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'Graveney Secure Comfortable Win'
By Nick Goodburn
Graveney 197 all out (40 overs format)
Old Dorkinian 163-9
Graveney Win by 34 runs
Having spent the week
trying to rope various players into playing, Graveney arrived in Dorking
with a side containing two new debutants in John Howard and Oli Jago, Chris
Pullen making his second appearance, hoping to see Raghu return, and a
little nervous about whether Jay Vibert would actually turn up this week
after recent disgraceful failures to do so! Perhaps some of the players
knew that the opposition would be late arriving, as they stayed for a
final extra pre match pint, whilst the skipper went ahead to notify our
arrival. Yeah, I doubt it was the reason too!
Things were not looking
too rosy by the allotted start time of 2pm, with only three Old
Dorkinians players at the ground, and no sign of reinforcements.
Fortunately the opposition did eventually start arriving, and Raghu
arrived thus ensuring a full eleven for both sides, albeit a couple of
youngsters filling the Old Dorkinians side in the absence of some
regulars away at a wedding and on holiday. Oh how Jez would have loved
to have been playing, with two young lads to bowl at in an attempt to
boost his wickets total for the season!
At the toss the captains
reached an agreement that Graveney would bat first in a forty over game
as the Old Dorkinians skipper was unsure how line-up would fare batting
first. For once Nick did not have the same concerns, given Paul's recent
form, the return of Raghu, and an ex Reigate Priory Second XI batsman in
Oli Jago in the side.
Paul Fanning and debutant
John Howard duly made their way to the middle and the match got
underway. Both men applied themselves in their own respective ways, and
thus put on an opening stand of 69 in 17 overs before Paul was caught on
attempting to smash a straight six. The fact that Paul had scored 58 at
this stage will give you an indication of who was the dominant partner,
but Graveney Chairman, John O'Driscoll, was thoroughly enjoying watching
John Howard assume a role much akin to OD himself, in having contributed
a single to the partnership!
Not surprisingly, Nick
arrived at the crease to tell John that it was perhaps time to take some
chances as we needed to up the run rate, and showed his own intent
hitting his first delivery for four through extra cover. He continued in
much the same attacking vein going after anything with a bit of width,
although he did get a life when a leading edge was put down by one the
opposition youngsters. John Howard meanwhile attempted to follow the
skipper's lead and was bowled swinging at a straight one, and made his
way off to the pavilion where he no doubt received appreciative applause
from his team mates in lieu of his watchful innings of 1. The applause,
that is, of all bar messers Fanning and Clarke who had headed off
disgracefully for another pint or two. Paul would later say he had no
choice but to save the spectators from an afternoon of KC in full flow!
He may have had a point.
Nick, by now reacquainted
with Raghu's dislike of running, or of calling, departed a little while
later for 18, and, no sooner had he taken off his pads that the Chairman
fell for yet another duck - is that more than Barry this season? - after
one of his infamous lofted drives that, as usual, failed to clear the
fielder as mid on. Enter debutant number two, Oli Jago, a friend of Tim
Bunn, and aforementioned ex Reigate Priory Second XI batsman. Together
with Raghu they pushed the score along until Raghu (47) was well caught
by the youngster at mid off, much to the delight and amazement of the
Old Dorkinians team.
From this point on,
wickets fell regularly Oli Jago (13), Dave Moody (10), and Chris Pullen
(suicidally run out, 0) all departed, before a late cameo from KC (21
not out) entertained the crowd, although what the bowlers had thought of
his running commentary and comments on their bowling whilst he was at
the crease, one can only imagine! Tim Bunn (2) and Jay Vibert (4) were
then dismissed cheaply leaving Graveney 196 all out at tea after 38.2
overs, although Jay did at least avoid completing a hat-trick of
successive golden ducks!
Tea followed during which
KC attempted to talk himself out of bowling by declaring that the
youngsters on the Old Dorkinians line up should be treated as full
internationals when they came out to bat and not be afforded the gentle
bowling as requested by both skippers!
In reply, the Old
Dorkinian innings got off to a reasonable start but were always behind
the rate thanks to some decent bowling from Tim Bunn, KC, Chris Pullen
(5-0-19-0) and Raghu (also 5-0-19-0). Tim had taken the first wicket,
bowling the opening bat, but at drinks after 20 overs, Old Dorkinians
were well poised with just one wicket down. At this point the skipper
turned to Oli Jago for some off spin. After a couple of wides in his
first over, Oli started to find his length and turn, and this resulted
in the second opener popping up a dolly to KC at silly mid off. KC did
indeed look silly as he spilled the simple chance, much to the amusement
of the opposition's umpires and batsmen who had taken an earful all day!
Luckily for Oli and
Graveney, it was not to prove costly, as two balls later
the batsman picked out John Howard at mid off. The very next ball Oli
found the outside edge and Dave Moody took a good catch to put Oli on a
hat-trick, which, with fielders all around, was very nearly achieved
when the next ball yorked the batsman but just missed the stumps.
KC then produced a great
throw to Dave Moody to run out the No. 3 batsman, who had presumably
thought he was safe having heard various calls of "bowlers end!" whilst
the initial return was on it's way before KC's intervention. He could
not believe he had been run out but had the good grace to congratulate
KC on his throw. Personally, I think he was just relieved to be getting
himself out of earshot of KC by returning to the pavilion! Oli ended
with figures of 5-1-20-2, before, with Old Dorkinians now well behind
the required rate, the skipper was able to offer the Chairman a bowl. OD
produced a couple of good overs, taking a wicket in the process, before
getting carted around the park in his final over to end his spell with
figures of 3-0-23-1.
Jay Vibert (7-2-18-2) was
by now in the middle of his spell, and, relieved to be bowling down the
hill, produced perhaps his quickest and most accurate spell of the
season to date, picking up a couple of well deserved wickets. Indeed, it
could have been three had Paul Fanning got off the ground at mid off,
but then again, KC, after his earlier shocking drop did at least hold
onto another simple one from Jay's bowling!
With cheap wickets in the
offing, and no Jez in the side to take them, the skipper was besieged by
players offering their services as hitherto unheard of spin kings! Tim
Bunn (7-0-28-1) and KC (7-2-16-1) returned late in the innings, before
the final over was give to vice skipper Paul Fanning (1-0-3-1). Paul
duly obliged, and cemented his man of the match award, by bowling one of
the youngsters with his first ball, showing the merits of bowling
straight, and the merits of bowling to youngsters, a la Jez Skidmore! At
the close of their forty overs Old Dorkinians had mustered 163 - 9
meaning Graveney had secured their sixth win of the season, running out
winners by 34 runs.
Man of the match:
Paul
Fanning
- yet another fifty AND a wicket! If only he could have
caught!
Champagne moment:
Kirk
Clarke
- having bombarded the opposition all afternoon with commentary and
advice about how good he was, KC dropped an absolute dolly, much to the
amusement of the opposition! Good run out too though! |
