Full Fixture Information

Result Descriptiom

Comprehensive win for the Meon

Man of the Match

Willy Atko, six wickets for four runs

Champagne Moment

Rup's beautiful wicket

Teddy Bear Moment

Ali dropping a dolly

Full Match Report

My offer to write this match report was entirely selfishly motivated. I thought it would be cathartic, I thought it would ease the pain, I thought it would help me move on from the ignominy. Instead it has brought recollections of ?the moment? crashing back to mind. More to come on that later, whether you like it or not.

One day we may have confidence that a game won?t be interrupted by the inclement conditions, might start on time, will even happen at all. After another midweek fixture in the murk and drizzle we once again took to the field on Sunday with the vista of Park Hill outlined against a dark grey backdrop and a very high probability of the wet stuff. But confident we were that a game would get played. And confident we were of a Meon victory; so overflowing with batting and bowling talent were we that Willy?s biggest problem was deciding on an order. Little did Lynchmere know what they were letting themselves in for.

Of course we batted first. Season debutants Lakh and Tim Clay striding out to the wicket and although not chanceless got us off to a flying start, boundaries flowing aplenty. Lakho was eventually bowled for 35 and Tim caught off a full toss for 44. An excellent opening partnership, who needs that youngest Atkinson brother. This brought (not bought, a nod to my literary predecessor) James Redmayne and Mark Davis to the crease. James of course played a tidy and chanceless innings, 84 n.o. Mark played some beautiful and classic strokes, 60 n.o. Jimmy Atko, fifth in the order, sat for 2.5 hours with pads on waiting his turn, face like thunder for the rest of the day. Willy Atko, sixth in the order, went nowhere near his whites, spending his time honing his parenting skills on the swings. A brotherly contrast. With 23 extras we took tea 246 to the good.

Tea was a fine affair. On pork duty Wayne went all out, or a better description would be Becky went all out. Home made pulled pork vol-au-vent a particular highlight.

Rup opened down the hill, village debutant David Blackburn up. Their opener was bowled fourth ball by Rup with an absolute beaut that pitched about middle and tickled the very corner of the off stump on its way through. Chasing 246 it was not the start Lynchmere were hoping for. Rup conceded just four runs off his opening five overs, nothing we haven?t come to expect of him. Although wicketless off his five overs David bowled beautifully with three maidens in the mix. His spell will more likely be remembered however for the way the soles of his shoes disintegrated more and more with each ball, leaving studs and shards of blue plastic all over the wicket.

The change brought Willy and Wayne on. Lynchmere?s number three had broken ribs before the game, struggled throughout, and was struck on the cheek by a fiery one from Rup. But dug in well. Willy bowled their fourth bringing their allrounder to the crease. This gentleman had clearly no concept of a time game, swinging like mad from ball one. And as someone who had clearly played a bit and with an amazing eye he was clearly a man to remove. So imagine our delight after a few balls when he spooned a high swirling opportunity up towards point. Now remember that opening paragraph, this is where it comes in again (feel free to skip a few sentences)? Wheeler senior is fielding in his usual spot at Silly. Realising in an instant that there were two candidates for the catch, him or Wayne, he of course decided to take charge, giving a loud and clear call of ?Wheeler?. Now this is the same Wheeler recipient of the champagne moment a few weeks back for the amazing one handed caught and bowled, the same Wheeler that caught a rocket from the Petersfield captain in the first game of the season, the same Wheeler that wears his (fake, written because you want me to) baggy for five catches in a match. Right, where was I? the ball is swirling up high, Wayne has already thought ?f*ck that? and Wheeler is right under it. Lakho had already begun running towards him to celebrate. But wait, a fumble, a drop, an absolute dolly. A moment he has since lived a thousand times. Not even village, more hamlet. Right enough of the self-loathing (thank you for the opportunity), on with the report.

It was about this time that Willy?s ears pricked up. A cuckoo loud and clear down in the meadows. It stayed and cheered us on for the remainder of the innings, and good luck it brought us too. In particular for our Skip who raced to a five-for. Wayne bowled a fine spell, taking one. Ali bowled dross, somehow took one. Jimmy of course came on to bowl at the tail, teased one out but was still monking, ?I can?t grip the ball?. One wicket left to take and Lynchmere had finally realised a time game meant they could still get something from the game through a draw. With the overs ticking away who could make the breakthrough. Super Willy of course. Super six wicket Willy that is, Super six wicket Willy for four runs. That Cuckoo really was a good omen.

Lynchmere limped to 79 runs, a somewhat one sided affair.

Retiring to the Izaak much merriment was accompanied by jugs of Goodens and snacks aplenty. Another fine win for the Meon, well done boys.