RNVR Cricket Club

Scorecard

Ditchling CC v RNVR Cricket Club on Sun 02 Aug 2020 at 11.30
RNVR Cricket Club Lost by 82 runs

Match report In a socially distanced season, we had initially anticipated this to be the curtain-raiser not just for tour but the season as a whole. Thankfully, despite COVID, we’d managed to get some cricket in prior to this match, which this year had the added significance of a 70-year anniversary and the opposition’s captain, Geoff Foreman’s final game. Owing to the enthusiasm for this game it was agreed that we would play 12 players a side.

The RNVR won the toss, and despite the tradition of always being put in by Ditchling decided to have a field on a well-worn wicket that had be used in the league on the previous day. Some very tight opening spells from Will Dee, Hylts, backed up by Dav and Will Buckland saw Ditchling restricted early on and had it not been for three dropped catches (we may need some more nail varnish next year!?!), we could have made many more inroads to the Ditchling batting line up. As it was, the fear of getting out to ex-Ditchling Sunday skipper Peps and the purchase that Junior was getting from the scuffed-up track saw only one wicket fall before lunch – that of the dual registered Doug Porter. However, a return of 107-1 in 34 overs is testament to some tight bowling.

Despite the helicopter over head, Bill did not appear for lunch (!) which was taken out of the back of Fordy’s car – a fantastic salmon en croute accompanied by a Greek salad and followed by the customary cheese and port. A great effort Fordy, and much appreciated. Geoff revealed the newly christened and engraved North Star Plate (formerly the Hensher Pepler Plate), this seemed particularly appropriate given that the RNVR were fielding both Laurence’s son, Mark Pepler and Arthur’s grandson, George Seabrook.

Post lunch, and on debut, George opened the bowling and despite claiming that it was over two years since he’d bowled produced a decent five over left arm over spell and picking up a wicket in the process. From the other end Col bamboozled Rufus Nolan with his wrong ‘un and the same ball put an end to an elegant innings from Matthew Searle who top scored with 59. Senior, returned to the fray and, not to be outdone by his brother, picked up the wicket of Peter Cooke, caught by Peps in the gully, before Rory Leadsom and John Lear decided it was time to up the run rate. Some lusty blows, one notable six from John off Hylts that nearly ended up in Hassocks, and more dropped catches meant that Ditchling amassed a daunting 242 for 6, on what was effectively going to be a fourth innings wicket for the RNVR.

In a season of stats, its interesting to note the scores of the Ditchling batsmen who have turned out for us, compared with their RNVR averages:
Matthew Searle 59 (RNVR average – 34)
Doug Porter 40 (RNVR average – 47)
Rory Leadsom 46 (RNVR average – 5)
John Lear 31 (RNVR average – 0)

In reply, Rufus Nolan, opening the bowling with his cousin, caught Senior LBW in the first over before Tim and Rez steadied the ship. Both, however, succumbed to the wily off breaks of David Collard. No sooner did the RNVR appear to be back on track, than Ned Dean entered the fray to rip through the RNVR’s middle order accounting for Junior, Charlie and Peps in quick succession. Batting on either side of tea, George Seabrook hit some lusty blows accompanied by Colin. However, a deteriorating wicket and time pressure, as we entered the final twenty overs, meant that the asking rate was ever rising. When Colin departed and Will Buckland declared that his eyes had gone, all hopes fell on Hylts to produce a miracle. In reality, even with 11 wickets, this was to prove an impossible task, and on a deteriorating wicket, we fell 80 odd runs short with just under five overs to spare.

Piers turned scorer to BBQ chef, and it was only afterwards, over a few post-match beers, in the match analysis that we discovered that the record chase ever at Ditchling had been 245. A good toss to win and bat first!?!

Onwards to Brighton and the famed pre-match swim…

Ditchling CC Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
5nb 4w 1b 2lb 
for 6 wickets
12
242 (54.0 overs)		     
Matthew Searle st  Maroof, b Bridges 59 116 103 10 57.28
Doug Porter ct  Crichton, b James Massey 40 98 95 4 42.11
Rufus Nolan ct  Maroof, Bridges 19 19 24 1 1 79.17
Ned Dean ct  Maroof, b Seabrook 24 24 21 5 114.29
Rory Leadsom Not Out  46 55 36 9 127.78
Peter Cooke ct  Pepler (gully), b Anthony Massey 4 17 19 21.05
John Lear b  Phillips 31 17 18 6 1 172.22
Johnny Setterfield Not Out  4 11 5 80.0
Will Nolan  
Geoff Foreman +*  
David Collard/Paul Ford +  

RNVR Cricket Club RNVR CC Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Will Dee5.001200.002.40
Hylton Phillips10.0433133.003.30
Davinder Ranu7.022300.003.29
William Buckland5.021400.002.80
James Massey5.01919.001.80
Mark Pepler5.003300.006.60
George Seabrook5.0043143.008.60
Colin Bridges7.011728.502.43
Anthony Massey5.0040140.008.00

RNVR Cricket Club RNVR CC Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 3w 15b 4lb 
for 11 wickets
24
160		        
Anthony Massey lbw  Rufus Nolan 0 4 5 0
Tim Hardman ct  R Nolan, b David Collard 16 72 52 2 30.77
Reza Maroof b  David Collard 32 69 50 5 64.00 2 1
James Massey b  Ned Dean 6 20 8 1 75.00
Charlie Crichton b  Ned Dean 4 10 8 1 50.0 1
Mark Pepler ct  &b Ned Dean 8 23 17 1 47.06 1
George Seabrook ct  (Mid wkt), b Matthew Searle 25 74 46 3 54.35
Colin Bridges ct  Foreman, b Doug Porter 24 41 27 5 1 88.89
William Buckland b  Rufus Nolan 0 8 5 0
Hylton Phillips ct  (Mid off), b Matthew Searle 17 19 16 3 106.25
Will Dee b  John Lear 0 10 7 0

Ditchling CC Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Rufus Nolan6.0120210.003.33
Will Nolan6.021100.001.83
David Collard9.0138219.004.22
Ned Dean8.021434.671.75
Rory Leadsom3.001000.003.33
Doug Porter4.0116116.004.00
Johnny Setterfield3.011400.004.67
Peter Cooke2.00900.004.50
Matthew Searle2.001025.005.00
John Lear0.20010.000.00