TON-UP EKINS MAKES A SPLASH

Finally loaded TCs excellent report on a rain interrupted match

After almost 6 weeks without any meaningful rain, The Nutters travelled to Aldwick, which coincided with the start of The Bognor Monsoon Season started.

The match began in torrential rain, and Jonny and Guy, were transferred by boat to the middle, where they soon set about the Aldwick bowling attack, despite poor visibility and rain driving into their faces. The opening pair made a stand of 137, including striking a glancing blow to TC’s car, before being adjudged LBW by Umpire, ‘Soggy Pants ‘ Greenwood for 64.

This brought Ollie Prior to the crease at number three. Ollie’s arrival was the catalyst for Guy to accelerate the innings. He couldn’t get out, no matter how hard he tried. He rocketed to a magnificent 109 before finally locating a catcher in the rye after 28 overs. Ollie stuck around and was joined by David Butcher. He was eventually out for 3, bowled by pick of the bowlers, Bradbury.

David joyfully hit several boundaries and made his way to a quick fire 25, his highest ever score to date, before being bowled by the accurate Wilson. We feel there is much more to come from one of our latest recruits.

Stu Catterall and TC made very brief visits to the middle, both missing straight deliveries, and bolstering the fines pot with contributions for ducks. Charlie South and Jeremy James concluded the innings on 5 & 9 not out respectively and a healthy total of 235-6.

At this point, we take our collective hats of to The Aldwick players and both umpires, who doggedly stayed out in the middle throughout the 40 overs of misery. This bedraggled group would not have been out of place in a WW2 film about the North Atlantic Convoys.

Buoyed by an excellent tea, The Nuthurst players took to the field to a brief lull in the weather. However, this was short lived and the soon tempest returned with a vengeance. Graham Prior (4-0-1-16) and Raggy Singh (4-1-3-6) were given the new ball and they sliced through the top order. White was the only batsmen able to cope with this searing bowling attack. Raggy ‘s3 victims were all bowled and Keeper, Charlie caught Higgs for Chippy’s wicket.

Play was finally called to a halt with Aldwyck on 18-4, when the wipers failed on the batsman’s spectacles and Umpire Jim declared that his trousers were saturated. The Bognor Inshore Lifeboat was launched to rescue the players from the field.