Result:  match drawn

Scores:  Wadhurst 200 for 4    Alts 164 for 9

 

Dynamic duo steer us to safe waters

 

On a scorching hot summer’s day, the Alternatives arrived at the picturesque Wadhurst ground for a timed match. After winning the toss, the Alternatives bowled first.

The early bowling struggled to make a breakthrough as the opening batsman dominated. Henry Olliff bowled a tight spell at first change that helped to steady the run-rate but still the partnership could not be broken. However, the introduction of Rohilla proved crucial, as a perfectly pitched delivery knocked off the bails with a silent caress to the batsman’s disbelief. Runs were gathered, but slowly. Chappell continued his re-invention as a metronomic, off-spinner with a well-taken wicket. Unfortunately, this double success did not stop the Wadhurst batters, especially their seasoned opener who was playing a nicely timed and chanceless innings.

The un-relenting, punishing sun started to have a strange effect on some of the fielders. Thompson seemed to be particularly badly affected. As the ball reached Thommo in the outfield, he was suddenly overtaken in a delirium of confusion. Elegantly, he dribbled the ball along the boundary edge, reminiscent of Stanley Matthews in his pomp, until the shouting of his team-mates lifted him from his footballing daydream. In panic, Thommo then picked up the ball and threw it high into air (with a rather unusual underarm technique popularised by Victorian ladies in crinoline skirts) but unfortunately the ball landed back into his arms. There was a general feeling of bemusement, stretching to the batsmen who stopped running, and eventually the ball found its way back to the middle.

 

 

 

 

Fortunately, Thompson’s erratic behaviour proved to be a blip. Luca Boden’s enthusiasm and sharp bowling produced three chances in his first over. Then, Thompson surprised everyone with an outstanding diving catch to give Luca the wicket he deserved.

During the final stages of the innings, the Wadhurst opener accelerated and in the final over reached his century. The total score was 200-4 which looked impressive but still offered hope for an Alternatives’ run chase.

Chappell and Green opened the batting and started with aggressive intent. Chappell swiped repeated boundaries but perished when he was caught in the deep. Then followed a mini-collapse as both Bodie and Bryden lost their wickets to good balls from the Wadhurst quickie.

Green looked imperious and anchored the innings with elegant batting. Rohilla and Dan Olliff provided able support, but both fell after making decent starts. The innings looked reasonably placed for the final 20 overs at 104-5, with skipper Boden joining Green.

But then disaster!!! Boden called a suicidal single and Green was stranded, run out only halfway down the wicket. Wadhurst celebrated with exuberance as they believed this was the hinge moment of the match. Green was crestfallen and the responsible Boden distraught. The disturbed skipper was bowled soon after and the game seemed to be lost as the score was reduced to 107-7.

The sunkissed, tranquil, serene Sunday evening in a corner of glorious East Sussex was shattered by a tirade of expletives from inside the away changing room!!

 

Thompson and Mellowship joined in the middle. After a hesitant start, Thompson resurrected the match with a sparkling, aggressive knock. The pair combined perfectly. Mellowship offered not a sniff of a chance with resolute defence while Thompson thrashed successive boundaries with his cavalier, buccaneering stroke-play.

 

 

 

 

Keen students of cricket now re-visited Boden’s decision to run-out Green. Surely, the cricketing mastermind had played the perfect strategic move. By removing Green, he had offered Wadhurst false hope, and opened-up the real opportunity of a victory with Thompson’s fast scoring. Was this a Stalin-esque purge of his vice-captain, demonstrating a ruthlessness that ice-cold calculations demand in the ardent pursuit of victory at any costs? Other onlookers still simply believed that Boden had made a terrible cock-up by running out Green, and this Soviet-ramblings bluster was a mere smokescreen. We will never know the truth.

 

The Melman and Tommo show

 

The Thompson-Mellowship show was leading the Alternatives to victory and Wadhurst knew it. In a final desperate change of bowlers, the luck suddenly changed for the Wadhurst skipper. Thompson chased a wide ball and feathered the slightest edge to the wicket-keeper. The fireworks had been put out and the chase was over.

With 6 overs to go the game turned and Wadhurst now sniffed a victory. The rollercoaster match promised to bite the Alternatives at the end. But no such fear. Henry Olliff demonstrated batting aplomb and never looked threatened. Mellowship continued his defensive masterclass. There was no final twist and the game finished as a well-contested draw.

(Footnote: Alas, Mellowship was run out on the last ball of the match. Henry called a quick single, but eventually Mellowship’s concentration had broken and he had allowed himself to be distracted by movements in Wadhurst Ladies Bowls’ Club. He responded late to the call and failed to cover the 22 yards in time. Although, his stats will suffer, Mel had again played a selfless innings.)

 

Young Bode takes a sup of lager to settle the batting nerves

 

 

Melman and Henners saw us over the line

 

 

 

Scorecard:

Wadhurst CC: 200-4

Bowling figures:

Thompson: 4-1-17-0

Bodie: 4-0-20-0

Henry Olliff: 4-0-27-0

Bryden: 6-0-14-0

Rohilla: 5-0-12-1

Chappell: 3-0-11-1

Dan Olliff: 4-0-29-0

Mellowship: 4-0-33-0

Luca Boden: 3-0-21-1

Green: 3-0-12-1

 

Catches: Thompson (1)

 

The Alternatives: 164-9

Batting:

Chappell: Caught 31

Green: Run Out 41

Bodie: Bowled 1

Bryden: Caught 0

Rohilla: LBW 13

Dan Olliff: Caught 13

Boden: Bowled 8

Thompson: Caught 48

Mellowship: Run Out 6

Henry Olliff: Not Out 0

Luca Boden: Did Not Bat.