RNVR Cricket Club

Scorecard

Ditchling CC v RNVR Cricket Club on Sun 01 Aug 2021 at 11.30am
RNVR Cricket Club Lost by 5 wickets

Match report Rivers of Beer: “It never rains in Sussex”

Post a damp abandoned day at Blindley Heath to start tour, retiring watch the Lions, dinner at the Red Barn and Rez opening is bottle shop, we arrived at Ditchling to be greeted by the chairman (Dr Ford) resplendent in his dayglow high viz t-shirt and groundsman’s shoes. A multitude of phones were produced each with a different weather app. The omens were not good with various predictions of “monsoon rains” hitting any time form 2pm to 6pm depending on who you listened to. As a result, skipper Foreman was making a strong case for a Twenty Twenty match to replace the usual all-day game. Given the RNVR’s last ill-fated experience of a pair T20s against LTCC, there was a lot of resistance to this and a 30 over match with lunch/tea after both innings was finally negotiated. The RNVR decided to forego the toss given Ditchling’s continued insistence on fielding first (may be next year they’ll grow a pair!). It quickly became apparent what the chairman had been up to - burying his demons in a soggy track!

It quickly became apparent that runs would not be easy to come by as Fergus delivered three maidens in his first four overs, Tim preventing the fourth with a lovely cut for four. Fergus was ably assisted by Ned Dean, who, once he sweated the alcohol from his grandmother’s 80th birthday celebrations the day before, the batsmen found hard to get away. Manas tucked into the one wayward over with three fours. An inspired bowling change saw Doug Porter remove Tim with a vicious off cutter, quickly followed by Fergus removing Colin and Manas in the same over. Suddenly the RNVR had slipped to 36-3 with a third of the overs gone. Some lusty shots from Jim Connolly, rolling back the years, back on tour with the RNVR after a lengthy absence and some clean hitting from Mike Saunders revived fortunes and doubled the total in the next five overs. The partnership was broken with Connolly falling to Chef, in what proved to be the first of a five-wicket haul. Young Ted Carr accounted for Mike, before Fergie edged a ball to get caught through Foreman’s grill. (There still remains debate whether or not this was in fact a legitimate and legal wicket!?!) Charlie then spooned a catch to Fordy, of all people, quickly followed by Peps and Hylts for ducks. Another RNVR collapse - five wickets for eight runs! A final wicket stand of 39 between Paul Coppard and Vinay at least got us to three figures and enabled to total of 127 to be set.

Despite the RNVR’s best efforts, an opening stand of 78 in twelve overs from Rory and Doug pretty much put the game to bed. Rory hitting Peps for three sixes in an over! Four wickets from Cops helped to give the RNVR a degree of (false) hope, however on an improving, drying wicket even he was unable to save the RNVR. Fergs took a smart catch in slips and Mike delivered a tight spell picking up a wicket but Ditchling romped home with almost eight overs to spare. The Hensher Pepler retained and the usual spectacular lunch was taken (thanks again Meredith).

The introduction of the golf ball livened things up, Vinay wrapping a jug, and not content with victory on the pitch Ditchling challenged the RNVR to a boat race. The result proved controversial, as although Ditchling won from the river of beer beneath their feet, obviously not all of their alcohol had been consumed – another one for the independent adjudicator! A damp evening negated the traditional BBQ and instead we opted for a Thai feast in Burgess Hill before Rez reopened his bottle shop back at the Wheatsheaf for recriminations and contemplation of the Brighton swim and Rottingdean on Monday. All in all though, another great day at Ditchling and despite the usual parting “bring a stronger team next year” snipe, let’s just hope that Ditchling decide to prepare a proper pitch, stop worshipping the weather gods and have the spine to toss and bat!?! Who knows, miracles might yet happen?!?

RNVR Cricket Club RNVR CC Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 5w 1b 1lb 
for 10 wickets
9
118		        
Tim Hardman b Porter 4 1
Manas Sinha ct O'Meara 20 3
Colin Bridges ct O'Meara 0 1
James H A Connolly ct Cook 25 4
Michael Saunders ct Carr 24 3 1
Charlie Crichton ct Cook 6 1 1
Steve Ferguson ct Cook 0 1
Mark Pepler ct Cook 0
Paul Coppard (BCC) Not Out  22 1
Hylton Phillips ct Cook 0
Vinay Kumar ct Porter 17 1

Ditchling CC Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Fergus O'Meara6.03824.001.33
Ned Dean6.013000.005.00
Doug Porter2.0024212.0012.00
Rory Leadsom1.002200.0022.00
Peter Cook6.011553.002.50
Ted Carr4.0017117.004.25
Max Webb1.00700.007.00

Ditchling CC Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 1w 2b 2lb 
for 5 wickets
6
128 (22.3 overs)		     
Doug Porter ct Coppard 21 3
Rory Leadsom st Coppard 67 5 6
Max Webb ct Coppard 2
Ned Dean ct Coppard 10 2
Ted Carr ct Saunders 10 2
Jonny Setterfield Not Out  7 1
Harry Eastman Not Out  5
Peter Cook  
Paul Ford  
Fergus O'Meara  
Geoff Foreman  

RNVR Cricket Club RNVR CC Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Vinay Kumar4.011500.003.75
Hylton Phillips5.002400.004.80
Mark Pepler2.003200.0016.00
Paul Coppard (BCC)6.003649.006.00
Michael Saunders5.1217117.003.29