This game was initially scheduled to be an away fixture, which would normally be one of our longest car journeys of the season (about 45 minutes ‘round the M25). However, our tenacious fixture secretary negotiated a reversal of venue and so the Llamas of Reigate Priory CC made the journey to Oakfield Park instead. I had initially expected simply to attend as scorer only, but Jez went MIA (quelle surprise, a cynical person might say) and, after a brief search (via WhatsApp) he is swiftly dropped. I have to fetch my gear and get changed quickly (on the sidelines, as it happens) to join the game with only a few overs gone. Reigate were not sure about their bowling strength so, after winning the toss, they had opted to bat first. Matt Uttley managed a remarkable caught-and-bowled effort to remove their opening bat for 1 in the third over (while I was struggling into my strides on the sideline) and then got their captain to snick off a few overs later, leaving them in some difficulty on 7-2. Their other opener provided some backbone to their line-up, but none of their batsmen really built on their starts and the wickets continued to fall regularly. The wickets were shared around a strong bowling lineup, with Dino (3-28) and Ryan (2-8) the standout performers. Their final total (102 from 32 overs) looked eminently gettable in light of their bowling concerns, but then this is Stone CC…
The two Jordans then launch our reply, with Vice taking the lead in an aggressive approach. Walkie is cleaned bowled for 4 (a nice boundary, all the same) in the third over, but Ross carries on the same supporting role while Vice peppers the boundary on a regular basis. By the time he pops one up for a catch, he has carried the score to 56 (of which he has contributed 36, with seven 4s) in just under 12 overs. Ross follows soon after for a measured 14 and, when Stumpy pulls up with a leg injury after a scrambled single, there is just a hint that an unwelcome wobble (besides Stumpy’s as he makes his way off the field) might be on the way. Still Chungy makes sure that the scoreboard keeps ticking over and, although Gracie being bowled by their youngster for only 2, the game is put beyond Reigate by some late hitting from Muttley. We complete a decent win by six wickets.
For the first time a while, we went back to the Malt Shovel for the post-game debrief (I had been organised enough to book a table for us the day before) and I claimed my prize (offered by Vice for anyone who spotted the recent change to ECB guidelines for recreational cricket) of a lovely pint. As is often the case after a good win, spirits are suitable high and the awards are reasonably straightforward to deal with. Ryan gets to cuddle Big Pat for the week after a very tight bowling performance (7-2-8-2), while Gracie gets the golden poo for his limited innings (there weren’t a lot of other runners and riders, to be honest). As evidenced by the WhatsApp chat afterwards too, morale is very good in the club, which is most welcome in the challenging circumstances of Covid-19, and it’s another reflection of the fact that we’re all glad to be back playing again – long may it continue!
– Paul