Week 1 Matches

First XI & Second XI both win

FIRST XI report

Interesting conversations, lovely dogs and where’s Sunny Season 2!

“Pitch looks awful skipper”, so we win the toss and bat. A few quizzical looks and shrugs of the shoulders “it’s only going to get worse”. Slightly less weed on the square than in the out field and a ground more suited to rugby than cricket greeted us. Already received the call from Sunny saying he was going to be late, but since he brought with him the incredible cute Rambo, we will let him off this time.

Martin and Charry marched out to the middle to face the music and the variable bounce. 39 run opening partnership, helped a little by the double figure wides in the first four overs ( if Sparrows had objectives they were singularly failing to abided by them!) before Martin was the first to fall. Variable bounce accounted for Matt as he was dragged out of his ground before Rhys joined Charry to rack up the first 50 run partnership of the innings including the only 6 of the innings of the bat of Rhys who was eventually out for 32 caught and bowl, but a vital contribution. A little flurry of wickets, including Charry out bowled for a well crafted 55 off 75 balls including 5 fours. Lower middle order stability came from the bats of Howie and Duffers who contributed the second 50 run partnership and get the score to very competitive on a wicket that was getting more and more unpredictable. Second mini collapse saw Howie and Skipper trying to achieve objective number one and we get into the last over. “I’m going to keep out everything straight and go at anything wide” Howie says. 2 balls in, off stump knocked back and bats are tucked under arms and we walk in.

So we take to the field, one short due to a medical emergency, but Duffers and Rhys set about hitting good areas consistently (no extras!) and initially a little frustration for outside edges finding the boundary, before the pair of them found the pitch to their liking and start taking their toll on the Sparrows batting. At 58 for 7 it looked like the chase was well beyond Sparrows. However their number 6 had other ideas and his combative style started to put pressure back on Sunningwell and for a while Sparrows had belief. But with him caught excellently by Rhys at mid wicket off the bowling of Jon Waugh the Sparrows innings fizzled out for 106. Not a totally perfect effort but still pretty good, some special mentions, the two fifty run partnerships that got us to a decent total, Duffers and Rhys’ opening spells, Jon Waugh for battling through early inconsistencies to pick up the last two wickets (including the big hitter) Sanjay for his three wickets (when he bowled straight!), but a special mention to Matt who was brave and skilled behind the stumps in exceedingly difficult circumstances. For the record, 5 wides bowled 2 no balls and 4 maidens. Next week sees us at home v Eynsham, look after those injuries, we need you all!

SECOND XI report

The clock ticked round to 1pm and the sun was beaming down on the Sunningwell square. Cricket has returned to the village! Out strode skipper Hari to lose the toss - but it mattered not, for the decision was that we should bat first.

Prof and Sam stepped up to face the first few overs with very contrasting styles that kind of worked! Sam, the barnacle, had his stay cut short when he received a low bounce - bowled before he could make his first run of the season. The opposition cheered, but their joy was cut short when Ollie and Prof put on a magnificent partnership of 112. Both were steaming towards their half-centuries when Ollie’s eyes lit up at a full toss. Rather than nudge a single, his expansive drive failed to connect with the ball which nestled in his pads and the umpire’s finger pointed skywards.

Jon and Prof then set about repeating what they did last season at the same fixture and a further partnership of 62 saw Prof pass 50 before hauling out on a well-made 79. By now only a handful of overs remained and with wickets in hand, Jon opened his shoulders, split his bat and was caught on 29 but not before the team past 200. Gareth fell next ball trying to push the score along (there were only 4 overs left). In strode George Tilley (11) on debut who smashed a couple of lusty drives before seeing his stumps shattered. In walked vice-skipper Mike…and out he strode a ball later - not a good day with the bat in the John household! Ethan looked as though he meant business but after a couple of hits and good running with Theo/ Boris an attempt of a second run drew a smart run out from the opposition. Boris gone for 7, Ethan bowled for 6 and on the final ball of the innings, Hari spooned a catch (0). 237 all out was a decent score…or so we thought.

At 6-an-over, we felt the scoreboard would prove to be our friend…but the opposition started well and were keeping up with the run rate for the first few overs. So it was with grateful hands that Ollie accepted his first catch of the season - and first wicket for Ethan. Not to be outdone, Kyff teased the other opener who slapped a well taken catch to Boris at mid-off…40 for 2 after about 5 overs. In the same over, the batter took off for a run as Sam slid to stop the ball. Unfortunately for the batter, his partner hadn’t got the memo there was a run on offer and an end opened up for Sam to arrow the ball back to Ollie. First run out of the season. Ethan then produced a fine few overs of bowling, tight lines and changes of pace helped him take his second of the day. Iain followed suit and took another with a sharp catch, clutched off the ground by skipper Hari 2 balls after he put himself in position.

Change of bowling and Mike started with a few looseners before taking his wicket - a second catch by Boris at long on. This time Boris looked for the ball in the folds of his stomach and was relieved to find it hadn’t dropped to the ground. Some resistance to the bowling attack was shown by their wicket keeper who sought a runner for an injury sustained when keeping wicket earlier in the game. Our hard skipper Hari refused (on the grounds that the injury hadn’t prevented him keeping )🤷🏼‍♂️. Sam had clearly had enough of this resistance and stepped in to end his knock by clean bowling him…following up with a further wicket after Prof caught a skier soon afterwards. As their tail wagged, Ethan returned to mop up - two LBW’s in 3 balls clinched the win for Sunningwell 2’s by 122 runs.

Final thoughts & highlights: great knock from Prof - just what we need at the top of the order. Graceful stroke play from Ollie set us up wonderfully. In all my years at Sunningwell, this was best fielding display I’ve witnessed. Kudos to George, Sam and Boris for that. And finally - Ethan’s bowling not only got amazing figures 7.3 overs, 2 maidens, 4 for 24 but was also a coming of age for a young man who’s become a cornerstone of this team 👏🏼