Played:  many

Won some, lost some, drew some:

 

Captain Boden’s annual Review

 

Firstly, as a keen supporter of Alternatives’ cricket, I must apologise for the previous absence of match reports for the 2019 season. Unfortunately, stricken with a terrible bout of middle-aged laziness, a general preference for dozing in the summer sun overtook any urgings to put pen to paper. However, this should not reflect on what was a fabulous season.

Results have always been less important to the Alternatives’ faithful than playing to the Corinthian Spirit and, by this measure, 2019 was one of the most successful so far. Inevitably, the season included a fair smattering of needless run-outs, dropped catches, one-eyed umpiring decisions and erratic fielding (and we must thank Chappers for his keen contributions in this regard). But most importantly, the Alts’ squad showed an enthusiasm and optimism for each game played.

Also, there were significant innovations and developments during the 2019 season. SuperTed now has competition for his superfan status from Jin Patel’s dad; Tommo did not get injured in any elaborate or unnecessary ways; and tea-time bake offs reached new heights of culinary achievement (personally I believe Boden’s Chocolate Fridge Cake was a triumph and scoffers who doubt whether it had been truly baked fail to understand the nuances of the cricket tea tradition and will forever find miseries in their blinkered worlds).

I will now try to summarise the matches played in 2019:

 

Hove Caners

I merely regard this as a trivial warm-up game and will not bore you with any details – but there is a match report elsewhere on the website for despicable Caners’ followers. Click here to go to Caners match report
The match may have been lost.

 

 

Ollie was last seen heading towards the odious Caners victory man-cave!!

 

 

Ferring CC 

Ferring CC: 226 for 7
The Alternatives: 129 for 5.
Result: Drawn.

Highlights included Mat Score’s 61 not out.

And there a match report also for this penned by none other than our Player of the Season – Scorsey
Click here to view the Ferring match report

 

 

Wadhurst CC

Wadhurst CC: 201 for 8

The Alternatives: 163 all out
Result: Lost by 38 runs.

As ever, the Wadhurst bowlers ground down the Alts’ batting by successfully bowling the identical slow drooping dolly of a delivery that repeatedly descended onto the same spot of the wicket. Apparently, this same tactic has been used for decades by generations of Wadhurst cricketing families, taught from father to son during early infancy and carried on until old age. It is an unfailing tactic helped by the curious reflection of the sun from neighbouring houses’ windows and unnoticed undulations cultivated on the wicket.

There was an interesting talking point raised by Mellowship. During one of Mel’s overs, the Wadhurst batter smashed the ball high into the trees surrounding the ground. The ball ricocheted off a tree’s bough, back onto the pitch where it was dropped by a surprised fielder. Mel remonstrated with the umpire that this should be signalled as a dropped catch, but the decision was made to award a “6”. Unfortunately, Mel failed to get the support of his fellow team members on this controversial decision. In fact, he continued to argue his point through tea and wanted the scorebook adjusted to not show the ‘6’ that rather ruined his averages.

 

 

Zambuca Tigers

Tigers: 210 for 8
The Alternatives: 194 for 5
Result: Match Drawn.

Keith Bryden took 3 wickets in a typical tight spell. Then, Richard Spinks played a cultured innings of 89 that took the Alts close to victory, Unfortunately, Spinkers was out near the end and the Tigers managed to slow down the run-chase leaving the game as a draw.

 

If anyone has any further details on this match please do let us know.

 

 

 

 

Southwick CC 20/20 match

The Alternatives 107 all out
Southwick CC: 108 for 4
Result: Lost by 6 wickets

Bodie was the outstanding Alts’ player, both top scoring and taking two wickets.

Southwick entertained us with an enjoyable barbeque. However it was somewhat ruined by encountering the worlds most boring umpire talking of his greatest umpiring decisions over the years!!

 

 

 

Firle CC

Firle CC: 198 for 5
The Alternatives: 167 all out.
Lost by 31 runs.

Paul Stenner top scored with a plucky 40 but it proved to be in vain as the Alts struggled to keep up with the run rate and lost regular wickets.

If anyone has any further details on this match also, please do let us know.

 

 

Headstone St. George

Headstone St. George: 189 for 6
The Alternatives: 173 all out
Result: Lost by 16 runs.

The run chase was going oh-so-well. Raj Rohilla and Simon Thompson dominated the middle order and were confidently guiding the side to victory. But alas, it was not to be. Tommo had been told that he must be home in time for tea. So, just as the game reached a vital juncture, Tommo rushed off the pitch before his tea got cold (fortunately he allowed us to keep playing with his ball) and the match seemed to spiral away from the Alts.

A horrible batting collapse meant that the last five batsmen could only muster 3 runs between them and the game was lost. Of course, no-one blamed Tommo for his quick exit as we all agreed beans on toast is more important than your team-mates (especially as it was rumoured to have Worcester Sauce on it).

 

At least Tommo got home in time for his tea!!

 

New bowling sensation Andy “Lodge” McDevitt introduced a new and interesting bowling style never seen before!!

 

 

the match was also marred by officious warden types, who managed to snare a number of Alts vehicles – Green, Chappers and believe Nutters all had fines to pay!!

 

 

Firle CC 20/20 match

Result: Lost…by a lot.

This game was a thrashing and that might help explain why it seems that the scorebook seemed to suffer from a mysterious attack of the “scribbles”!

 

 

I do remember having a sore neck in the morning as I strained to watch cricket balls thrashed over my head and landing on the pavilion roof.
Skipper Boden managed to take 3 excellent catches in the outfield (but he scored less runs than catches taken).

most excellent catch 1

 

 most excellent catch 2

 

even better catch 3

 

 

Hurstpierpoint CC

The Alternatives 193 for 3
Hurstpierpoint CC: 160 all out
Result: Won by 33 runs

Once again, Nigel Green (70) and David Chappell (60, retired) led from the front with a mighty opening partnership.
Then, Ben Raikes (36) kept up the rapid run scoring as the Alts set a very useful total.

All season, the Alts’ bowling had struggled to get key wickets but not on this day.
Richard Nutbean (3-24) took two vital early wickets, ably assisted by a cracking catch by Bryden. Jin Patel (3-21) and Tommo (3-10) mopped up the middle-order and tail to give the Alts their first victory of the season!

 

as Chappers always scores run up at Hurst we have recycled some pics from last years match

 

 

 

Zambuca Tigers Two 20/20 matches

Tigers: 116 for 9
The Alternatives: 117 for 3.

The Alternatives: 144 for 2
Tigers: less than that! (not in scorebook)

Results: Both Won.

Mat Score skippered in both games and led the team to consecutive victories against the Zambuca Tigers.
The performances of young tyros, Henry Olliff and Tarun Rohilla, were the highlights as both batted brilliantly and made significant contributions in the field.
Stars for the present and the future!

 

Southwick CC

The Alternatives 182 for 9
Southwick CC: 183 for 3
Result: Lost by 7 wickets.

Keith Bryden scored a buccaneering 44 not out at the end of the innings (spectacularly supported by Mel’s magnificent 1 not out) to lift the Alts’ score to a respectable 182.
Unfortunately, the Southwick opener was too good and scored a chanceless century to guide them to victory.

 

 

Brighton Exiles

Exiles 174 for 6
The Alternatives 175 for 1.
Result: Won by 9 wickets.

The Alts saved their best to last. The highlight of the match and the season was Olly Bell’s brilliant 97 not out.
A finely timed innings that destroyed the opposition bowling with thunderous strikes to the boundary. True class.

Olly, Olly, Olly, oi, oi, oi, hitting the winning runs

 

 

 

The overall stats for the season show:

PLAYED 13:
WON 4
DRAWN 2
LOST 7

 

A word to our sponsors

Finally, a significant improvement for the 2019 season was the cricketing apparel worn by the players.
No longer do we see miscellaneous sporting tops or Green wearing his paint-speckled decorating overalls.
The team’s togetherness was matched by the new branded shirts, organised by Mat and Tommo.
Thank-you to our sponsors ‘Best of Brighton’ for their support and providing financial assistance.