Full Fixture Information

Result Descriptiom

Big win

Full Match Report

Being a bit of an outlier this year, peering in to the weekly reports and our gripping WhatsApp group, there is no doubt the club is in good health. The club membership grows and the social side is second to none. One thing has been lacking, results. We have only managed to win as many as we have lost. Which considering our modern history, it is something I?m not use to seeing. So observing from within the side today I wanted to understand why. Was it incompetence, a lack of confidence or just bad luck. To make matters worse, the rumours of the captain last week calling his men a bunch of tools as whispered at fines made me believe bigger cracks were opening. I?m just pleased the open honesty of captaincy still remains in the club.
So to battle, away at Hursley Park. Not the normal pitch with the ladies 1s on pitch A so we were relegated to pitch B which was as dry as they come and massive trenches dug out at the crease.
Our team, a mix of fiends of members and old timers, well done everyone for pulling a side together, never easy at this time of year.
Oliver our captain today successfully won the toss and chose to field. I thought we ought to warm up today, dispel any nervous energy and focus the minds. This wasn?t laps around the pitch or stretching, this was a 3m diameter circle where we casually bullied each other with little slip catches. Old fashioned East Meon. Perfect.
Arran opened up down the big slope, having just been bullied in the warm up most he was fired up. It was not long and he picked up our first. An easy catch called safely by Josh at mid off. Dave R from the other end bowled an array of lines but he too picked up a wicket, caught and bowled although Harry Chalk rightfully said he reckoned Dave placed the ball on the ground once caught, was it complete?
No matter, Arran continued to bowl and Hursley continued to hit Dollie?s at fielders. Mainly to brother Oliver who was in no mood for dropping easy catches and snuffled 2 at extra cover.
We had them 23-4, it all felt a bit good, the fielding backed up the bowling, misfields didn?t exist and there was a smell of confidence humming around the side.
Wayne?s first over was pony but that didn?t put him off, Coming back nicely and ending on 4 overs for 20 odd against probably their only threatening bat. Josh H joined Wayne, our premier spinner these days although our keeper Sticko did question if he actually turned it. The partnership of 60 took them to 80 before in Josh?s 6th over bowled the main batsman off the back of his bat. Shortly after a brief tonking by a left hander he also got him caught behind off the back of his bat. Strange old game. I took over from Wayne and bowled brilliantly and got my wicket. Jacob Rowlands the best player from Wiltshire we have replaced me and he bowled as brilliantly. He gave his Uncle Jeff jip which we all enjoyed. At drinks they were 90-7 and all felt good. Jeff came on and bowled curly whirlys and picked up a wicket then shortly after Jacob dislodged the batsman who had carried the limping Hursley along. Another catch from Oliver sealed the innings, 99 to win. So what did I notice about our innings, where are we going wrong this season. Well catching the ball helps, we did that well. Fielding the ball properly helps and we did that really well too. It?s an easy game.
Tea was fine. We got abused heavily by the scorer then shortly after at 16.19 or 16.20 not quite sure which Rupert and his pal Harry strode to the middle. Oli put our most experienced player Jeff at 11 and he was prepared for batting for a draw in 3.5 hours time if required.
Having feasted on Dolphin for lunch Rupert and Harry played with poise and applied themselves nicely, quickly getting to 36, no problem at all. Harry was caught on 21, a good debut, Oliver joined the fray and tucked in getting us to 50 that next over. There were no nerves, no hiccups, just good batting or digging in Rupert?s case. As the total became closer, the more hoicking came into the game. But no matter, Oli completed a nice 50 and the game was won with ease. It wasn?t a classic, it wasn?t gripping but we needed that, a thumping win. Hursley are always a great bunch and we look forward to seeing them next year.
We skipped to the other pavilion and to the bar and talked about cow hides and cricket balls, talked about Ladies cricket and ladies football and completed a merry day.
Report started at 23.45 and completed at 00.18 if the Hursley scorer is reading.