformed the game and gave us genuine hope. But when he departed, with roughly 100 still needed from around 90 deliveries, it was as though somebody had announced last orders at the bar.

Suddenly, everyone was in a hurry.

Monty quickly succumbed to the well-known and medically recognised "scored a hundred yesterday" curse.

Vanner, having looked all class and in total control in only his 4th bat of the season decided he looked thirsty (a fair call given the heat to be honest, but he could've just asked for a water rather than wanting to go to the bar himself, we would have been happy to oblige).

Josh Wright marched to the crease needing just two runs for the milestone of 2,000. He collected a single to move within touching distance. Then a straight one rearranged his middle stump.

He finished one run short.

Whether the cider he had already consumed left him an Inche short of his target remains a matter for club historians.

Baker and McLean offered resistance and battled gamely, but the required rate continued to climb.

Eventually Baldwin arrived at the crease displaying all the timing of a broken clock. By then, the result was slipping away.

Last man Shekar entered with the sort of equation usually solved only by international T20 specialists. Requiring approximately 12 an over, he adopted a commendably straightforward strategy: if he connected, the ball was going over the clubhouse.

Sadly, he didn't connect.

Off stump was sent cartwheeling and Goodwood secured victory.

Despite the result, this was exactly what Sunday cricket should be.

A magnificent venue. Good opposition. Plenty of banter. Highs, lows, dropped catches that definitely didn't happen, outstanding debuts from Archie Redfern and James Baker, genuine jeopardy in the chase, a spectacular lunch, and a game which both sides had realistic chances of winning.

Our thanks go to Goodwood for their hospitality and for hosting a cracking fixture.

Here's to next year.

And if you're a spinner...

Get it in the diary.