Cudworth's Conquer
My
first & best decision of the day came in persuading Chris Selkirk
(the opposing Captain) against a 40 overs game. His reasoning for wanting
limited overs was that his chaps didn't want to be playing at 7.30/7.45
so we agreed on a proper game with truncated hours. Thus tea was agreed
at 4.15 and 20 overs at 6pm.
On winning the toss, Chris asked us to bat and Justin & Jerry Stockbridge
took up the cudgel. Jus proceeded in his usual muscular fashion lifting
the venerable opening bowler effortlessly for six over long off. Regrettably,
however, a loss of concentration was matched by the loss of his off stump
soon after to the second XI opening bowler in their league side. Alex
Cudworth making a welcome first appearance of the season was soon elegantly
into his stride and making batting look easy. Emboldened, Jerry Stockers
smote a delightful boundary through mid off but was then slightly bizarrely
caught by the keeper standing up off the toe end of his bat. I then joined
Alex who was smiting to all parts and in what seemed no time at all reached
an excellent 50 while I had about 7. Unfortunately, he then feathered
a catch behind and departed for 55.
The bowling while not especially penetrative was not easy to get away
and not coming on to the bat and there followed a quick tumble of wickets
as Brett Jacobs making his annual appearance unluckily got a shooter to
be LBW, Cudworth Senior pulled a short one down the throat of square leg
and Steve Reece fell to a very good running catch as he top edged a pull
off his third ball. At about 100 for 5 we were looking a little short
of runs but I was starting to middle the ball at this point and in company
with Robin Linnecar, we lifted the score to 184 before tea was taken.
Robin not out 14 and I not out 49 not having been alerted to the approaching
milestone by the scorers!!
The Littlewick Green innings began inauspiciously for them with 2 bowled
in the early overs by Matt Hallam and Alex C and the other opener who
looked dangerous being taken comfortably at slip by Jerry Stockbridge
off an outside edge from Matt. A sharp chance made to look simple by the
ever reliable 'Buckets'.
At this point,approx. 20/3, I removed Alex and Matt from the attack as
I did not want to be seen to be bullying and Toby C then settled into
an excellent length and rhythm in company with Robin Linnecar. Alex C
then provided the champagne moment of the match by leaping like a salmon
to pluck what looked like an impossible catch out of the air as it sailed
over his head. Catches win matches and this was up with the best and was
very opportune as it dismissed the number 4 batsman who was looking good.
The catch was off Toby who continued to probe and picked up 2 more wickets
with an excellent spell of accurate medium pace bowling assisted by sharp
catches from Steve Reece and Mike Stockbridge. Rob Linnecar, Ian C and
I all bowled tightly without having any luck and with 10 overs to go Alex
and Matt came back and with some devastating pace bowling, cleaned out
the tail to leave us with a comfortable win.
What a pleasure for a Captain to be able to call upon the pace of Matt
& Alex and the big difference with both is that they are bowling at
the stumps and hitting them, rather than bowling outside off stump. Mention
must also be made of Justin who kept wicket for only the second time that
I can recall and did so with distinction taking some fast deliveries down
the leg side with athletic ease. From memory, I believe that only two
sets of byes were conceded.