NCC bring home the bacon against Amberley in a 35 over contest

September has brought a couple of last minute changes to the fixture list. This week, we took a trip down to the sleepy hamlet of Amberley to take on their finest in a 35 over a side match.

Amberley chose to bat first and probably wished they hadn’t as Graham Prior helped himself to 2 wickets in each of his first two overs. The first, a delivery that jagged back to bowl Neave for 1 and a catch from Greenwood to remove Torp for 5. He then clean bowled Charman for 0. The home side in all sorts of bother at 8-3, and their plight was not improved by an injury to Tansley, which rendered him unable to take any further part in the game.

Leading bowler this season, Jeremy James (6-0-35-0), probed away at the other end without any joy and Skipper Samways, rang the changes with the bowling attack, with Singh (5-2-30-1) and Whitehouse (6-1-29-1) replacing the openers. Whitehouse took an early wicket and should have had two but for butterfingers Weston putting down a fairly simple chance. The pair then reversed roles a few overs later.

The wicket was low and slow and should have been the perfect conditions for Weston’s gentle inswing. His 6 overs went for 21, taking the wicket of Cattani, who lobbed the ball to Jonty Greenwood for just 5.

Carter had begun to play some boisterous shots and the short boundary proved a happy hunting ground for him and batting partner Johnson. The pair put Jonty’s bowling to the sword and showed little sign of abating as each bowler in turn took some punishment. Only Prior got of lightly his spell 7-1-17-2 the pick of the bowling.

The batsmen shared a hard hitting partnership in excess of 130 both not out on 79 & 80 respectively. A fantastic effort to rescue the innings and post a respectable 191-5.

Singh and Greenwood were set the task of redressing the balance, facing a slow bowling attack of Merritt and Charman. The pair raced to a partnership of 75. Jonty launched a six which disappeared over the playground from paceman, Johnson and shortly after was bowled by a beamer, which was declared a no ball having just dipped enough to clip the top of his middle stump, but he was dismissed shortly after, trying the same expansive shot. Great to see him return to form with the bat after a frustrating year. Out for 47 and fined for jug dipping.

Raggi took the score to 102 with Captain Bob, before being bowled by another slow bowler Cattani for a fine 40.

Enter David Butcher, who is definitely in need of some lucky heather after yet another unfortunate dismissal. The bowler managing to redirect a Samways drive onto the stumps while Butch was backing up. So The Nutters at 113-3.

Jonny Willis isn’t a bad option, coming in at number 5, having earlier done a fine job as stand in Wicketkeeper. Willis (33 N.O.), played second fiddle though to a majestic knock from Samways who brought The Nutters home with a finely crafted 54 N.O.

Post match celebrations were held at The George & Dragon at Houghton, where members from both sides soaked up the dying embers of the sun on the raised terrace overlooking the foothills of The South Downs.

By TC Weston