Hard graft. The ability to knuckle down in a tough situation and get the job done. This, above pure skill or stylish technique, is, among those of us without pure skill or stylish technique, that most admirable of attributes. This sort of mental toughness is one of those qualities that is immeasurable in pure statistics. The most recent attempt by reknowned statistician and sports physicist, Karl Wonderbra (a stage name, his real name of Karl Eindershneider was not considered catchy enough for the showbiz sports physics crowd), was discredited when, after several years of research and calculations, he reasoned that the gutsiest batsman in the game today was none other than Ian Bell. This appreciation of hard work in this most elegant of sports harks back to the original professional games of the modern era, which took place inside the coal pits of Cumbria. Here, to the amusement of the local landowners who funded the games, each run had to be earned by digging ones way with a cricket bat from one shaft into the next. Although interesting sport, these games have since been termed the "Space Race of the North" as they spawned numerous technological advances, such as the white cricket ball and the mine canary (required due to the growing popularity of egg mayo sandwiches at tea).
The Kilmington and Stourton First XI arrived at Long Sutton on yet another wet day. There had been light to heavy rain all morning and the ground was surrounded with clouds and the distant haze of precipitation on the surrounding hills. However, the pitch wasn't holding up too badly and a light wind was drying the surface nicely. KSCC won the toss and elected to bowl to take advantage of the new ball before the rain arrived.
Tom Barton has been the form bowler of this year, and he did not fail to bring his A-game with a maiden to start. Meanwhile, The Strangler Snooky took a fair bit of punishment from the other end as the Long Sutton batsman looked for an explosive start. The ball fair whistled to the boundary in every direction in a mixture of chancy and classy shots. Long Sutton were moving at more than 6 an over after the first half dozen...but Snooky's tenacity shone through in the end with a couple of maidens and then a wicket maiden to back up Tom's work form the other end, which had also garnered a wicket. A short rain break arrived and altered the face of the game significantly. After looking placid and even to start with, suddenly the ball was rising off a length as it punched through the top. That didn't stop the still positive batsmen from having a fly at Ben Chant and Jon Rowe...and despite Tom only going for 2 an over in his 7, Long sutton had reached an imposing 121/2 in the 22nd over. The Other Tom, Tom Reid, then arrived to turn the innings on it's head. Reid Jr joined the rest in taking a bit of stick in his first couple of overs, but with his 12th ball he found the edge and Rayzzo collected the first of 5 catches for the day. Usually the Destroy-o-matic is wheeled out to the middle of the wicket by a couple of draft horses and a gravity assist maneuver. However this week, Spence fairly cartwheeled to the wicket and joined in the fun, opening with a maiden and a wicket maiden. Tom Reid had another couple caught behind off shorter balls that shot up off the surface and it was game on. The innings was then put on ice when The Destroyer was joined by the returning Tom Barton. Spence found back to back wicket maidens and then Tommy B removed the last 2 batsman in the same over to close Long Sutton out on 144 off only 35.3 overs. It was a remarkable turnaround, with Long Sutton losing 8 wickets for 23 runs in about 13 overs.
Tea was tasting grand for the reason that it could be eaten inside, but the KSCC openers strode to the wicket knowing that it was going to be a challenge to get going. The Long Sutton bowlers were perfect for the situation....quickish medium pace, straight and just back of a length. El Capitan never looked anything other than a limpet and the usually boisterous Anter was being tied in knots with shorter straight balls and an aggressive catching leg side field. There was yet another rain break before Your Brave Leader(TM) eventually tried a cover drive and holed out at point for a lowly 7. At this stage, KSCC were weathering the storm at only 34 from 14 overs. Andy Reid was looking reasonably comfortable but departed when trapped in front. Meanwhile, Anter was eventually caught out for a chanceless 28. It was chanceless because, to call the 3 times he was dropped chances is to undermine the very notion that there could be any other outcome than being caught out...a couple of them defied belief and had locals worshiping him as some form of minor deity. There is no doubt though, that these were incredibly important runs in the context of the game. The Professor and Biffer Burles had decided that enough was enough and tried to play their way through the conditions. This resulted in an interesting combination of great shots and blows to the arms and chest. Duncan took one square in the chest that left an Iron Man like mark at the end of the game. Jon was caught behind eventually but this only brought to the crease Rayzzo, who was in no mood to tip toe around. He and Duncan were making great headway before Dunc holed out. Ray's innings was heroic, and in every true hero there is generosity and understanding...especially with ones fellow stumpmen. It could only be this charity that led Ray to edge the ball behind and, with the ball dribbling along the ground behind the collapsed wicketkeeper, to park his bat under his arm and stroll away...with Ben Chant screaming at him for a single. Ben Chant made an instant impact but found it difficult to scramble back into the crease while laying face down in the middle of the wicket (spikes next time young fella!). Tom Reid arrived at the crease to take positivity into the ultra range, and he and Ray took the scores to level with a couple of overs still in hand. Ray then attempted to hoik one deep, only to be bowled with scores level...but the job was done. Tom Barton loves a challenge, and he happily stood at the non-strikers end without facing a ball as Tom Reid smote a boundary to mid-wicket to close out the game.
It was truly an effort of grit and determination, and I am most proud of our outfit for taking away all 35 points given that the opposition made the most of the best conditions. Tommy's B and R shared the bowling honours with Spence, and the middle order stood up to be counted this week and sealed the game for us.
Bowling: o m r w
T Barton 8.3 0 15 3
S Curchill 7 4 14 3
T Reid 7 3 19 3
The Kilmington and Stourton First XI arrived at Long Sutton on yet another wet day. There had been light to heavy rain all morning and the ground was surrounded with clouds and the distant haze of precipitation on the surrounding hills. However, the pitch wasn't holding up too badly and a light wind was drying the surface nicely. KSCC won the toss and elected to bowl to take advantage of the new ball before the rain arrived.
Tom Barton has been the form bowler of this year, and he did not fail to bring his A-game with a maiden to start. Meanwhile, The Strangler Snooky took a fair bit of punishment from the other end as the Long Sutton batsman looked for an explosive start. The ball fair whistled to the boundary in every direction in a mixture of chancy and classy shots. Long Sutton were moving at more than 6 an over after the first half dozen...but Snooky's tenacity shone through in the end with a couple of maidens and then a wicket maiden to back up Tom's work form the other end, which had also garnered a wicket. A short rain break arrived and altered the face of the game significantly. After looking placid and even to start with, suddenly the ball was rising off a length as it punched through the top. That didn't stop the still positive batsmen from having a fly at Ben Chant and Jon Rowe...and despite Tom only going for 2 an over in his 7, Long sutton had reached an imposing 121/2 in the 22nd over. The Other Tom, Tom Reid, then arrived to turn the innings on it's head. Reid Jr joined the rest in taking a bit of stick in his first couple of overs, but with his 12th ball he found the edge and Rayzzo collected the first of 5 catches for the day. Usually the Destroy-o-matic is wheeled out to the middle of the wicket by a couple of draft horses and a gravity assist maneuver. However this week, Spence fairly cartwheeled to the wicket and joined in the fun, opening with a maiden and a wicket maiden. Tom Reid had another couple caught behind off shorter balls that shot up off the surface and it was game on. The innings was then put on ice when The Destroyer was joined by the returning Tom Barton. Spence found back to back wicket maidens and then Tommy B removed the last 2 batsman in the same over to close Long Sutton out on 144 off only 35.3 overs. It was a remarkable turnaround, with Long Sutton losing 8 wickets for 23 runs in about 13 overs.
Tea was tasting grand for the reason that it could be eaten inside, but the KSCC openers strode to the wicket knowing that it was going to be a challenge to get going. The Long Sutton bowlers were perfect for the situation....quickish medium pace, straight and just back of a length. El Capitan never looked anything other than a limpet and the usually boisterous Anter was being tied in knots with shorter straight balls and an aggressive catching leg side field. There was yet another rain break before Your Brave Leader(TM) eventually tried a cover drive and holed out at point for a lowly 7. At this stage, KSCC were weathering the storm at only 34 from 14 overs. Andy Reid was looking reasonably comfortable but departed when trapped in front. Meanwhile, Anter was eventually caught out for a chanceless 28. It was chanceless because, to call the 3 times he was dropped chances is to undermine the very notion that there could be any other outcome than being caught out...a couple of them defied belief and had locals worshiping him as some form of minor deity. There is no doubt though, that these were incredibly important runs in the context of the game. The Professor and Biffer Burles had decided that enough was enough and tried to play their way through the conditions. This resulted in an interesting combination of great shots and blows to the arms and chest. Duncan took one square in the chest that left an Iron Man like mark at the end of the game. Jon was caught behind eventually but this only brought to the crease Rayzzo, who was in no mood to tip toe around. He and Duncan were making great headway before Dunc holed out. Ray's innings was heroic, and in every true hero there is generosity and understanding...especially with ones fellow stumpmen. It could only be this charity that led Ray to edge the ball behind and, with the ball dribbling along the ground behind the collapsed wicketkeeper, to park his bat under his arm and stroll away...with Ben Chant screaming at him for a single. Ben Chant made an instant impact but found it difficult to scramble back into the crease while laying face down in the middle of the wicket (spikes next time young fella!). Tom Reid arrived at the crease to take positivity into the ultra range, and he and Ray took the scores to level with a couple of overs still in hand. Ray then attempted to hoik one deep, only to be bowled with scores level...but the job was done. Tom Barton loves a challenge, and he happily stood at the non-strikers end without facing a ball as Tom Reid smote a boundary to mid-wicket to close out the game.
It was truly an effort of grit and determination, and I am most proud of our outfit for taking away all 35 points given that the opposition made the most of the best conditions. Tommy's B and R shared the bowling honours with Spence, and the middle order stood up to be counted this week and sealed the game for us.
Bowling: o m r w
T Barton 8.3 0 15 3
S Curchill 7 4 14 3
T Reid 7 3 19 3
Batting:
R Rose 39
A Williams 28
D Burles 22
J Rowe 18
R Rose 39
A Williams 28
D Burles 22
J Rowe 18
So this week..the weather is grand and we head to lowly Lydford to see if we can't do our trick of losing to the bottom teams and beating the top ones. Our away record is as impressive as our home record is poor...so our chances of a win are up there.
Until next week,
Skip
Until next week,
Skip
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