Wick beat Dorking by 1 run, winning off the last ball.
For scorecard, click here
It's not difficult to separate out what really matters from what doesn’t, but it's hard to remember this distinction. Saturday was a season-defining (possibly cricket-career defining for some) victory for the Wick which had everything you could want in a game of cricket apart from maybe a touch more sun.
This report could have been some kind of ode to the real beautiful game (it did have a touch of Hollywood about it), but I write as the news of Tom Maynard’s death fills the online news stands and everything is put into perspective. RIP – he had the skills to make it all the way and accidental or deliberate, your passing is our loss. I will never forget Saturday, but at the end of the day it’s just a game of cricket.
Blimey – where do I start.
The Wick put out a relatively youthful looking team against a strong Dorking side that boasted a few real quality players – one of whom has a contract with Sussex CCC. Dorking are a strong batting team and the evidence of our unsuccessful T20 game against them few weeks back was that they had a few ‘characters’ shall we say. The track was flat, if a little slow due to conditions, but essentially good. A short boundary one side (and straight) also encouraged runs throughout the day. A quick chat at the start encouraged some aggression and a bit more ballsiness than in previous weeks…to get in their faces somewhat. If we were to win this one we needed to give it back.
Daisy and Nom started brightly, the former bowling a beautiful spell with the wind but with little assistance off the deck, the latter manfully running into the gale (poor old Keith – all day standing into 30mph). Pressure of dot balls eventually told and Rudolph swooped in from cover and ran out their skipper with a calm piece of fielding. But the quality batsman continued to arrive.
The track was flat and getting better as the sun came out. The fielding was below par but we stuck to our guns and kept a lid on the runs – keeping them to no more than 3.5 until towards the end. Tong didn’t find his areas but Raza bowled with control and containment, and Dare at the other end didn’t disappoint with another high class demonstration of flight and guile…the highlight being the dismissal of the Sussex contracted player (Rollings), caught behind to a good snaffle from Boney. Alex Dare is 14 and possibly 5ft tall. Jordan Rollings is 7ft (yes – taller than Joey) and looks the part. Remember this contrast.
Some classy late order hitting from the young Leverock (16 years old! – If you were there you would have been very impressed) and a classy innings from #4 (70*) meant Dorking ended up with 240-5 declared. A very good total but not beyond our reach. 50 overs was also about right on what was a good track.
Teas – people had suggested that it would be a belter. I was left disappointed. Variety sure, but relatively bland and I'm big on my sauces and spices. It was just a bit too dry and ‘English’ for my taste. 5/10.
OK – here’s where the fun starts. Matty Rudolph had been given the brief by myself to annoy the hell out of the oppo by chatting all day. He didn’t disappoint. Keith asked me to calm him down after 3 overs (he was fielding at 3rd man -) [Reminds me of a young AJ - Ed]. I responded by bringing him into the circle. More please Matt. He was like a broken record and he kept us going all day in the face of some hooligan-like taunting from the clubhouse that bordered (and crossed occasionally) the line between banter and bullying. Rudolph ran out their skipper, fielded like a gazelle and took two steepling catches in front of the mob. Matt has a lot to work on but his determination is on a par with anyone I’ve ever played with. Top lad.
A re-worked batting line up saw young Finbar (who batted #11 against Stoke a few weeks back) be rewarded for a string of impressive performances with an opening berth with Ali. Both went off beautifully. The oppo were keen to point out that Rollings (actually a quick bowler – from 7ft), was a quick bowler. Ali took little notice and smote him everywhere, racing to about 28 off maybe 15 balls. Finbar wasn’t far behind, happy to use his 3lb bat to find the boundary. Fin had almost caught Nomi up when he fell for 29 and the score on 60-odd. A great start after 12 overs. Boney went first ball and Davies survived the hat trick. Ali didn’t last too long thereafter – a superb catch in the gully which left us teetering at 75-3. In came Daisy, who had an air of control and aggression in his eyes. Together they scored 90 runs at a fair lick, looking in little trouble as the rain fell (and no doubt stopped the ball swinging). This was Alex’s best innings for the Wick because it contained the correct mix of brute strength and also control that befits a player of his quality.
His wicket brought in Rudolph who was subject to a barrage of abuse more akin to feeding time in a zoo. He hung around for a while but the quality of the attack told in the end, which brought Raza to the crease. We will return to Rudolph at the end. Davies then holed out (again!!!) which brought in Nav to partner Kam. Our run rate was perfect, but we needed 80 off 18 overs with 4 wickets in hand. This was a crucial partnership and they didn’t disappoint. I’ve made many mistakes as captain but putting Kammy at 7 this week was a great decision and his experience was vital at this time – harrying singles and also bludgeoning the occasional boundary. Nav also played with calmness and control we see so often in the nets (and that he has shown for the 2s already this year).
Obviously it then got a bit hairy as they brought back their real quicks Leverock and Rollings (7ft). Nav was yorked at 222, leaving us 19 short 7 down. Then, with victory within grasp, Kam fell to a fast Yorker. And then Charlton too! So help me god.
It was the penultimate over and big Rollings had 3 cracks at the young 14-yr old Dare.
#1 – Yorker. Dot.
#2 – Yorker. Dot.
#3 – Yorker. Dot.
Alex set himself for this delivery and his size 6 bat was only seemingly just about strong enough to keep it out. He couldn’t have got any lower playing the shot, almost below the height of the bails. The cheers raised the roof!
Last over – Wick need 3 runs, Dorking need 1 wicket. 2 runs for a tie.
#1 – guided by GT to 3rd man. 1 run.
#2 – AD on strike. Play and a miss. Dot.
#3 – No run.
#4 – No run! OMG.
2 to win, 1 to tie.
#5 – Alex hits it to mid on. GT goes, Alex has no choice. We didn’t come this far to die wondering. The ball is fumbled and Alex dives in. Scores are level! The boys go mental.
Last ball – 1 to win and we can’t lose, but they can take half the points with a dot ball (or a wicket).
#6 – GT dabs it into the off side and sets off. Alex slips on the greasy turf but eventually sets off like a hare. Cover swoops in and the pick up is decent but the throw not the best and Alex dives full length and makes his ground as the stumps are demolished. The boys are on the field and I think Ed Charlton may have been crying ;). Pure unadulterated joy as the youngsters from thee wick take full points in Dorking’s back yard. An epic epic run chase and fully deserved morally and technically. Brilliant.
Dorking have a few very very talented players – mostly bats but some serious players. Rollings was a credit to his profession – it's true Nomi took him apart and it wasn’t his day with the ball but he took it on the chin and came back when it mattered at the end. Gracious and classy. He also scored a slow but important 60 at the top of the innings. He and others conducted themselves with dignity throughout and accepted the result for what it was. A few of the others quite frankly got egg on their faces and deserved everything they got. They seemed more focused on trying to bully us and neglected their own game. Shame.
Dorking should get promoted. They’re easily the most talented team we’ve played thus far. Which is ironic because we beat them and managed to lose to numerous others.
A brilliant day for the Wick in the face of lots of talent and even more besides.
Man of Match – Daisy. Excellent innings and very good bowling performance too against a strong line up.
Man of Day – Matt Rudolph. Because he did what I asked and doesn’t give a sh*t about what anyone else thinks.
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