WCC v Chippenham 5.6.22

Won by 4 wickets

 

Christopher Douglas

 

It was drizzling, it was cold, it was a three-hour drive from everywhere and the pub was shut. The jubilee bunting outside the deserted Tharp Arms was the cruellest possible welcome for our republican-leaning team of 9. And yet our Captain was as focused as a Tory minister on delivering not just a successful day's cricket but perhaps more importantly a great result for the hard-working Weekenders community at large.

 

Bhuvan opened from the tennis club end, his sharp left-arm proving just to good for the home team's top order. Blake Husaini operated at the other end with aggressive seam-up, and by the seventh over Chippenham were 3 for 21. A stand of 30 levelled things up until Max Husaini's bold, accurate leggies induced a fatal swat. Then it was time for former WCC skipper Whitehead to enter the attack after a seven-year break. For any newbie Weekenders reading this, Harry is the owner of the poisoned finger whose image was such a popular feature of the Whatsapp feed throughout last week. Poisoned or not, it too delivered a very tidy three-for. Whitehead and Douglas bowled in tandem as they first did in 1984, and when Bhuvan returned Chippenham were finished off for 101.

 

A possibly unique feature of the innings was that seven catches were held without a so much as a juggle. Brockis took two stunners behind the stumps and there wasn't a single drop all afternoon. A record, surely? Bhuvan's three wickets and three catches was the stand-out effort.

 

By the start of the second innings the drizzle had made the pitch quite sticky, and run-scoring was difficult. But Skipper Husaini and Brockis produced a brave and combative opening partnership. Then out came borrowed Henry to play the keynote innings for the Weekenders – a muscular 38, well supported by the skipper.

 

With the score on 69-1 and with plenty of overs left, the Weekenders duly delivered their trademark choke. But it wasn’t the usual chaotic collapse with pads awry and shirts untucked; instead it was a rather drawn out affair lasting 13 overs, during which five went down (four of them ducks) and 17 runs were scored.    

 

But the Husaini twins, showing scant respect for time-honoured Weekenders traditions, played sensibly, blocking the straight ones and whacking anything loose to get us over the line in confident style. 

 

Second win of the season delivered. Played 4, Won 2, Lost 1, Drawn 1.

 

Chippenham 101

Bowling: Sharma 9.2-3-12-3; B Husaini 5-2-18-1; M Husaini 7-1-26-1; Whitehead 11-3-25-3; Douglas 7-1-14-2

Catches: Sharma3, Brockis 2, M Husaini 1, B Husaini 1.

 

WCC 103-6

H Husaini 13, Brockis 9, Borrowed Henry 38, Dunne 0, B Husaini 17*, McCallum 0, Douglas 0, M Husaini 6*  

  

 

 

 

 

No marmalade, no royalty, no teddy bear. Just proper tea.