Match report
Last night saw the inaugural match vs Velcourt, a farming company that Wilcot club member Jonny Kerr is a local manager. I was informed by Jonny that Velcourt would be a team of non cricketers that were more interested in a fun game than winning. That being said it was clear on arrival that he had managed to rope in some athletic ringers.
The toss was undertaken and looking at a beautifully prepared wicket the captain’s preference was always going to be to bat first, luckily upon losing the toss the opposition decided they wanted to field first so my wishes were answered.
Regular mid-week opening partnership of James Cox and the captain walked out feeling confident both knowing this was the first of three matches over the next 4 days they were playing in, Jonny Kerr opened the bowling for the opposition and after wide ball his first straight one was dispatched for 4 by James. clearly, the bowling skills of the opposition had been played down as some good accurate bowling continued and the score was only ticking on through singles and the odd 2. James a self-proclaimed hater of running more than singles decided he wanted to hurry things up and started to find the boundary with a big 6 and several 4s before reaching the allotted 25 to retire. the captain clearly wasn’t in a hurry and scored his first 18 runs in singles before finding the boundary to reach his allotted 25 and retire, during which both Tim Holme (golden duck) and returning Wilcot regular Dex (6) came and went, Jamie Watherston and Nick Milne steadied the ship with a constant rotation of the strike keeping the run rate moving and then in the last over with 2 balls remaining and with the waiting batsmen Tim Buxton starting to remove his pads Nick was bowled. Tim gracefully faced the last ball, scoring a single and Wilcots innings came to an end with 105 on the board for 3. A total that felt 30 runs short, a common story for regular readers.
Jack Cox and Olly Scott Harden were tasked with softening up the openers, both proceeded to bowl good line and length with little reward to what appeared to be some very good Batsmen, so much so that before the first change in bowling Velcourts opener J Gould had reached his 25! Wilcot was starting to become quiet in the field and a wicket was needed! the introduction of Lucy Cox and Robbie Daw was the impetus required, Lucy who we must remember is 11 years old bowled off adult length, and in her second ball of the over took a wicket with a yorker hitting the bottom of the stumps with a full delivery that the batsmen could only swing and miss at, giving her a wicket maiden in the 1st over. Robbie coming down the hill bowled a good line and scoring was halted, and at the halfway point Velcourt were 40 for 1, 15 runs behind Wilcot at the same point. Robbie not wanting to be left out took two wickets in his last over and was given the chance of a hat trick ball. 12 overs gone and Velcourt was 50 for 3.
Jamie Watherston and Tim Buxton were up next and both bowled well with Jamie taking a wicket in his first over, Jamie’s flight appeared to tempting for the batsmen when a big shot for 6 was caught on the boundary by Tim Holme, other Tim not wanting to be left out got the 6th Wicket when good length ball struck the batsmens pad only to bounce back in and onto the stumps. 16 overs down and Velcourt were 71 for 6, Wilcot sensed their first mid-week victory.
Jamie bowled his final over when over exuberant batsmen Goring tried to heave the ball over square only to spin and stand on his own stumps, Nick Milne was brought into the attack, and with 4 singles taken from enthusiastic running between the stumps Wilcot seemed confident with 2 overs remaining and 21 runs required. Tim Holme (clearly auditioning for the opening bowler spot on Saturdays, bowled a maiden with some very good line and length (something he has not been complimented on for years) meant 21 was still required off the final over. clearly, Wilcot mid-week get the jitters in the final over with 4 of this year’s matches being lost in the final over and this was clear when the first delivery was missed by the batsmen and the captain behind the stumps allowing a quick 2 to be run, this was followed by two big 4s and all of a sudden you could see panic setting in! Fortunately 11 runs were too much and Velcourt ended their innings on 99 for 8 and Wilcot notched up their first mid-week win.
Velcourt very kindly provided a BBQ and drinks for everyone after the game and the match was played in great spirit, a mention should go to Lucy Cox for her incredible figures and bowling that would put most of Wilcots bowlers to shame (clearly her brother has taught her well) and to Robbie Daw who also bowled very well considering he has not played for several years.
| Batting | Runs | Out | Name | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | ||
| James Cox | 28 | Not Out | Jack Cox | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| C Powell | 28 | Not Out | O Scott Harden | 3 | 0 | 23 | 0 | ||
| T Holme | 0 | Ct | Lucy Cox | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1 | ||
| Dex | 6 | Ct | R Daw | 3 | 0 | 10 | 2 | ||
| J Watherston | 9 | Not Out | J Watherston | 3 | 0 | 20 | 3 | ||
| N Milne | 18 | Bowled | T Buxton | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||
| T Buxton | 1 | Not Out | T Holme | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| R Daw | DNB | N Milne | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |||
| O Scott Harden | DNB | ||||||||
| Jack Cox | DNB | ||||||||
| Lucy Cox | DNB |