Aldbourne v AVCC
Wow...what a scorcher this Sunday turned out to be. Felt like summer had arrived finally. Felt like a day for daring deeds and cricket.
The day did not start well. Keevil - whom we had beaten in an exciting and tight match for our last Sunday game called off in the morning, saying that they only had 5 men. So MORAL VICTORY to AVCC!
However, Aldbourne had also been let down and so after a scramble by Simon, we agreed to play them at Westbury. A new venue for us. Amazingly, despite the confusion we assembled with 11 players. Only 4 of the same from our last fixture - Simon Campbell, Graham Newland, Tim Gent, and Peter Williams. We welcomed 3 new faces...young (schoolboy) Alex Richardson, Eugene Steinberg and Charles Bodell-Lee (pronounced BO-Diddly for us locals). And seeing them for the first time this year, we welcomed back Matt Haslett (now in re-settlement according to Facebook), Ish Shafique, Bruce Carter and Simon Borthwick
Simon lost the toss and we had to field in the scorching sun. Matt and Graham opened the bowling with tight and economical spells despite a cross-track breeze that caused havoc with the flight of the ball. Matt took 1-15 off 6 overs and Graham 0-10 off 4 overs including our team’s only maiden. Aldbourne batted solidly from the outset, but Matt struck first when they were on 19 with Charles Bo-diddly doing the honours for the first catch, and making his distinguished mark immediately. Ish and Alex then ket the brakes on with tidy bowling until Alex took his first wicket for AVCC with the score on 52, well caught by fellow debutant Eugene. Alex bowled very well and tidily, with good pace..and had tidy figures of 1-24 off 5 overs. He should be a great bowler when he is another 18 inches higher, or 5-6 years older, whichever comes first.
Tea came at the end of 18 overs and Aldbourne were only on 60 and we were looking tight in the field and in control. We had done well on a very big pitch with a fast bouncy track.
Well, so much for a break! They accelerated rapidly to 97 in the 23rd over when Bo-diddly got his man - his first victim for AVCC caught Simon Campbell. Charles finished with 1-21 off 4 overs and looked handy with some good medium pace bouncy bowls.
Well let’s just say they accelerated more now, and before we knew it they had smashed us around the ground and in the last 12 overs put on 104, to post an awesome total of 201 for 5. Eugene claimed 2 wickets, bowled viciously taking out the stumps of his victims. He bowled with pace and menace, and was unlucky to get carted for 53 runs in this time off 6 overs. Ish looked stylish in trying to stem the runs but finished 0-37 off 6. Tim Gent also had an attempt at provoking more wickets with his unique brand of dobblers but finished 0-24 off 3.
Well, for you ardent followers...you will know we have never ever chased down 200 in a 35 overs match and so there was a bit of a concern at tea time. Tea time was novel....cakes, cakes, more cakes, biscuits, crisps and more cakes....the problem of how to organise everything for a re-arranged fixture at short notice. Very yummy though!
So we sent out Simon Borthwick and Eugene Steinberg to get us off to a flyer. They settled well and were picking off the runs until the 9th over when Simon was unfortunately bowled by their opening fast bowler - Qureshi - who looked very lively. Simon had got us off to a good start scoring 21.You could tell we were concerned about their imposing total as Simon Campbell made a rare appearance at no.3. It took Simon some time to settle against a dogged slow bowler (Dadd),but gradually, Simon and Eugene asserted themselves. By drinks (18 overs) we were 90-1, ahead of their position but behind the run-rate. You could feel the intensity as they resumed as they resiliently battled with a strong and resourceful Aldbourne attack that tried everything. Indeed, Simon was put down 3 times and Eugene twice as their fielders thwarted their noble efforts.
However, our heroes prevailed, and we finished on 204-1 - winning by 9 wickets - and in doing so, achieved the first successful AVCC run chase in 35 overs format of a 200+ run chase. Well done everyone! And especially to Eugene on his debut scoring 72 not out and Simon making 98 not out with an exemplary captain’s innings. They seemed to collapse at the end with a bad tempered 32nd over when they surrendered a 5 (hit the wicket-keepers helmet that was lying on the ground), got hit for 11 in an over and also gave away 2 wides. It was all over bar the shouting...or indeed, waiting for Simon to wallop another might 4 to the (very) long boundary.
So we celebrated in the bar. An unbeaten start for both 20/20 and 35/35 for the season; our first wins against Foss and Aldbourne (and we should add Keevil by morality) and a new record for a successful run-chase. Well done to all who played and an excellent day.