Waverley beaten by the Bourne

The last Sunday of June saw the Wave travel to ‘feeder club’ The Bourne. Despite the early morning downpour the game still went ahead, possibly to the displeasure of approximately 80% of the Waverley team who may have revelled slightly too exuberantly the night before. Stumbling on to the pitch for the Wave were James Wright (Mongo), Andy Minshaw (The Mincer), Chris Beanland (Beanie), Simon Brewer (KV), Adrian Day (Mog), Peter Brewer (Mr B), Sam Tempest (Troy), Matt Pride (Pridey), Matt du Gay (Doogs) and Dan Litwin (Chuckie). Feeling under the weather and unable to turn out was Marcus Carmichael (MC), the Wave consequently taking to the field with only 10 bodies.

Doogs was beaten in the conversation and the visitors were asked to bowl first (largely due to the home side missing their wicket keeper for the first innings, and yet mysteriously still being able to send out 11 batsmen…). The agreed format was 30 overs. With no traditional tea, and a quick turnaround between innings. Hmmm. The new ball was given to Pridey and Troy, who looked to set the initiative for the innings. The pair both started well, with the opening batsmen playing and missing at deliveries from both bowlers. It was Troy who eventually made the breakthrough, claiming the valuable wicket of Jordan Frost, who walked past one – the Mincer taking care of the stumping business. The opening pair finished off their spells without adding to the wickets column, with a few half chances which were created dropping into gaps or not quite carrying to the fielders. Some expansive stroke play from Humphries and Gibson was keeping the score ticking along for the home team, and Doogs looked to mix things up by introducing Mr B and Chuckie into the attack. Despite the bowling change, Gibson and Humphries both reached their 50s and were called in by the home team’s skipper. The next wicket was another seemingly valuable one for the Wave, Mr B trapping James Frost plum lbw. Mr B struck again with his very next ball, Troy holding on to a high catch at mid-wicket. The hat-trick ball was successfully defended though (and not pushed down the leg side, which is of course the Waverley tradition). At the other end, Chuckie was bowling well without reward, with edges dropping past the catchers or into gaps in front of the bat. Doogs shuffled his pack again and brought himself and Mog on to try and keep things tight for the last few overs of the innings. Mog struck in his second over, clean bowling 2 batsmen in as many balls. The second hat-trick ball of the day was also a straight one, but was also successfully defended. Doogs got in on the act as well, the Mincer holding on to a simple catch behind the stumps. Mog added a further wicket to take his tally for the day to 3, clean bowling Hill. The final pair for the home side saw out the remaining balls with no further incidents, and finished on a very respectable total of 202.

After the quick innings turnaround, Mongo and the Mincer were tasked with chasing down the total. Mongo in particular set off like an angry freight train, smiting the ball to all parts. The home side eventually made the breakthrough when Mongo tried to turn one through midwicket and didn’t get hold of it all, out caught for a quick-fire 58. Limping out to the middle at 3 (the consequence of a poorly attempted practice delivery after a few ales the night before) was Beanie. He tried to keep things hobbling along, valiantly running between the stumps despite what turned out to be a broken toe. He was eventually out for 8, caught at mid on. Then followed a mini Waverley wobble, as The Mincer fell for 29, quickly followed by KV (1), Mog (2), Mr B (2) and Pridey (0). Within the space of a few overs the visitors had gone from cruising along at 8 an over to losing 5 wickets for 16 runs. Troy had watched from the other end as some of the carnage took place, and he took it upon himself to try and up the run rate, playing some nice shots and pushing the total closer to the target. He was joined in the middle by Doogs, who also looked to keep things ticking over. The pair added 44 runs for the 8th wicket, before Doogs feathered one through to the keeper. Troy was scoring freely though and was joined in the middle by Chuckie. Despite some excellent running between the stumps by the pair and some lusty blows from both batsmen, the home side held their nerve to restrict Waverley to a final score of 190 from their 30 overs.

This week the Captain’s Challenge saw the participants (including the Bourne’s Frost family) try to putt a golf ball against an empty beer bottle from ten yards using a cricket bat. Sounds simple, and a few of the entrants made it look that way too. A few extra pounds were added to the end of season drinks/charity fund though as not everyone managed to channel their inner McIlroy. The awards saw Beanie pick up the wAnchor hat for injuring his foot whilst pissed the night before, attempting to practice his bowling action even. Beanie also picked up the pink T-shirt, for admitting before the game that he wanted ‘cuddles not huddles’ and also for limping excessively until he thought he might get a single when batting.

The man of the match hat saw a nod to Mongo for his batting and a nod to Moggy for his bowling, but went to Troy for his excellent opening spell, combined with good fielding and a new personal best with the bat of 40*.
Despite the defeat, there were reasons to be cheerful after the game. The weather held out, several pounds were added to the various Waverley charity collections, and we discovered that Pridey has an affectionate nickname for his old fella. Henceforth, he’ll be known as ‘Wilbur’…