RNVR Cricket Club

Scorecard

Leigh CC v RNVR Cricket Club on Sun 15 Sep 2019 at 13.00
RNVR Cricket Club Won by 6 wickets

Match report Leigh CC, Surrey. Sept 15
Final game of the season.

Unsurprisingly the call for volunteers to step forward for the final game of the season/summer drew a number of interesting replies, several injuries (but most were available if all else failed) one offer to appear straight from Gatwick and 12 immediately available and keen. Unknown to the skipper there were actually 13 to choose from but the 13th man didn’t make this known until actually turning up on the day… A strong side were selected. The weather most definitely ordered and plans for squeezing in lunch at The Dolphin prior to the 13:00 start were made.

Reza and Matt Dryden were at the Dolphin before the car park allowed entry, however Reza’s carnivorous grin and Matt’s tee shirt (or was it his pecs?) secured access and a lunch order. Unfortunately Dale’s taxi’s only deposited Kumar and Dale at the Dolphin with time to remind the diners that we needed to be at the ground, asap.

Captains check list: 1. Organise a side. Tick. 2. Communicate with the opposition, in advance. Tick. 3. Bring kit bag/scorebook/ball/flag. Tick (well, checked in with CCCC that it was in his car). 4. Arrive at ground on time. Tick (no one else was there to see it was actually 12:32). 5. Negotiate a time game with the opposition. Tick. 6. Win the coin toss. Cross. 7. Roll out your battle plan…

Skipper Dale congregated the team, er 10 of them (whilst technically late MS didn’t actually miss a ball, just the rousing speech), and gave a rousing speech, well, suggested that as we got a right stuffing here last year it would be rather appropriate if we made a bit of an effort this time round. Vinay to open the bowling from the top end. Hylton to provide the foil from the up hill end. A fantastic 12 over opening spell from both culminated in 3 wickets for Vinay, 3 maidens and only just a few more runs, Hylton whilst wicketless at the start, bowled the tightest line to a 6:3 filed that runs were stifled and Leigh were looking down the barrel of a low score with a high wicket count… Vacher Snr stepped up to snare their no.3 just as he looked to get going. This to compliment some fine close fielding at the same end which belied his years and self professed lack of agility. 5-1-16-1, nice figures Vacher Snr. We were dying to see “caught Vacher Jnr, bowled Vacher Snr" in the score book but alas it was to much to ask on top of everything else. Matt Dryden came on for Vinay, his first over we can gloss over but the second was a peach and he soon snared their no.6 LBW.

What happened next was not in the skippers script, Leigh’s no.5 had been busy settling himself in and then once in, produced a number of thunderous blows which sent fielders to all parts of the ground, including the field opposite and over the road from the ground itself. The skippers bowling figures reflected this. Dryden, more of him later, was replaced by the returning Vaughan. Leaner, fitter, and despite becoming a father since his last appearance, definitely far less stressed now that the captaincy was not his burden to carry! Although wicketless his return on his return was tight enough considering that no.5 was blustering his way past 50. Skipper Dale promptly replaced himself with a proper spinner in Colin Bridges. No.5 was heard explaining to his fellow batsman that you can tell which ball from Bridges is coming by where his fingers are… This confusing observation only served to confuse the field who proceeded to drop a brace of catches, leaving the usually unflappable Bridges, decidedly and justifiably, flapped.

Oh, in the middle of all this a rarity occurred. No, not a run short, signalled by the square leg umpire taping his shoulder but 5 runs given to the opposition by way of ball-hit-helemt on ground. Unfortunate but notable. Also, the stumps had been directly hit by fielders returning the ball from afar 5 times, maybe even rarer? Oh and the Leigh no.5, Mr Glaysher, was clapped for his 100.

By that point Mike Saunders, more, much more, of him later, who’d bowled an equally as tight spell to a 6:3 field, could feel suitably miffed about the LBW that wasn’t given. But he didn’t let it show.

It was time to return Vinay and Hylton for their last 2 overs each. This inspirational captaincy, er, oh, really, brought about the momentous sight of Club Captain Charles Crichton, not to be outdone by youngsters hitting the stumps, actually executed a run out of the centurion, three cheers!

Hylton secured the 8th wicket, his final figures being 8-2-27-1 to compliment Vinay’s 8-4-13-3, and Leigh declared their innings at 224 after 42 overs.

Tea. A slightly curious offering but our long standing member V Snr noted that it wouldn’t be a Leigh tea without a boiled potato. There were boiled potatoes. Also why wasn’t the Wimbledon Men’s Final on the telly?

So to batting. Reza and Mike strode out. Club Captain and Captain for the day obliged the umpiring duties. Reza enjoyed 13 minutes of fun hitting 4 x 4s from 13 balls faced, he was clearly in form having helped himself to a 100 off 90 balls last week (or was it 90 off 100?!) but unfortunately this week was caught in the field far too soon. Up stepped Colin, skippers confidence was high, 14 minutes and and 7 balls faced he was clean bowled by a ball that must have moved a mile to defeat our resolute and normally ruthless no.3 – not his day. The returning Vaughan mentioned something about hating me for giving him the no.4 berth. All was going well until he spied two small men circumnavigating the boundary pointing and chuckling. Whilst we were honoured to have actual spectators/supporters, the sight of a former leader and former leading batsman clearly induced the collywobbles. Having missed a few seasons Vaughan was not prepared for the missile-like throw of the Leigh fielder (much talked about after last year) and in returning for a second was run out, much to the dismay of the on looking “formers" on the boundary, 10 balls 11 minutes. Whilst no great honours to report for Vaughan, we were honoured to have him back on a field with us. Next up to restore some order, was CCCC. The moment and the opportunity were set for a classic and classy innings to be had (mainly in the hope that this author could add a second set of Cs to his initials). Unfortunately 12 minutes and 7 balls later CC was undone by the mightiest of pies.

To the untrained eye things were starting to look a little ruffled for us. Out strode the aforementioned Matt Drydon to join the aforementioned Mike Saunders. The second moment of captains inspiration was now to follow… “chaps, please can we have a partnership” was the request. A not unreasonable one I thought. It was the 13 over and 4 wickets had come and gone and 69 runs were on the board. We needed 225 remember. Also, in a less inspirational moment, the skipper, Dale, had agreed to 20 overs from 18:00, not having done the equation of sunset verses time it would take to bowl 20 overs… having returned from umpiring duties the two “formers” were kindly offering night vision goggles to him and his team mates. Thanks.

What actually followed was a masterful display of controlled batting, combining pretty much the perfect blend of defence, manipulation of the field and controlled aggression. A summary that very occasionally appears in these match reports. Saunders 50 came in 55 mins off 49 balls. Dryden’s 50 in 65 mins off 45 balls. Saunders 100 came in 127 mins off 100 balls. Saunders was finally out for 110 caught behind just maybe, and understandably, playing a slightly tired shot, maybe. 19x4s and 1x6 to his name. His partner remained not out on 81 in 88 mins and from 61 balls, 13x4s, 1x6. A partnership of 150. Oh and Hylton chipped in with a 4 to secure the winning runs. All from 36.2 overs.

A delightful way to wrap up the season as the sun set, and thanks to that partnership a) I didn’t have to bat, b) my request looked genius (?!) c) We only used 11 of the final 20 overs, the night goggles would have had to be utilised had we gone much further d) a 7th win for the season was secured (W7-L7-D3-T1) e) an nice symmetry was achieved by winning the first and the last games of the season.

Some final observations:
Catches, for once did not win the match!
Colin Bridges now officially hates cricket (momentarily)
Vinay Kumar now officially loves cricket again but not when catching eye contact with CCCC
MoM: Mike Saunders
Entertainer of the match: Matt D (bowled 3 consecutive full tosses each hit for 4, then hit 6 consecutive 4s himself)
Appearance of the year: Rupert Vaughan
I-told-you-so award: CCCC (bowl at the stumps whilst catching the eye of our erstwhile opening bowler)
I can hit the wickets from anywhere: VK MS MD and unbelievably CC
Picture perfect scene of the day: Snr and Jnr Vacher scoring
Bowling to your 6:3 field of the day: Hylton Phillips (special mention MS)
Fan boys: Steve Ferguson, Paul Ford and Tom Hillman
Reza and Skipper Dale are still arm wrestling for the thanks for turning up award

Bring on 2020.

Saunders 50: 55 mins, 49 balls
Saunders 100: 127 mins, 100 balls
Dryden 50: 65 mins, 45balls
5th wkt Partnership, 150 in 85 mins, 140 balls.

Leigh CC Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
1w 16b 8lb 
for 8 wickets
25
224 (42.0 overs)		     
Patel b  Kumar 2
Bounds b  Kumar 6
Menon ct  Kumar Bowled Vacher P 33
Shanker lbw  Bowled Kumar 0
Glaysher run out  Crichton 100
Pinnock J lbw  Bowled Dryden 12
Kathiravelu ct  Reza Bowled Saunders 15
Ahmed Not Out  29
Kyle ct  Saunders Bowled Phillips 0
Shandragopals  
Pinnock N  

RNVR Cricket Club RNVR CC Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Vinay Kumar8.041334.331.62
Hylton Phillips8.0227127.003.38
Matt Dryden4.0121121.005.25
Piers Vacher5.0116116.003.20
Rupert Vaughan4.002600.006.50
Ben Dale4.003400.008.50
Michael Saunders5.0028128.005.60
Colin Bridges4.003500.008.75

RNVR Cricket Club RNVR CC Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
6b 1lb 
for 4 wickets
7
225		        
Reza Maroof ct  Bowled Kathirevalu 16 13 13 4 123.08 1
Michael Saunders ct  Wkt Bowled Shandragopals 110 135 107 19 1 102.80 1
Colin Bridges b  Kathirevalu 6 14 7 1 85.71
Rupert Vaughan Run out  1 11 10 10.0
Charlie Crichton ct  Bounds 0 12 7 0 1
Matt Dryden Not Out  81 88 61 13 1 132.79
Hylton Phillips Not Out  4 3 4 1 100
Vinay Kumar   1
Ben Dale  
Bertie Vacher  
Piers Vacher  

Leigh CC Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Kathirevalu8.0145222.505.63
Shandragopals8.0049149.006.12
Bounds6.0036136.006.00
Pinnock N5.002700.005.40
Ahmed5.002700.005.40
Glaysher4.002900.007.25
Patel0.10400.0024.00