There was a pang of disappointment midweek when I heard that Hammerwood had called to say that they couldn't raise a team and were even likely to fold as a club. It is a crying shame that their beautiful ground may not see another match against friendly opposition, played in the right spirit and the consumption of one of the very best teas in Sussex. Times are hard for friendly cricket.

Simon went to the ‘SussexFriendlyCricket’ Facebook group (proprietors Messrs. Wood and Carter) to see if we could find an alternative fixture, and boy, did we strike lucky with a game at Southwater. If last week’s emergency fixture turned out to be ‘fractious’ and, based on the comments I heard, the complete antithesis of friendly cricket, then the game on Sunday must have restored the faith of those who played in both games. Played on the village green, with exceptionally friendly opponents and in front of a small but enthusiastic crowd (the pavilion also hosts the village social club with an all-day bar…) this was friendly cricket at its very best – the fact that the sun shone, the temperature hit the mid-20s and the game included over 500 runs and 15 wickets in 80 overs was mere icing on the cake.

In the pre-match formalities, skipper Matt Wood was told by Robbo (his opposite number) that Southwater is a ‘proper village’ cricket side, including several players who are not cricketers and one chap playing his first-ever game. Experienced friendly sides know full well that this is usually followed by several overs of ducking and diving as quick bowlers threaten to take your head off and/or batsmen smashing the ball to all parts. Matt won the toss and decided to bat in what was agreed to be a 40-over match. There was a short boundary on one side of the ground and a long (at least a par 4 and a taxi-ride back for me) one on the other side, but with a slope all the way which meant that it was hardly worth the fielder chasing the ball once it was past him.

Max Kidman - the only Aussie I’ve met that melts in English summer temperatures – opened the innings with Liam Geary and they did very well in the face of some sharp bowling especially from Thorpe who deserved better than 0-39 from his 8 overs. With the wicket being completely opposite to the one at Horsdean (i.e. offering some bounce) both batsmen took their time to get in and survived a few sticky moments before taking the attack to the bowling. Runs flowed as Max produced some cracking drives on his way to 55 in a partnership of 91 in 17 overs before he surprised us all by offering a catch that was gratefully taken. Steve Bolland joined Liam who took over the attacking role in a 68-run partnership (in just 6 overs) before he too was caught for 71. Jake Brooks (4) and Joe Gatford (15) came and went quickly leaving us on 192-4 before Dean Rahaman joined Steve. By now, Robbo was ensuring that all of his bowlers were getting involved and a few more loose deliveries were on offer for Steve to strike and Dean to bludgeon, with one full-toss being dispatched into the second row of greenhouses in the allotments adjoining the longest boundary by Dean. Steve was eventually bowled for 33 with the score on 243-5 in the 36th over and Dean followed soon after for 41 (4 fours and 3 sixes) leaving Matt Wood and Rick Carter to do their best in the last couple of overs, Matt’s best being 23* with 4 boundaries and Rick’s being 0* from 3 balls, none of which worried any of the fielders. Apart from Thorpe mentioned above, the pick of the bowlers was the other opener Berringham (6-1-29-0) and young J Frankland (Robbo’s son and called “little bell” for some reason) with 8-1-43-2.

The final total of 273-6 from our 40 overs is a record score since current records started 31 years ago, beating 267-3 against Nutley in 1986 (Hollands 76, Carter 106). That said, the mix of a short boundary and a fast outfield meant that this game was far from done and dusted.

Tea was a DIY bread and cheese/ham/dips affair, but none the worse for that, and there can be no criticism of an offering that included Kit-Kats and doughnuts. It was a confident Crescent side that took the field although when we got under way it started to look like we would need all of the 273 runs...

It started deceptively quietly with Dave Newman and Rich Hall both keeping it tight in their opening overs, but it rapidly became clear that Robbo (now operating on one leg) and Laker turned out to be more than capable batsmen who were happy to drive anything overpitched over the infield and to hit anything short into the middle distance. Dave managed well under the pressure, but Rich’s first 4 overs took a bit of a beating. Skipper Matt responded well, changing his bowlers frequently which didn’t help the scorer and the details in the book are a little hazy to follow.

I recall Joe Gatford replacing Rich for an over, and then Dave changing ends and Simon Wood having a go to see if a change of pace would bring us some success. The opening partnership wasn’t chanceless, with a couple of missed chances and others not quite going to hand as the total moved towards 100 in good time. In the end, it was Joe in his second spell that had Robbo LBW for 56 only for him to be replaced by the equally-dangerous Berriman. The score raced on, Dean Rahaman had a go but proved to be to the liking of the batsmen who took him for 28 runs in his 2 overs. The senior pros were now wondering quietly and with a smile whether 273 runs were enough, but there was real concern there.

The major breakthrough proved to be the second wicket with Berriman (46) being well caught by Joe at long-off off Max Kidman. A little later, Jake Brooks cleaned up Laker (37) and we had a little control back but each batsman to arrive looked capable of scoring runs (if not occasionally unconventional in dress or knowledge of the game). Matt continued to change the bowling, wickets fell, batsmen who looked unfamiliar with batting suddenly played immaculate cover drives and the fun carried on for the players and spectators. This was Sunday friendly cricket of the very highest standard! Even the obligatory chap who had never played in a match before (and who had earlier narrowly missed taking a blinding catch at slip) crashed a drive past a startled Dave Newman at cover. It was just that kind of day.

In the end, Southwater made 241-9 in their 40 overs and the fun was over. The pick of our bowlers was Jake Brooks with a well-deserved career-best 8-1-21-4 followed by Joe with 7-0-36-3. Dave Newman had 5-0-19-0, Rich Hall (6-0-37-0) had a good second spell, Max Kidman ended up with 4-0-25-1, Simon Wood with 6-0-49-1 and Matt had a single over at the end for 6 runs.

We shook hands and agreed all-round that this was an excellent way to spend a Sunday afternoon, a sentiment shared with a couple of the spectators who chatted to Simon and Rick as we supped a well-earned beer on the patio outside the bar. Email addresses were exchanged and promises made to repeat the event if at all possible next season. We may just have found another set of kindred spirits.

Match Preview

Match details

Match date

Kickoff

Meet time