Result:  another glorious victory

Score:  Wadhurst 144 all out.  Alts 148 for 6

 

our heroes return to Hove to a victory parade

 

On a beautiful early summer’s afternoon, The Alternatives arrived at the scenic sloping wicket of Wadhurst. Unfortunately, the team were a man short but the remaining ten were keen and eager, full of endeavour to protect the season’s unbeaten start.

Wadhurst batted first and were soon in trouble. Score (4-36) stormed down the slope and used it to his advantage. Twice edges flew to Boden at gully who snatched each catch. Green continued his fine run behind the stumps gathering balls with varying bounce and collecting any edges off the bat.

Bryden then joined in with his twirlers. The batsman looked to attack the spinner but came a cropper. Although Bryden (2-55) took some punishment, he clean bowled two of the hard-hitting middle order leaving Wadhurst floundering at 83-8.

At this stage, an Alternative’s victory looked easily in sight but somehow Wadhurst started wriggle out of their desperate situation. The older tail-end batters showed more patience and guile than the youngsters who had thrashed away their wickets. Despite a ferocious spell from Spink (1-19), the batsman clung on, with a bit of deserved luck along the way. Mainprize patrolled the short leg-side perimeter with his energetic “Ivan the Terrier” fielding that helped to reduce the boundaries, but the score gradually started to mount.

 

 

Dramatic and contrasting appealing technique was demonstrated. Spink favoured a traditional, yet impassioned, “Howzat” as befits his thoroughbred cricketing heritage. Stenner, on the other hand, chose a more anarchic, angry, slightly pleading “Come On” to the rather frightened umpire. The origins of the “Come On” are unchartered. Experts disagreed, questioning if it derived from a 1980s New York-McEnroe influence, while others dated it slightly earlier and were sure they could hear a Noddy Holder influence (circa The Slade hit “Cum on Feel the Noize, released 1973 for any pop-quiz buffs). No matter which appeal was favoured, the result was the same and no success was gained. The score crept towards 150.

 

 

But then Stenner (1-16) struck. And then Thompson (2-16). The last two wickets eventually fell and the final total for Wadhurst had reached 144 all out. Not a bad score and a decent recovery to be competitive.

The Alternatives struggled at the start under the threat of accurate, wily bowling from the locals, using the slope to its best advantage. Chappell got an unlucky LBW decision and then Boden missed a straight full toss.

However, no need to panic. The familiar, assured batting of Green and Spink was guiding the team to a strong position without fear or concern. But, with unexpected suddenness, the situation rapidly changed.

Spink (21), deceived by the slope, was bowled. Bryden and Score followed in successive overs. And then worse to follow as Green (30) went for a wild, uncharacteristic thrash and had his stumps re-arranged. In less than a few overs, the whole game had changed and the full momentum was with the Wadhurst bowlers. A cold draught of despondency swept across the watching Alternative team-mates as the dread of defeat drifted closer. The score was just 77-6. The Alternatives stared into the abyss.

Yet, just as champion fighters have to sometimes lift themselves off the canvas, so rose Stenner and Thompson. On this day, on this hour, both men strode forwards to grab their destiny. Steely defence was mixed with cavalier hitting. Thompson knew when to release his fireworks from the box. Stenner smacked the ball around the corner with his cherished pull-shot.

 

Its great to be able to re-use one of last years Fireworks graphics – “Thompson you da man”

 

They shall not pass – Stenner and Thompson – unmovable

 

 

Despite the pressure of time mounting as the number of remaining overs became scarce, both Stenner and Thompson grew into the task. Neither offered a chance. Both pounced on any bad ball.

But would time defeat them? Would they hold their nerves and finish the job? The answer was never really in doubt because it was clear that both Stenner (35 not out) and Thompson (20 not out) had decided. This game was to be won.

With less than five minutes of the match to play, Stenner swept the ball to the boundary to secure victory by four wickets. A glorious ending to a spectacular nail-biting finish written into the annals of The Alternatives’ cricketing history.

 

 

 

 

And so after the drama, the climax, came the reflection. Driving home silently across the verdant Sussex pastures under a tiring, slumbered orange sun on a hazy horizon, watching the peaceful grazing cattle and flickering colours amongst the passing hedgerows, I knew how lucky I was to have witnessed this grand match. But possibly particularly lucky…as I wasn’t now sharing my lift home with both Stenner and Thompson, who must have been exchanging inflated detailed blow by blow accounts of their feted innings.

 

A permanent reminder of this glorious day and of our 2 heroes

Our heroes are due their recognition of this glorious day, and we need a permanent reminder of their heroics that day. So Alts as you read this their heads are being sculpted into the cliffs at Saltdean – we are not worthy !!