Match Report
In the week preceding Wilcot’s game vs Wilton, the Skipper received news that Wilton weren’t able to raise a team and so an SOS was dispatched in the search for an alternative Oppo. Word reached the Skipper that a team from just outside Southampton were on tour in Oxfordshire and their Sunday fixture had been cancelled and so were looking for a game. A few days and a couple of phone calls later and Swanmore Cricket Club were making their way to the Old School Ground to fill what would’ve been a large hole in Wilcot’s fixture list.
As the opposition arrived, Wilcot’s faithful began to try to get the measure of this unknown adversary as the clock ticked towards the allotted start time. It transpired that on their tour so far, they’d had a couple of tough fixtures both of which had been lost, were all hungover and when their Skip called incorrectly at the toss, a collective groan arose as they were asked to field in the blazing sun….first blood Wilcot!
As Wilcot’s openers Wilson & Jonathan Evans started to pad up, further evidence of Swanmore’s approach materialised as a large speaker & microphone was set up outside the away changing room and when a request was put in to play some music T20 style, it became clear that this touring side were clearly here to enjoy themselves.
Whilst cloudless from the off, there was a threat of rain at 5pm and so Wilcot were keen to cash in on the perfect batting conditions. Against blasts of music greeting any boundary interspersed with Swanmore hilariously sledging their own team from the sidelines, Wilcot’s openers started watchfully. Unfortunately, Wilson fell hitting across the line to a straight one in the 5th over and Jonathan followed two overs later in similar fashion (21 for 2).
New bats Chris Powell and Jack Chatfield didn’t fare much better with both caught on single figures and Wilcot were off to the worst possible start with their top order all back in the clubhouse and only 32 runs on the scoreboard after 11 overs bowled.
Having had a run of bad luck so far this season, James Cox was the next batsman to the crease accompanied by the Skipper with Wilcot desperately in need of some stability. James started well and with the pair rotating the strike, the score moved into three figures in the 19th over with no further loss. Just as the run rate picked up further, the Skipper was undone, bowled by a full toss bringing a partnership of 57 to an end and Martin F-G joined James at the crease. With no let up with the now increased run rate, a new partnership developed, only interrupted when James retired having hit a well-judged half century.
Momentum then shifted the other way as Swanmore took a couple of quick wickets and incoming bat Jack Cox would’ve suffered the same fate, had it not been for a gracious Oppo allowing him to bat on when given caught behind. Swanmore may have then regretted their generosity as Jack took full advantage, building another vital partnership (46) with Martin and when Jack was finally out, Wilcot reached the close with one further wicket lost, 190 runs scored and both James Cox and Martin F-G unbeaten.
Tea was taken with the team buoyant having grafted a respectable total out of an initially very precarious position.
Chris Powell had requested a laying spree from his bantams at home and the resulting egg sandwiches had drawn a few comments even before tea had started. Accompanying these were some cheese & pickle sandwiches, quiche, sausage rolls and a selection of salamis. An impressive looking jam cake (courtesy of James Cox), some left over cricket themed birthday cake (Lily Watherston), an unctuous brownie (Heather) and an assortment of Mr Kipling’s favourites ensured that an excellent spread awaited the hungry cricketers.
With the clouds now starting to gather and Wilcot’s elite re-fuelled, the ball was tossed to Andy Smith to get the defence, of what felt like a decent total, underway.
It became clear from the off that Swanmore’s openers could definitely bat as Andy was dispatched to the boundary twice in his first over. Thankfully, Jack Cox put the brakes on Swanmore’s quick start with an excellent delivery which ballooned up and Johnny Campbell-Slight took a good catch at short extra cover to give Wilcot their first wicket (27-1) in the fourth.
Andy Smith was next to get in on the action with a delivery that stayed low trapping new bat Maitland LBW and Wilcot were off to a decent start (50-2). Two quick wickets followed; the first a Jack Cox yorker hitting middle stump and the second a piece of superb fielding from Johnny Campbell-Slight hitting the stumps from side on and Wilcot were firmly in the driving seat (55-4).
A bowling change saw the Skipper replace Andy coming down the hill and with it, another wicket; a drive hit at pace managed to find the Skipper’s outstretched hand (61-5). Another wicket fell with Jack Chatfield’s first ball in the 16th(replacing Jack Cox coming up the hill) (83-6), however, the rain that had threatened for the previous half an hour arrived with gusto and play was abandoned as the players waited for the shower to pass.
After a 20 minute break, the teams returned to the field and as the innings hit the half way point, the Skipper struck again, tempting Swanmore’s bat out of his crease and Chris Powell did the necessary behind the stumps to claim Wilcot’s seventh scalp (91-7).
With Wilcot now firmly into Swanmore’s tail, there was cause for optimism as Wilcot now needed another 3 wickets and had 15 overs to get them. Another bowling change (Jonathan Evans replacing the Skip coming down the hill) brought about the fall of the next with Jonathan inducing an edge, well held behind the stumps by Chris Powell…1 down, 2 to go.
This is the point that Swanmore’s batsmen started to go off script as it was clear that bats 8 &10 were no mugs. Quick singles interspersed the occasional boundary as the pair started to chip away at Wilcot’s total. As 113 was scored by the 20th , 133 by the 25th…..the Skipper threw the ball back to Andy Smith for his second spell in the 27th with the score now on 141 hoping that Andy could break this stubborn partnership.
An excellent piece of fielding, swung the momentum back into Wilcot’s favour; an Eben Wheatly throw found Chris Powell throwing down the stumps to run out Swanmore No. 10 (P Macdonald) bringing a partnership of 52 to an end. So, with 7 overs to play, Wilcot needed just one more wicket & Swanmore 39 more runs.
A tense final few overs ensued with Wilcot unable to contain the flow of runs. A couple of hard chances sadly didn’t go Wilcot’s way and Swanmore reached Wilcot’s target in the 33rd over.
A highly entertaining game played in good spirit with momentum swinging from side to side throughout. Interestingly, both sides had to rely on middle / lower order batsmen to score their runs. James Cox’s 58 (NO) provided a much-needed core around which some valuable partnerships were built (most notably with MFG and the Skipper). A quick fire 20 at the close by young Jack Cox helped Wilcot to post a competitive total.
With the ball, Wilcot fielded well with no catches spilled. However, Swanmore clearly bat v. deep and they delivered a highly controlled run chase. Even as the wickets fell, they never fell too far behind the required run rate and in the end, they were deserved winners.
My thanks, as ever, to Pete Williams, for producing another excellent wicket and to Mrs & Miss W for their help with the teas.
Wilcot welcome Tauregs to the Old School Ground for their next fixture on July 9th.