Friday, 22 May 2020
30 May Collingbourne v AVCC
We turned up with a scratch 11 hastily assembled and completed with 30 minutes notice at Collingbourne - in many ways our sister club as our youth are combined as a team
Good guys, lots of banter, and a very young, fit and dangerous Collingbourne side were assembled…obviously upgraded and determined to win.
We welcomed some new conscripts/press-ganged players in the form of Tamang (mate of Ish), Humphrey (mate of Jack Campbell), and probably fielded one of our youngest ever sides with 4 schoolboys (Ollie Lishman, Jack Campbell, Humphrey, and Rowan Morrison), plus a range of guys who looked half the age of the captain.
Graham did his bit, won the toss and decided to bat as the pitch was hard and it looked like the light would start to give way in the 2nd innings and give an advantage.
Openers were hastily volunteered and David Battinson and Ish went out to bat against a hostile, and very strong Collingbourne attack who were both fast and unsportingly accurate. Thus, our scoring rate was slow and we were just 4-1 off 3 overs. Our leading batsmen were under pressure, David got 3, Ish 11, and Shane Williams 3.
Tamang (press-ganged with 30 mins to spare) came in and after feeling his way, scored a fine 22 not out; Jack Campbell playing a wider range of shots and more on the ground than his father (who umpired at times) top-scored with a magnificent 27 with an innings well beyond his tender years. Jack is one to watch for the future. Rowan scored 3; and our innings closed on 103.
For the first 12 overs, this score looked unlikely as we were around 40 at 12 overs. So a good score in the end eked out with patience and courage against a strong bowling attack.
However, none of us felt it was defendable, but we gave it a go.
David Battinson made an early breakthrough but batsmen 1 and 3 (Philips and Macey) each scored 30+ and retired, and at the 12 over mark they were north of 80 and looking very comfortable. With 6 overs to go, just 17 needed….we were not confident.
Then we could see them tense; the 4’s dried up, the runs dried up - largely due to strong tight bowling from Tamang, Humphrey (nice leg spinners even though I’m sure he had trouble seeing over the stumps) and Julian Lishman. Julian took a double-wicket maiden in his second over, Rowan took a wicket and Tamang skittles their danger man out. Shane Williams came in the 19th over with 5 required to win and gave away a paltry single with some hostile and determined bowling. The Collingbourne batsmen were looking very tense.
So the last over…read on…as this is the stuff of legends…we entered the last over (unexpectedly) with Collingbourne needing 4 to win off 6 balls. 4 wickets left. Graham brought the field in close to add to the pressure the batsmen were feeling so they didn’t know whether to hit singles or fours. Always good to see the indecision in their eyes :)
Well…they LOST!!!! We ran out all 4 of their last 4 wickets in 6 balls (including their captain and the 2 top order batsmen who had retired earlier), the last going on the last ball courtesy of an amazing run-out by Ish who had volunteered to wicket-keep in the absence of our usual keepers.Jack Campbell bowling the last over gave up just 2 runs, had a major role in the run-outs of 2 batsmen and great throws from Julian, Ollie, David all contributed. They were stunned, so were we…we had WON BY 1 Run off the last ball.
It is rare at our level to get to the stumps, indeed, to manage a single run-out in an innings, let alone 4 in an over to win.
The intensity in the field for the last few overs, especially the last one, the fielding and the passion were phenomenal. Can’t remember seeing better in the time that AVCC have existed.
We celebrated down the local pub, The Tipple.
Stuff of legends. Great win. You should have been there.
Man of the match - Jack Campbell; top-scored, took a wicket, instrumental to 2 run-outs at the end, and bowled the last over with aplomb and accuracy. Simon should be a proud dad…even if he had to put up with a gentle ribbing that we were glad he did not have to bowl at the end……
Lessons of the day…..never give up, all totals defendable, the unimaginable can happen, and trust our youth…..Jack, Rowan, Humphrey and Ollie all made vital contributions.