Marden v AVCC
AVCC went down to a gut-wrenching defeat to the might of Marden yesterday - local derby - however chance of redemption remains in the return fixture T20 on Wed 29 May.
The simple stats record Marden scoring 178 for 6 in their 40 overs with AVCC trailing in second with 116 all out from 31.3, but this does little justice to the drama which unfolded on a day when summer unexpectedly turned up.
AVCC players looked on enviously at the facilities on show at Marden which included a pavilion and a net, and 11 players at the start, although the pitch was grassy and a little uneven compared to our own immaculate square. But all that was forgotten as the drama unfolded.
It's well-known that a lot of net practice has gone in early season, however we did omit the key skill of catching. The skipper led the way with two drops, with the rest of the team relieving his embarrassment and showing generosity of spirit to the opposition on 6 or 7 other occasions. Favourite was Ben (Shane) Eveling scuttling on to the field late, at deep cover with the next ball shelled hard two foot above his head - he did get two hands to it. However, the ground fielding was pretty good with Warwick Hall doing sterling work on the boundary and Paddy Bond involved in two run outs and the removal of a particular dangerous looking 60 year old batsman by means of (inadvertently) hitting him on the head - we bought him a pint afterwards.
The bowling was pretty good too, aside from the odd wide, highlights being Tim Law topping and tailing the innings with some hostile medium pace (8-0-39-1), Ben Eveling bamboozling the opposition with his mixture of leggies, googlies and sliders (8-0-31-0), James Hayward slow medium (4-0-18-1) and Fred Kenny (has the air of Flintoff about him) having not rolled his arm over for five years (6-0-20-1).
Four and half an over was not unthinkable, but the opposition decided to play dirty by resorting unfairly to "bowling straight". Fiendish. Mike (Fresh Produce) Parr, Rory Plank and Tim (The North Newton Nibbler) looked composed and sensible, until they got out for not very many. Paddy and Warwick also showed a bit of form, Paddy's first ball was smote for 4. Bruce (Cymbals) Carter hit shot of the day, a swivel pull through mid-wicket and then tried to repeat it to a different ball. Tim Law top scored with a rousing 41, but otherwise there was too much missing of straight ones, lobbing the ball at the fielders and the (unnecessary) giving each other out LBW.
AVCC down but not disgraced, cricket was the winner.
The tea was great and we managed to sort it all out in the pub afterwards.