Waverley navigate to victory

Garmin and TomTom navigate to Lynchmere captain’s house...

Lynchmere is always a grand day out and looking to make the most of a break in the weather were Adrian Day (“Mog”), Marcus Carmichael (“MC”), Jason Trimmer (“Strimmer”), Simon Brewer (“KV”), Barry Stovold (“Baz”), Kyle Moxham (“Kye”), Bob Moxham (“Sponge Bob”), Peter Brewer (“Mr B”) and Adam Carmichael (“AC”). Those were the nine who managed to make it to the right place. Sam Tempest (“Garmin”) and Matt Pride (“TomTom”) eventually turned up after misreading an address on Lynchmere’s website, accidentally going to the Lynchmere skipper’s house in Harting.

With both the Captain and Vice unavailable, AC took the helm and promptly lost the toss (although batting first did give the SatNav twins time to arrive). Despite the favourable overhead conditions, run-scoring was difficult on what was a slow wicket. Mog and MC got themselves settled but a sedentary run rate meant that risks had to be taken. This resulted in MC returning to the pavilion, followed shortly thereafter by Strimmer (who didn’t trouble the scorers). KV decided to remove the slow outfield from the equation by going aerial, which also saw the run rate pick up slightly. Mog tried to press the accelerator still further, but took on the wrong fielder and was run out attempting a third run to fine leg. Baz was only afforded a brief cameo, whilst Kye was solid in defence (and played a glorious shot through the covers for four) before being castled. Despite the chaos around him, KV remained resolute at the crease and brought up a vital half-century. Unfortunately he was back in the hutch shortly after, undone by the straight ball (that old Waverley nemises). Garmin became only the third Waverley batsman to make double figures with thirteen useful runs, illustrating that scoring was tricky throughout the innings. The Waverley tail didn’t wag to any great extent and when AC lobbed a catch back to the bowler, the visitors were all out fifteen minutes before tea with a score of 121.

Whilst Waverley were perhaps lacking in the specialist batsman department, there was a plethora of bowling options to choose from. AC and Garmin grasped the nettle and with only a modest total to defend, both turned in economical spells. As an added bonus, AC trapped both openers LBW and Garmin castled Tyler. Mr B was introduced into the attack and took two wickets in his second over, T Cain LBW and Barnes bowled (attempting to leave one that came back down the slope). TomTom’s radar was a little off in his first over, not for the first time that day, but he recalibrated in his second to get the prize wicket of Charman (bowled all ends up). He went on to claim his best bowling figures to date with a second wicket, a high catch pouched by MC. At 63-7 the home side were in trouble and Mr B continued to turn the screw with a double-wicket maiden, with two batsmen (including a Stevie Wonder tribute act) once again leaving deliveries that came back down the slope. Kye was introduced into the attack but was limited to one over thanks to Mr B, who sealed the win and an impressive five wicket haul by bowling Brown and dismissing the home side for 80.

The Man of the Match Hat went to KV for his efforts in posting a defendable total (although there was an honourable mention for Mr B’s five wickets), with *Anchor Hat unsurprisingly going to SatNav twins Garmin and TomTom. The Pink T-shirt went back to its roots by being awarded for canoodling, MC the recipient for a string of offences throughout the day. Proof that love conquers all but the Pink T-shirt...