Vandals 1s Undercooked in Blazing Season Opener

A sunny Brownacres was the setting for the 1st XI’s return to league cricket, after what felt like a harsh, unrelenting winter (for us Brits, anyway). Despite having to wait for what felt like an eternity to get back on the cricket field – what with plenty of wet weather in recent times – and with poor bank holiday weekend availability (and coincidentally, a fantastic weather forecast) across the Saturday league sides, the boys were like rats up a drainpipe with their eagerness to play once again.

Kempton were the visitors and with lots of familiar and respected faces, we knew that the game would be a tough test to start off the season. New Vandals skipper Sam “Baz” Buckell immediately put himself in credit on the fines sheet by winning the toss and electing to field on a wicket which still had plenty of spring moisture in it, and an outfield that looked ready for harvest.

Veteran seamer and (probably) all-time club leading wicket-taker Jonny “Jenny” Powell was celebrating his 41st 31st birthday and soon got himself the best present he could have hoped for – the wicket of the Kempton skipper Ellis Miah caught at mid off.

The scoring rate started slow but the batsmen looked steady, thanks to a combination of some miserly bowling from Jenny & Mark “Shark” Fenton, a thick outfield due to the recent rain and an outfield larger than the MCG playing area. Although as they say, it’s the same for both sides.

Anish “Chilli” Kulkarni and Sam both looked a little match-rusty in their opening spells, though not through lack of trying. Tony Pollard (5-0-16-0), the club’s perennial angry-man, stepped-up to the first XI and what a fantastic job he did; containing Kempton with his reliably accurate seam and swing bowling. A panned catch by Sam at short mid wicket cost him a deserved scalp.

Woo Powell (9-4-16-2) was the man Vandals had to thank for keeping the scoring rate down in the middle overs, bowling a wonderfully consistent line & length which kept the Kempton batsmen away from easy scoring options. Added to that was a fantastic caught-and-bowled, grasped one-handed behind his body to dismiss the settled Rani (39). Woo was aided by the ever-consistent Shark (10-0-26-2) – who had returned in the middle overs to dismiss the potentially dangerous Singh for 50, and later finished off the innings, combining once more with Jonny Powell (10-0-40-1).

The fielding was generally very good (most notably Jonny's catch and Woo's c&b) on a day which required lots of chasing into the deep, although Vandals will be looking to sharpen-up in some places; particularly in cutting-off quick singles and twos, as well as maintaining concentration throughout the innings.

The pursuit of 182 for victory got off to a slow start, with Ali “Pup” Booth caught cutting to gully for 3. Connor “Casting Couch” Baker came in at 3 and looked assured from the off, driving over the top and defending with equal aplomb and confidence, before being undone by a beauty which bowled him around, not through, the gate. Sam, at the other end, appeared to have the luck of an entire season in one knock – using every edge and corner of his bat – in a scrappy 26, before eventually being run out.

John Hall “And Oates” made a return to the 1st XI and anchored the innings diligently with vice-captain Dan Fenton (21), who looked in fine nick. The score was 80-3 when Dan was dismissed and his wicket precipitated the Vandals’ demise. Mark Fenton (4) was possibly harshly adjudged LBW, Woo Powell run out for 5, and when Hall fell for 17, and the total 97-7, the Vs had too much to do on a pitch offering plenty of turn.

Vandals were eventually rounded-up for 108 from 44.4 overs, falling short by 73 runs.

We have plenty to be encouraged by, with everyone showing their capabilities; particularly the lads who stepped-up from the 2nd XI (and from hangovers in Chichester). They did brilliantly. Everyone impressed with their character and desire to fight for the team, traits which will serve us very well for the duration of this campaign.

The boys knew that, going into this season, we needed to toughen-up compared with last year, and that history and our abilities show that we have it within us to succeed this season. Lots to be positive about.

SB