News & EventsLatest NewsCalendar
Jack Beaven derails Hartley chase

Jack Beaven derails Hartley chase

Antony Ireland30 Apr 2018 - 07:59
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.reigatepriorycc.co

Visitors collapse after Clinton blast chasing 213. By Chris Murtagh

In the absence of Paul Bridge (thank you Lucy Donovan for stepping in and scoring), this week’s match report has been written by the skipper. I had planned to delegate it, but looking down the team sheet, reading and writing (Hodson excepted) does not come naturally to most of the lads.

With the opposition (Hartley Country Club) waiting on the end of the phone for the news the match was to be called off, I made my way down to the ground early to inspect the conditions. Standing on the wicket were the die-hards - Jim Harmer, Andrew Packham & Terry Gill. ‘We’ll get a game in’. And they were right, we did, and thanks to Roger for his efforts in what were horrible conditions to prepare a ground for a game of cricket.

Not wanting to field in the cold, I managed to talk their captain into letting us bat first. Relying on the old intimidation tactic we decided to hit them with brute strength, an opening partnership of Danny Miller and Richard Stevens. Watchful to start, they began to open their huge shoulders with some powerful hitting down the ground. The pair had put on 76 before Stevens trying to hit one into Redhill was dismissed for a well-made 38.

Miller went onto top score with 55 from 70 balls, and was dismissed stumped after a chat with the skipper at drinks – the bookmakers may have seen some irregular betting patterns at this point in the match.

There were handy contributions from Haughton (36), Dahl (31), and overseas London Marathon star Delmont (26). Despite needing a good haircut, Rory Haughton looked in good shape from a winter in Melbourne, with some clean hitting and quick running between the wickets with the speedy Dahl.

Unfortunately, Neil Saker’s attempts to establish himself as a batter in the first XI are over for now. After a glorious 45* in the first match, Saker walked to the wicket at number 5 and appeared to be stumped first ball, but survived. Second ball he clipped one down leg and was caught by the keeper. In this motion, Saker set off to run, and just to be double sure the keeper took the bails off. Which by my count made it 3 dismissals in just 2 balls. With this in mind, his name will now appear on the second team list this week, and he goes with plenty sledging in the bar from his team mates (and opposition).

Wanting to get many of the guys a hit in the middle, the intelligent Will Hodson was promoted to number 7. With the score on 130-4, Hodson was spotted sat in the team area with just his tracksuit on. It then dawned on him that actually 4 wickets down meant number 7 was next in!! In a state of panic kit was thrown on, and thankfully ‘The Boozer’ was ready in time to show a couple trademark cover drives in front of his watching parents.

The innings finished on 212/9 from our 40 overs which was a fair effort, without totally getting the medium to low crowd off their feet.

After enjoying a set of sandwiches and sausage rolls the realisation of having to field in 6 degrees was becoming apparent. It was a relief to see Angus Dahl had a set of foot warmers that he shared with the skipper. Thank you Gus.

All the bowlers did a good job and we were able to bowl Hartley out for 135 in the 30th over. Jack Beaven again was the pick of the bowlers taking 4 wickets, beating the batsman through the air for pace. Hodson bowled well without any rewards and there was a wicket each for Delmont, Stevens, Thilo, while Mighty Mick Munday wrapped up the tail with 3 quick wickets – bowling a mixture of leg spin, sliders, back spinners, and googlies.

Richard Clinton, former Surrey CCC made an entertaining 60 for the visitors, but Reigate did enough to win in the end fairly comfortably. After freezing temperatures, both sides would have been pleased to get the game in, but even happier when it was over. It felt like some well-deserved hot drinks were needed, but as it turned out we tucked into a few cold Birra Morreti (a new Italian pale lager on the pump), and the rest I can’t remember.

Further reading