AVCC v Marden (20/20)
We played our first home game of the season last night. 20/20 vs Marden. Bathed in warm sunlight, it felt like the right sort of evening to play cricket.
Pitch looked good, and Simon Campbell put us into bat.
Much confusion over the line up....Simon posted a list of 12 the night before and 4 did not join us (2 known) and 2 unexpected ones did...and so we had a merry band of 10. Welcome back, Ben Jones, and good to see Mitch again.
Simon Borthwick and "Mitch" Mitchell opened. We showed them that we know how to gain momentum. Simon played a maiden to Ash Elliott (Wilcot's opening bowler, guesting) and then Mitch went 2nd ball of the next over; 0-1. Jon Wolverson, strode in and he and Simon set about the bowling.
Simon hit a quick 12 (2x4's) before succumbing in the 4th over; 19-2. He was caught out by a pea-roller as the pitch was playing quite low (and slow) at times. Graham Newland then went in at no.4. Jon was electric and hit 3x6's - 2 of Mr Elliott (turned Mr Grumpy) and 1 off Luke Flippance (another Wilcot bowler) - before being bowled by P. Bailey (off his first ball) for 31; 54-3.
Graham also picked up a "shiner" colliding with their spinner, Luke Flippance, after Jon called for a quick single.
Michael Rae and Graham then made a rapid 60...the decisive partnership....with Michael thrashing the ball around for 37 (8x4's) before being caught. 114-4. Graham was caught a couple of overs later for 40 (8x4's) and the innings subsided to 139-7, with Angus Harley scoring 10, and India Corden and Ben Jones not out on 1 a piece.
Overall a very good score - and this is now our home ground record total for 20/20. Well done all.
A quick turnaround to maximise the conditions and light, and the Marden openers strode out. Jamie Corden was steaming in and bowling extremely well, and was rewarded with clean bowling their opener, Locke in his second over - taking a wicket maiden. This was an important wicket, as Locke has often got runs against us.
They looked like they could keep up the pace as their Wilcot opener...Elliott was hitting well. But cometh the hour, cometh the man and captain Simon took 3 wickets (including a double wicket maiden.....for which we believe jug avoidance might have been incurred) - taking Elliott (43) and the next 2 batsmen out - 2 of them bowled.
After that it was a procession of "outs" with Mitch getting his first wicket for the club, and Michael Rae getting a good wicket. Simon Borthwick took an excellent backward running, diving catch to give Mitch his wicket. But the highlight...and one that won't be forgotten....was India Corden bowling a hat-trick.....all clean-bowled. Excellent, memorable, and legendary.
Only the 2nd hat-trick in our history (Ben Jones being the other...and jug avoidance still being noted....). Indeed, only 3 other AVCC people have taken 3 wickets in the same over (Ben, Simon C and Graham).
So, India led us off the field as they innings finished on 102-9 and we had won by a tidy 37 runs.
Much credit to mum, Mary Corden, who led us to the Antelope and bought a jug to celebrate the hat-trick. Sausages and chips were also enjoyed in the pub, and it felt like a great day.
Just a footnote to mention that Dudley Perrin is on -13 for his average for the season.....after 2 ducks for us, he scored 13 not out for Marden last night, including the temerity to hit India for a couple of 4's. That's just not cricket.