Match Report
Having had so many games cancelled this season due to poor weather, the blue skies that greeted Wilcot’s athletes as they arrived at the Old School Ground made a very welcome change. Sadly, The Hermits had been unable to raise a team and so local derby club Avon Valley had stepped in at the last minute to allow Wilcot an opportunity to try and wrap up their 2023 season in style.
With the ground bathed in sunlight, the Skippers met for the toss and when Avon Valley’s Skip called correctly, their decision was made to bat on what looked to be another excellent looking batting wicket. However, so much rain had fallen in the preceding few days, Wilcot’s Skip wasn’t too disappointed, knowing that the outfield would only quicken so overall, a good toss to lose!
Bill Ballenden and Jack Cox were chosen to open with Bill bowling down the hill. Finding prodigious out swing from the off, Bill was unlucky not to pick up a wicket early on as a couple of edges were found and an extra fielder subsequently stationed behind the bat as a result.
Unfortunately, Wilcot’s first wicket wasn’t forthcoming and so a bowling change brought Nick Milne into the attack who struck in his first over. The Skipper was then brought into the attack four overs later inducing a similar result (aided by a superb catch at cow corner by Jack Cox) and AV were two down as drinks were taken in the 17th (76-2).
Both bowlers plugged away with the next wicket falling courtesy of a well held catch at mid on by Andrew Marshall giving the Skipper his second in the 23rd over (102-3).
At this point AV upped the anti and the run rate climbed.
Hugh Marshall, coming down the hill, took the next, aided by a sharp catch by James Cox at slip who wasn’t able to hang onto the ball initially but managed to gather as the ball ricocheted into the air….an excellent effort.
Eben Wheatley, replacing the Skipper coming up the hill was soon in on the action also, clean bowling AV’s No. 6 bat but with no further wickets falling, Avon Valley concluded their innings with 193 runs on the scoreboard for 6 wickets.
A sumptuous spread greeted Wilcot’s weary warriors as thoughts turned to the run chase. Some excellent egg mayonnaise, cheese & pickle sandwiches and home-made sausage rolls rubbed shoulders with a delicious apple cake and other tasty morsels ensuring that both teams could recharge in the heat.
Whilst 193 felt like a sizeable total to chase down, a drying outfield & wicket meant that hopefully boundaries would be easier to come by and a 6 run an over run chase would be achievable.
The Skipper selected himself to join Alex Hickman to get the chase underway and the pair started tentatively until Alex was deemed LBW in the 5th bringing a returning vice Skip Chris Powell (back from a couple of weeks out due to a freak footballing injury) to the crease. Unfortunately, Chris was making his way back to the Pavillion two overs later and Wilcot were in trouble (21-2).
Incoming bat James Cox was the next man and settling well, the pair moved the score to 37 in the fourteenth before the Skipper was judged LBW to a rising delivery in the 15th. MFG made a brief cameo before being caught (52-4) bringing Andrew Marshall in to bat.
Finding the middle of his bat from the off (but having to do a lot of running due to the huge outfield), Andrew started well but a much needed partnership eluded him as James was out the following over (58-5) top edging a full toss to cover and Wilcot were way off the pace at the 20 over mark.
A decent partnership looked to be developing between Andrew Marshall and new man Nick Milne until Andrew was caught as was son Hugh in the same over (71-7).
Unfortunately, Wilcot never recovered and, barring some decent hitting by Nick Milne in the dying stages, were bowled out in the 34th over with only 121 runs scored.
Wilcot’s performance was a distinct improvement from the previous week most notably in the catching department. Frustratingly, too many players were out having got themselves in. This resulted in a lack of much needed meaningful partnerships with the bat and up against some tidy bowling, Wilcot were never able to maintain the needed run rate.
Plenty of positives though…..
Wilcot batting into the 34th over meant the pub was open when the game finished! The Cox’s safe hands kept Avon Valley in check, Eben Wheatley (having never played cricket before this season) produced his best bowling figures of his cricket career so far and Nick Milne did his bid for top Wilcot Sunday side all – rounder no harm at all.
My sincere thanks to Victoria Marshall for stepping into the breach at the last minute to help with the teas and to Pete Williams for his unwavering commitment to the preparation of our home pitches across the season.
Wilcot will return refreshed and ready to do it all again in 2024.
| Hickman. A | LBW | 3 |
| Watherston. J | LBW | 17 |
| Powell. C | Bowled | 0 |
| Cox. James | Caught | 14 |
| MFG | Caught | 4 |
| Marshall. A | Caught | 15 |
| Milne. N | LBW | 25 |
| Marshall. H | Caught | 3 |
| Wheatley. E | Bowled | 0 |
| Ballenden. B | LBW | 7 |
| Cox. Jack | Not Out | 9 |
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| Ballenden. B | 7 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| Cox. J | 7 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Milne. N | 7 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| Watherston. J | 6 | 1 | 41 | 2 |
| Marshall. H | 4 | 0 | 33 | 1 |
| Wheatley. E | 3 | 0 | 19 | 1 |
| Cox. James | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |