Men's XI
Matches
Sun 02 Sep 2018
Barnes Green
192/6
195/6
Nuthurst Cricket Club
Men's XI
NCC triumph away at Barnes Green

NCC triumph away at Barnes Green

Jonny Willis1 Oct 2018 - 10:03
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Enjoy Jez James's summary of proceedings earlier in September.

Playing at Barnes Green is slightly confusing to the senses as the whole ground is on a 5 degree angle to the horizontal. However the average Nutter is more than used to this as beer tends to equally confuse the senses if taken in quantity.

This 40/40 fixture (as opposed to our usual preference of a 'timed' game) is also one that Barnes Green have a habit of throwing youngsters in 'at the deep end' as they have a strong Saturday league set up and Sunday cricket is a good way to give colts experience of adult cricket. But the diminutive size of the two openers prompted Cap'n Bob to change his mind about his opening bowling attack. Rather than open with the seasoned Chippy and Jonty, who have nearly 1600 wickets for the club between them, Ben Hewson and Patrick Shepherd were given the new ball.

A. Nicholls must have been trembling in his boots as he watched the grinning Hewson marking out his run up. The poor guy must have had serious doubts about whether his size 4 bat was going to be an adequate weapon for fending off what the snorting Hewson was about to hurl at him. A real 'David an Goliath' moment.

So it was quite a surprise to him that Ben's first ball was a gentle half volley about 2 feet outside the leg stump. Thinking that he wasn't going to get a better opportunity than this to get off the mark he took a swipe at it, got a top edge and lobbed the ball gently to TC who accepted the catch without having to move.

Goliath had rewritten the biblical story and, in TC's words, tumbleweed rolled by as there was a complete lack of celebration and Ben's reputation was fortified further. It was his first wicket for the club (in matches that qualify for the 'stats').

We will probably find out next year about the capabilities of A Nicholls, but M. Fitzsimmons and R. Muncer batted well for the next 10 overs each scoring about the same number of runs as the rate that the 'wide' column was filling up. The score had reached 45 when Chippy trapped Muncer lbw for 14 and then held on to a low slip catch of Jez to remove Fitzsimmons.

Cooper and Quinn then set about the Nuthurst attack and it wasn't until the 32nd over with the score on 152 that the next wicket fell, Quinn, bowled Weston for 44. Cooper finished up with for a classy 73 n.o. and Barnes Green had set a competitive total of 192 for 6. Pick of the bowling was Chippy (7-1-21-2) and Jez (8-2-17-1)

An excellent tea followed, with the complete set of essential cricket tea components - strawberry scones, watermelon and plenty of cake and savouries to compliment the sandwiches. The Nutters demolished it in the way that I believe only the Nutters know how to demolish cricket teas.

Raggy and Keeno drew the short straw to open the batting, but despite being so heavily laden with cake, they got off to a good start. The score was ticking over nicely at around 6 an over when Keeno was bowled for 19 having taken an ugly swipe at a straight one. David Butcher (22) batted confidently with Raggy until the both fell in quick succession when the score passed the 100 mark after about 20 overs, Raggy having hit 58.

It was revealed that Cap'n Bob was carrying an injury, (probably age related) when he retired out having scored 10. Hewson was having a good day as he biffed a quick 28 with a guest player borrowed from Barnes Green, Connor Blanchford, adding another 19. Patrick stayed in for a while to add 7 including a first boundary for the club, but it was TC and Keith who took us over the line with 5 overs to spare.

Beer was consumed in Barnes Green's large clubhouse, followed by more beer at the Black Horse. No ducks and only a few misfields and dropped catches meant that it was a lean day for the pig.

By Jeremy James.

Match details

Match date

Sun 02 Sep 2018

Kickoff

13:30

Meet time

13:00
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Lead Sponsor - Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate
Golf Day Sponsor - South East Hearing Centres
Club Sponsor - Red River Solutions