Youthful Nutters Restrict Henfield to Draw

On one of the youngest average ages the Nutters have fielded for many a year, it was Raggy and DT who were feeling their age!
On what could arguably be called the 1st weekend of a ‘summer’ the Sun was out; it was in the 20’s with a gentile breeze the Nutters descended on Henfield for an enjoyable but hard-fought draw.
Raggy won the toss and to the relief of the very youthful team decided to bat to allow the hosts to take to the field in the hottest conditions. With a (truth comes out) historical opening pair of Guy and Jonny they set to the task of opening and went at a bit of a 20/20 rate or 100 rate for the youthful readers. Nuthurst set off at over 5 an over for the 1st 20 overs with various batsmen contributing.
Guy and Jonny were followed by the spritely Bob and Rahul, all contributing in the quick start. Trever then joined the party supporting Rahul, before DT, Darren, Charlie, Jonty, Raggy and our only batsman with a fixed position Jeremy at number 11. Nuthurst posted a total of 169 after 41 overs with the run rate stabilising towards the end.
With the tradition of teas returning in a wonderful spacious pavilion the sides retired for a ‘prompt’ tea thanks to official umpires keeping time! I believe some cake got left behind! And on that note of umpires thanks to our very own Rod for coming along and umpiring both innings along with a Henfield umpire as well so one less thing for the youthful side to contribute too.
Henfield genuinely started with a young opener who accelerated their innings at the beginning before Jonty got the better of him and clean bowled him for 13. The run rate slowed up as boundaries were hard to acquire due to the size of the field and not much power hitting. Eventually though after Guy had 3, 4 or was it 5 attempts at taking a wonderful slip catch off Raggy’s bowling removed the other opener for 16.
With 20 overs to go Henfield certainly made the youth of Nuthurst burn some calories, constantly taking quick singles and finding gaps for 2’s and even a 3 (batsman didn’t appreciate that!) with the odd boundary. All of a suddenly the game was on, and fielders were being moved frequently, mainly due to exhaustion! The run rate was catching up and the total seemed to be achievable. Certainly, with the two in the middle both reaching 50.
Eventually, with Samways taking a catch of Jeremy’s bowling the Nutters were taking back control. Henfield were sending in their youth but not before a crucial lbw of Henfield batsman Mendes who in previous years has got runs very quickly. The run rate was creeping up as the singles dried up and with a spread field and the hot weather the batsmen were running out of energy. Although there was an unseen burst of energy as Bob dropped two off Jonty’s bowling and Jonty wasn’t pleased!!!
Wickets did fall but not enough for Nuthurst to claim victory. Henfield needed 18 off the last over which they didn’t achieve. Game drawn.
With a wonderful warm evening and a stocked-up bar the Nutters settled in to a westerly facing pavilion to soak up the last of the rays and the beer to reminisce on a hard-fought draw and if it wasn’t for the youthful legs of the team may well have ended in a different result! Either way!!!