Weekenders v Heartaches, 1st Sept 2023
Heartaches 231-6 dec.
(40 overs)
WCC 131-6 (34 overs)
Match drawn
Professional cricketers
absolutely love rain; it shifts the focus of the day towards mealtimes (an area
where the Weekenders can make pros look like callow amateurs). Overnight
downpours pushed the start back to 12.30, allowing the sun to get to work on
the outfield while we got going on the bacon and sausage baps, served out of
the ancient castle’s bacon-and-sausage bap hut – the Normans thought of
everything. The delay also made time for photo ops, gushing speeches on the PA
and the presentation of a flag to Sir Tim Rice in recognition of the
Heartaches’ half-century of existence.
The ground and its
surroundings can never have looked greener so late in the summer. No fewer than
72 spectators’ cars were parked on the bank beyond the long-off boundary, and
for the Weekenders (including the five professional performers in the side) it
could well have been a record audience.
Orwell and Sharma
formed a robust opening attack, trading punches with AD Fox and Fraser Hutton.
Bhuvan broke through at the start of the tenth over with a slower one that
removed AD’s middle stump. Game not quite over, as his partner
Fraser Hutton went on to make 116 not out. Our two superb newcomers Joey Rooney
and Jack Capstick-Dale ran in with terrific aggression, joined by the
impressive pace of Pratik Keswani, who also unveiled a formidable throwing arm.
With the additional edge of Dan Marshall behind the stumps, the Weekenders
displayed a rare level of commitment in the field. But after 14 overs, with 75
on the board, it was time for us all to walk off and get our feet under the
table again.
After lunch it would
be a further 33 overs before the Weekenders got their next meal - hard, hungry
yards. The hosts batted on a bit too long but they probably had painful
memories of 2019 when Dan Marshall and Dave Hargroves chased down 233 inside 35
overs. The Heartaches need not have worried.
Dan Marshall, Freddy
Carter and ‘Biggles’ Benbow all got good starts and all looked comfortable at
the crease. Bad luck comes in threes, so the saying goes, but for the
Weekenders it often comes in a four-pack: three LBWs in this instance, and a
run-out due to a shoe malfunction. Was it possible to recover from such a
quadruple whammy? The gamesavers turned out to be our opening bowlers Orwell
and Sharma, who came together in the 20th over. The asking rate
was an impossible 11.5 an over by that stage but their excellent,
nerve-settling partnership of 60 saw out the final hour. Honours even – sort
of.
There was just time
for a quick drink, with some crisps and cake left over from tea, before the
Weekenders set off home for a late supper.
Heartaches 232 – 9
dec.
AD Fox 31; F. Hutton
116 n.o., Whittome 14, A. Poole 22, Cohen 5, C. Hutton 4,
P. Glenn 15, J. Freida
1 n.o.
WCC Bowling: Orwell
6-29-0, B. Sharma 10-2-59-1, J. Rooney 8-1-40-2, P. Keswani 6-1-29-1, J.
Capstick-Dale 9-0-29-0, D. Hudson 3-0-26-0, Douglas 1-0-8-1
Catch: D. Marshall
(Wkt) 1
Stumping: D. Marshall
1.
WCC 131-6
Hargroves 0, D
Marshall 24, F Carter 16, Michael ‘Biggles’ Benbow 21, Hogben 0,
J Capstick-Dale 6, M
Orwell 31 n.o., B. Sharma 19 n.o.
Heartaches Bowling: D.
Waugh 13-3-31-3, J. Freida 5-0-20-0, J. Pressland 6-1-28-1,
J. Edington 2-0-10-0,
J. Cohen 4-1-13-1, A. Poole 2-2-0-0, P. Glenn 1-0-9-0,
AD Fox 1-0-9-0
Weekenders CC donation
to the Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation: £200
Weekenders CC donation
to the West Sussex Umpires Association: £0
