RNVR Cricket Club

Scorecard

Cuckfield CC v RNVR Cricket Club on Wed 04 Aug 2021 at 11.30am
RNVR Cricket Club Won by 3 wickets

Match report Legs are covered!

RNVR tour correspondence with E. W. Spitter, Wed 04 Aug 2021 day five of seven in Sussex, we catch up with our wary heroes on a verdant cricketing landscape facing the might of Cuckfield CC. One could have argued that Cuckfield CC held an additional advantage going into the game having deployed their opening batsman to play for Rottingdean CC against RNVR CC on Monday.

With a successful reconnaissance mission on uncovering the potential and potency of the RNVR bowling attack secured, Cuckfield CC would have fancied their chances against an RNVR side having played and absorbed the excesses of an extra game on this year’s tour; however, forever alert Club Captain Crichton is all too familiar with the physical constraints and cricketing limitations of fellow club members, and an inadvertently planned ‘rest’ day for Messrs Hylton, Pepler, and Ranu may have been a wise counter to redress the balance.

I am reliably informed that Skipper Hylton’s match preparation on his ‘rest’ day, for the best part of it, was spent sampling and deliberating the minutiae of the RS composition associated with Sussex wines, as well as the composition of his bowling attack. Having assessed the conditions and expecting the wicket to dry out as the day progressed, he duly invited the opposition into bat having secured the toss.

Messrs Kumar and Foulds buoyed by the look of the dark Dukes cherry (carefully selected and researched by the Club Captain) in their hands, and goose wing grey clouds above they began their assault on the Cuckfield openers. In between the opening overs Skipper Hylton and Club Captain proceeded to discuss, in a rather effervescent fashion might I add the finer points on the key fielding position of square leg, or was it backward square leg? or short leg? or square fine-leg? or deep fine leg? or long leg? etc, etc whichever leg it was, it was certainly well covered!

The splendid opening 14 over bowling spell yielded few runs for the opposition – 2.642 runs per over, and even fewer wickets for the RNVR (zero to be exact) resulting from a hand full of dropped catches from a small contingent of playing members, those in question were no doubt visualising the haunting flicker of neon lights at the RNVR nail salon awaiting their post-match attendance.

Skipper Hylton moved to his second bowling composition, Messrs Hayward and Ranu were given their orders to secure a breakthrough, seven balls later the breakthrough came from a thickish edge off Ranu’s delivery, followed by a spectacular one-handed diving catch behind the stumps from Cadle. 44-1…well Bowled Foulds! The RNVR pair persevered admirably for another ten overs conceding 3.33* runs per over however, no further wickets were to fall (there may have been a few more dropped catches – there’s no longer any point counting).

Bowling composition three brought Skipper Hylton and Sherry into the attack, and immediately induced a sense of urgency in the batsman, scoring at a vigorous rate of 6 runs per over for the next 5 overs at which point the umpires had seen enough action and mercifully called for lunch. With the score at 110-1 after 31 overs, the RNVR troops marched off the field of play, looking forward to receiving the splendid service of the Cuckfield catering department.

At this juncture in the game, Skipper Hylton would not have been too perturbed with the quantum of wickets taken, safe in the knowledge that Cuckfield would need to continue to accelerate the score and take greater risk in doing so, after having consumed a reasonable amount of port at lunch (as it is tradition to do so!). Lunch from the Cuckfield catering department did not disappoint, fish pie, steamed vegetables, cake, cheeses, teas, coffees, squash followed by the port (cunningly supplied by the RNVR) generously decanted amongst the players.

With lunch and port consumed in equal measure, the players returned to their dressing rooms to lace up their boots and prepared to head back out onto the field. Dressing room press access revealed Messrs Cadle and Foulds introduced some players to a massage gun - an innovative handheld device with a ball and piston head that pulsates at a vigorous rate once activated, allowing one to massage oneself. The proceeding sounds echoing from the away dressing room most certainly would have been disturbing to hear for anyone who happened to be passing by.

Back out on the field Skipper, Hylton was contemplating a slight alteration to his bowling composition No.3 swapping Messrs Sherry for Foulds in hope of securing some early wickets. RNVR CC President D.B. Crichton is a knowledgeable and keen observant of the game would have no doubt noticed reintroduction of Foulds into the attack, with some intrigue and interest, as only this time Foulds was offering what appeared to be some form of spin?! an interesting juxtaposition to his conventional bowling action and seam discipline as demonstrated in his first spell.

The pair conceded 24 runs, before another ball from Skipper Hylton located timber once again, only this time it was not the bat nor the gigantic Cuckfield redwood in the deep – indeed the batsman had heard the disconcerting death rattle of his stumps being disturbed prompting him to make his way back to the pavilion. The tinkering had worked! 134-2…well Bowled Foulds! With the Tea interval scheduled for 17:00, Cuckfield CC looked to accelerate the score in the search of reaching a competitive declaration total and in doing so they reached 184-2 lead by their young opener making his century…well batted Sir!

By this time Skipper Hylton had engaged his 6th bowling composition in the form of Messrs Maroof and Pepler, and in the 47th over another breakthrough finally came. Maroof bowled his spin and induced a mistimed stroke from the centurion. The ball reacted off the bat, ascending high up into the air heading towards Skipper Hylton, succumbing to the laws of gravity the ball proceeded to accelerate during its descent, however, not quite reaching a terminal velocity of 9.81m/s2, allowing Hylton sufficient time to take the catch and secure the third wicket for his side. 186-3…well bowled Foulds!

RNVR CC did not wait long before the fall of another wicket, this time it was Pepler and another well-judged catch by the Skipper. 192-4…well bowled Foulds!. Peplar struck again in his proceeding over with another catch from the Skipper. 209-5…well bowled Foulds!. This entertaining passage of play of 6 overs yielded 3 wickets and more surprisingly 3 catches at an average of 6.66* runs per over, however more importantly this provided evidence that both the pitch and outfield had dried out, making it quicker and ideal for a run chase for the team batting second. A further 11 runs were conceded before the declaration finally came at 16:20 at the end of the 52nd over, bowled by Ford.

The tremendous and spirited RNVR CC bowling effort had restricted the opposition to 220-5 off 52 overs at an average of 4.23 runs per over…well bowled Foulds! A target rate of 5.52 runs per over was set to secure victory, with a minimum of 40 overs expected to be bowled (20 overs from 18:00). Messrs Cadle and Maroof prepared themselves to open the batting and begin the run chase facing an awkward 30mins before Tea. The pair made a commendable start putting on 48 runs until the fall of Cadle in the 13th over for 22. Skipper Hylton came in to join Maroof at the crease and continued to maintain the scoring rate. With the score at 64-1 after 15 overs at an average of 4.26 runs per over, just a smidgen shy of the required rate, the players came off for tea at 17:00 very much looking forward to sampling the delectable delights on offer, courtesy of the Cuckfield CC catering department.

Tea was splendid indeed and hosted by the equally splendid former RNVR batsman and President of Cuckfield CC Geoffrey Longfield who took the opportunity (as he had been most of the day) to mingle with players, reminisce old times and sign copies of his newly published book entitled “70 years at the crease” - Hare, hare. Cadle remained in suspended animation reliving his dismissal and what could have been?!, Foulds continued to grumble about his misfortune with the ball and the blasphemous act of catches being dropped off his bowling, whilst other RNVR members helped themselves to more tea and treats or made further use of the massage machines in the players dressing room.

Vacher also took a deserved break from scorebook and scoreboard duties overseen by President Crichton, and for reasons only he can explain somehow managed to trap half of his elongated frame between the bar counter and bar hatch, with his rear directed towards players taking tea he resembled a figure that had just been guillotined down the midriff. Skipper Hylton undistracted by the goings-on in the pavilion, took tea in quiet contemplation before play resumed at 17:30.

The mid-afternoon sun shined bright, grey clouds parted to reveal a turquoise sky, players wondered out to retake their positions on the field, Messrs McGregor and Barker critiqued Miskin’s choice of attire, as he stood an authoritative and distinguished figure umpiring in his electric blue jacket amongst the cricketing whites of the players, Dale joined as second umpire and play resumed. RNVR CC continued to keep up with the required run rate reducing the deficit by another 40 runs before Skipper Hylton was adjudged leg before wicket, departing in the 24th over on 37 having faced 33 deliveries. At 94-2, Pepler joined Maroof and the pair continued to bat with purpose with Maroof going on securing his half-century…well batted Sir!

Maroof’s innings shortly came to end on 56, scored off 90 delivers hitting 10 boundaries, bringing Club Captain Crichton to the middle. By this time the countdown of 20 overs from 18:00 had commenced and Crichton established a tidy partnership with Pepler moving the score onto 154 before losing his wicket. At 154-4, with 12 overs remaining and 67 runs required at a rate of 5.58, Kumar came in to bat next. Welding his long handle, he promptly started manoeuvring the ball to all parts of the ground, Pepler also kept pace until being caught out on 27 off 35 balls.

Skipper Hylton looked like he could do with a stiff drink (espresso martini?! - stirred not shaken) as looked on from the boundary anticipating a nervous finale, Messrs Foulds and Sherry came and went adding 11 runs off 23 balls between them, however, Kumar’s sterling effort with the bat continued reaching 37 of 33 balls.

With 1 run required to win, Ford arrived at the crease as the Brighton seagulls ventured over from the coastline to perform a formation flyover over the ground in salute as the RNVR closed in on a coveted victory - keenly observed by ornithology enthusiast Hardman and it appears also the Cuckfield CC wicketkeeper, who proceeded to conceded 4 byes handing victory to the RNVR and denying Ford the honour of hitting the winning runs.

The players walked off towards the pavilion, shaking hands and receiving graciously applause as they crossed the boundary rope, speeches were made, Club Captain Crichton presented Cuckfield CC with an engraved RNVR 75th-anniversary jug (topped with four pints of ale), pictures of the scoreboard were recorded, the RNVR nail salon opened for business and Skipper Hylton congratulated his players on a marvellous team performance.

Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno…well bowled Foulds!

Cuckfield CC Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
3nb 5w 4b 3lb 
for 5 wickets
15
220 (52.0 overs)		     
C Bettsworth ct  Maroof 102 172 129 12 79.07
S Longfield ct  Ranu 31 51 56 3 55.36
M Slinger b  Phillips 31 71 54 4 57.41
S Shepherd ct  Pepler 12 45 30 1 40.0
A Middleton Not Out  16 19 11 3 145.45
P Collins ct  Pepler 11 7 7 2 157.14
C Dawson Not Out  2 6 3 66.67
A Jull  
E Buckeridge  
P Meader  
C Bunning  

RNVR Cricket Club RNVR CC Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Vinay Kumar7.031800.002.57
Alex Foulds12.014700.003.92
Rob Hayward6.002500.004.17
Davinder Ranu6.0215115.002.50
Dom Sherry3.002500.008.33
Hylton Phillips10.0133133.003.30
Mark Pepler5.0024212.004.80
Reza Maroof2.0016116.008.00
Paul Ford1.001000.0010.00

RNVR Cricket Club RNVR CC Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
7w 9b 4lb 
for 7 wickets
20
224		        
Laurie Cadle ct  Banning 22 38 38 4 57.89 1
Reza Maroof ct  Jull 56 83 90 10 62.22
Hylton Phillips lbw  Jull 37 30 33 4 1 112.12 3
Mark Pepler ct  Dawson 27 49 35 4 77.14
Charlie Crichton b  Dawson 13 17 19 1 68.42
Vinay Kumar Not Out  37 42 33 3 1 112.12
Alex Foulds ct  Slinger 5 17 11 45.45
Dom Sherry lbw  Dawson 6 12 12 50.0
Paul Ford Not Out  0 2 1 0
Rob Hayward  
Davinder Ranu  

Cuckfield CC Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
S Shepherd6.002200.003.67
Buckeridge6.012000.003.33
C Bunning5.0025125.005.00
Jull10.0051225.505.10
C Dawson11.2433311.002.91
Meader3.034000.000.00
Slinger4.0025125.006.25