Late Nuthurst Collapse Seeds Victory to Pulborough

Submitted by a guest scribbler. A new fixture for the Nutters, a pleasant journey for the team into the heart of West Sussex to Pulborough. Pulborough are a very progressive club, in little over 20 years of league cricket they had reached the dizzy heights of County League Division 1. The venue, the Recreation Ground, is well appointed: site screens, numerous net bays and 3 large wheeled covers. The visiting side were given a very warm welcome by the Pulborough team and their Skipper Matt Ives.

Pulborough took first use of the wicket, Nuthurst Skipper Bob Samways, once again failing to call correctly. The early encounters were dominated by the Nuthurst opening pair, Graham Prior and Raggy Singh. Despite his age, the lithe Prior, all graceful strides and classical action, extracted movement and bounce. Coming down the hill from the Link Lane end he troubled both the Pulborough openers, Brown and Ives. Singh is always up for a challenge (reminiscent of John Gleaves) and demanded the new ball from his Skipper. Singh is the perfect foil to Prior and much like the powerful post war steam locomotives that keep the nation running carrying freight, Singh works tirelessly. He was straight into his bowling, up the hill, and soon had Ives caught at the wicket by Guy Ekins, with a well directed away swinger. At this point Nuthurst were in complete control.

This control ended once the naturalised ‘Pulboroughian’, former Kiwi, Jonno Bennett strode to the wicket. It is my suspicion he was probably still recovering from a late night as his early shots missed the mark, the ball hitting his pads more than his bat. Before I continue it is worth noting that the expanse of Pulborough's ground could easily fit two if not three of Mannings Heath humble common. Bennett suddenly found his touch, skipping down the wicket to Singh to loft two of his best deliveries over extra cover for 4, the genie was out of the bottle!!

Bennett, a slight chap with a carefree demeaner, continued to despatch the ball to all parts of the field in his nonchalant manner. The Nuthurst fielders main duty was to locate the ball, in the undergrowth, retrieve the ball and then relay the ball from the boundary back to the bowler. To speed things up the skipper stationed all the fielders on the boundary, except for the keeper and the injured Andy Petch. The bowlers were tried in rotation, Singh, Prior, Ash Pandey, the enigmatic Jonty Greenwood and Jez James. Nuthurst were able to maintain some semblance of control at one end with James producing at excellent spell of slow bowling up the hill, exhibiting skillful variation of pace and importantly the skill of keeping Jonno's batting partner on strike. The carnage continued until Bennett declared himself on 112, and walked off to have a well earned pint.

Normality restored, the fielders came in from the boundary and the scoring rate was restricted. With a few overs to go before tea The Pulborough Skipper sportingly declared their innings on 210 for 5. Adam James came on late to bowl a promising spell and affected a sharp run out of the non striking batsman. Unfortunately for the lad, he was within 5 metres of the stumps when throwing, thus disqualifying him from receiving the proceeds of the pig, which after this match is pushing 40 quid.

Pulborough continued to show fine hospitality with a sumptuous tea, lots of cake, chips, fatty stuffs and carbohydrates, perfect fuel for the Nuthurst top, middle and bottom order batters.

Jonny Willis and Singh started the run chase, Willis yet to hit his top form this season was an early casualty. However the innings had momentum which continued with Ekins at the wicket. Ekins appears to play a different game, on a slow wicket against slow bowling he was able to find the boundary effortlessly with his crisp drives and rapier like cuts. Ekins, perhaps tired from keeping, was bowled driving a yorker from the impressive West, those pace had hurried both batsmen. Singh followed almost immediately edging West to the keeper, it must have been a good ball as Singh had looked safe as houses.

So at 75-3 new bats, Andy Petch and Jeff Mc Kenna began to rebuild the innings. It was still the 13th over so Nuthurst were well ahead of the run rate. The pair put on a crucial partnership of 75 in 14 overs combating Pulborough's best bowlers West, Bennett and the wily Callaggan. Mc Kenna, played many expansive drives, a fair few connecting with the ball, which generally found the boundary. Petch a very powerful man played off the front foot with an economy of movement. There wasn’t much running as the ball found the boundary with ease. Both were out in quick succession leaving it down to Greenwood and The Skipper. Samways is a fragile chap and had put himself down the order after suffering in the field with a stiff right shoulder and a general feeling of being unwell. All rounder Greenwood's breezy innings of neat drives was going well, until the Skipper called him for a third. Unfortuately Greenwood's pre-season fitness regime had n't hit its stride and Samways watched in disbelief, from the safety of his crease, as the ball was ferried down the wicket to beat the hobbling Greenwood to the other end. The Skipper took full responsibility for this error and was determined to see his side home.

By now opposing Skipper Ives was using his 8th bowling option to try and gain control. It looked like Samways and partner Pandey had the game wrapped up, needing little over 4 an over off the last 3 three. However this is Nuthurst! And immediately after saying to his Skip 'we will get them in singles' Pandey put the ball straight up in the air. Jez James, followed in similar fashion a few balls later. Slow left armer Wardell was on the money in the penultimate over, last man Prior unable to get any of his deliveries away for runs. Into the last over a single was gained off the second ball, after an excellent half stop by the bowler Ives to a well timed drive from Samways. Needing a boundary Prior launched one of his trade mark sweeps toward the rope, however a fine running catch from Wardell denied a certain boundary and ended the game. Nuthurst all out for 199.

After the match the home side continued to extend their hospitality and the game's subtleties were discussed, to the back drop of pop tunes and house music, some of which was quite melodic and all included in the price of the teas. Great credit to the Chipster for arranging such an excellent fixture.