On a day when Wooburn (just) managed to field 2-teams, Sunday vice captain A.Gerrish took his team over to the quaint setting of Chesham Bois cricket club on a hot and bright summers afternoon. The ground is unlike any other you’ll see all year, a perfectly round clearing in the trees, approached through the wood itself.
Despite the glorious day and pleasant surrounds, Wooburn had a bleak start, with only 8 players on arrival. Frantic phone calls to colts and shouts of “Oi lads… do you fancy a game of cricket” to the local youth followed. There was a noticeable smile of the face of S.Wilkinson, promoted from a usual double figure batting position to number 8.
Gerrish won the toss, electing to bat. Almost immediately the memories of last years bouncy track were remembered as Gerrish, opening the batting in true selfless Sunday Captaincy fashion, found an early delivery popping up, the ball lodging itself under the grill and striking his nose. No blood was seen but it set the tone that this wasn’t going to be an easy task. R.Barker was caught behind soon after and with Gerrish not far behind, Wooburn needed a partnership to get the innings in flow. M.Sear continued his good form with the bat, before being bowled and with R.Wheeler going the same way, both having made good starts and eventually finding the bounce, or be it lack of it, the foe in their unravelling.
It was left to debutant J.Thetford, who looked settled stroking the ball to all corners, not hesitating to dispatch the bad balls to the boundary with some classic big hitting. Thetford was joined at the crease by G.Taylor. Despite a nervy start, both him and Thetford made in-roads to the Chesham attack, spearheaded by P.Withams, whose legspin was very effective on the pitch.
Thetford was going along well, notching up a more than useful 39. But he was another victim of the now dreaded bounce, allowing a seemingly regulation ball to get a bit big, dollying the ball back to the grateful bowler.
Taylor looked to dig in as Withams took another 2 wickets in 3 balls, but with only 2 colts left to come, B.Sidders making only his second senior start, A.Peapell his senior debut and the scoreboard looking a little light on 140, things looked bleak.
However, there was little need to worry – Sidders looked in commanding form and batted with supreme confidence, the type that comes with youthful exuberance, not afraid to go after the bowlers, smashing the ball all over the place. Sidders and Taylor put on a much needed 71, bringing the score above 200 with Taylor eventually going for 31 (again the bounce getting a bit big on him). Sidders followed soon after finishing agonisingly short of his maiden 50. Relief swelled around the Wooburn camp, having posted a now competitive 215, but also a what-might-have-been, only using up 33 of their overs.
Usually the Tea review on these pages will consist of a detailed analysis of the sandwiches and cakes, and whilst these were in fine form today, the real star of the show was the copious amounts of watermelon, providing perfect relief to the stifling conditions. Coupled with fresh veg and olives, these were gratefully received, especially from the parched Chesham Bois fielders.
Wooburn had a job on their hands, a fast outfield with large areas to defend and only 10 men to do it. Things got off to a good start as the persistent Sear had D.Burton caught behind. Sidders opened at the other end and bowled good lines without reward as P.Withams Snr and L.Balandra settled in to their task. The pair ticked along nicely, putting anything lose to the sword. Wooburn needed a breakthrough and found it in the experience of Barker – a smart stumping from Thetford to bring up Barker’s 600th wicket for the club.
Withams continued to turn the screw as the Chesham middle order continued to contribute, D.Haines (26), A.Sarwant (23), R.Walia (28) all taking advantage of the 10 man field, keeping the Chesham target in plain sight. With the scoreboard showing around 6 an over needed, and 10 overs left, it was clear the game was heading for a tense finish.
The overs ticked on and with 14 needed off the last 2, the down to the wire finish that was anticipated duly arrived. Withams Jnr found the boundary twice in quick succession to ensure Chesham Bois needed just 4 from the last over. Sidders was given the responsibility of the last over, no mean feat for someone making their second start in adult cricket. Withams hit the first delivery through the covers, but insisting on two didn’t recon on the arm of Wilkinson and was run out to jubilant Wooburn celebrations. C.Haines and A.Walia kept their nerve, scoring a couple of singles and with the scores tied, just 1 run was needed on the last ball to win the game. The Wooburn fielders surrounded the bat but the Chesham boys (pun intended) managed to scamper through for a run amid chaotic scenes including an LBW appeal and a shy at the stumps.
Despite the loss, Wooburn left the field all smiles. Sidders led the team off, Thetford not far behind having 2nd top scored and involved in 5 wickets with the gloves on. A splendid game, played at a lovely setting with the spirit of cricket very much alive and well.
