Addiscombe win nail biter - 1xi Match Report

Upon arrival at Addiscombe CC at about 1230, the Wick 1XI were greeted by a beautiful, perfect summers day. The ground was a picture, set against high trees and bushes on the outer perimeters and a large club house adjacent to 3 high quality nets and a number of grass tennis courts.

The place was buzzing with activity - with the cricket game being the pick, but not the only Saturday afternoon activity taking place. There were afternoon classes and various sporting activities taking place in the generous clubhouse. As the day wore on the number of supporters increased to watch the unfolding drama on the cricket field. The players, of both sides duly responded and the game ended up being an absolute cracker. At the end, both players enjoyed numerous beers (drivers apart, who drank within their legal limits) and it was fantastic to have not only the opposition, but countless opposition supporters congratulate us on the quality of the match and our performance. You may have guessed by now, we lost... just... but the game gave me as much satisfaction as any this season. We finally had played 11 cricketers on a true surface, and whilst we had lost narrowly, we had performed admirably. A game truly befitting a 1st v 2nd clash.

Addiscombe won the toss and bowled. The deck was green but hard. Decent enough. There was a Lords-esque slope.

Lee and Hooper opend up, with Hooper taking the lead in the runs stakes. Some effortless straight drives and some burly legside flicks made batting look easy. Lee at the other end was untroubled, the left/right hand combe working well.

Hooper fell to a good yorker and Lee followed fairly soon after, having an uncharacteristic drive pouched by the keeper. Disappointing. Boney in particular looked elegant with Kam. Kam had driven the change bwoler over mid off for 4 first ball of the spell, and had also leathered one straight at short silly point, the guy taking it full on the elbow. Kam then decided he was Anton Du Beck, not for the first time this year, and was out.

Tottering at 67-3 Davies and Adam put on an excellent 50 partnership. With runs being shared and scored all around the field, things looked comfortable for both of them. Davies then allowd one to drift onto his boot, probably take the edge and was caught at slip off the slow left armer. Hibberd played as he does - it didnt pay off this week. AJ then got a very poor lbw decision and we were in trouble.

Neither Zam nor Whinney troubled the scorers. All the while Adam was compiling an excellent half century... scoring runs freely especially off his legs. It was a superb knock and a timely one given the fact we were playing against the best team in the league. When he fell it was left to Joey and Fordy to bullishly, and inteligently get us up to 180+. Their 25 partnershipp was characterised by some beefy hits, some comical running and some determined defence. It gave us momentum going into innings two.

Teas - very good. Two tables, individual plates laid out. Some pizza! fresh fruit. Normal sandwiches, but everything was there and there was plenty of it. 7/10.

We took the old ball. Zam and Kam. Kam got the breakthrough from an unlikely source -getting the skipper caught at mid wicket, afetr he had been placed there the ball previously. The catcher was Jackson. Heehee. Good catch too. The new ball was called for after 8 overs as nothing much was happening. Joey and Fordy immediately made inroads - Joey's 2 wickets in 2 balls giving the Wick te upper hand at 39-4.

The #5 couldn't get bat on Joey, and the #6 took a liking to Fordy. The score moved on slowly, but enough, until Joey then decided to get involved again, taking 2 more wickets in quick time - both caught at mid off. At 95-6 and drinks the Wick were on top.

We were then guily of some poor bowling - too many poor balls - full tosses and half trackers that allowed the pressure to be relieved somewhat. The number 8 - the keeper - scored an eventual 55*. Zam in particular was well under par, bowling like Zam of 2007, not Zam of 2008. Whinney bowled with pace and against a new bat he may have been able to skid through one of his yorkers.

Fordy eventually returned and got the breakthrough - slightly dubiously. At 7 down we were back in it. 7 became 8 with about 20 runs and 8 overs to go. It was nail biting stuff as the shadows fell across the deck and the distant raptor calls could be heard across the way. The 50+ strong crowd had gathered (WAGs n all) to watch the finale.

Addiscomebe got home in the penultimate over, scrambling their way to victory. They knew it was a great game, and they knew it was a great win. Some argy bargy was forgotten afterwards as we all shared a warm summers evening in a pcked clubhouse and slagged off most the the other oppo we'd played against this year. The game was close but Addiscombe deserved their win and duly edged it. They did win the toss, they were the home team and perhaps got the slight edge with regards to umpiring decisions (the crucial one was perhaps Zam having the match winner stone cold lbw). I am being a bit picky here. The game was superb, as were both sets of players. We lost but I loved every minute of it. Even Ali was delighted even though we lost.

Next week we'll be back. Fact

[Here's a picture of Alison looking... happy? - Ed]