After a delayed start to the 2020 season, Wooburn Narkovians 1st XI kicked off the year in winning style as a win/lose thriller went to the wire at Hayes CC. A new format in the league, as well as the restrictions in place from the ECB left all players a little unsure of how the game would be played out. Upon arrival, the Narks were directed towards a marquee to act a shelter from the blistering sun. With 10 of 11 players arriving with an hour until the start of play and Mark Tennant only getting lost once on the way to the ground, the new look Wooburn side assembled for a previously unheard of warm up while Rhys Wheeler earnt the first fine of the season for being 20 minutes late despite only staying 5 minutes down the road the night before, his claim of “I had to go home before I could come to the game” unfortunately not redeeming him on this occasion. Newly appointed captain Ben Barker was dually ushered to the middle for an early toss and put the Narks in to bat on a day where everyone wanted to spend some time in the sun. The openers took to the middle while the man at cover attempted finished off his pre-game sandwich which was very quickly put into his pocket at the start of play. A rapid start from captain Barker and Vice Captain Cooper put the narks on 39 by the time the first wicket fell. Tom Wright, promoted up the order following some strong batting last season, came to the crease and worked both edges of the bat well before middling one straight into the hands of the nearest fielder. Bushnell at 4 supported the skipper well and his departure ushered Rhys Wheeler to the crease. A sharp 22 from Wheeler, including a surprising number of singles for a man carrying some extra lockdown timber was brought to an end as a short ball didn’t quite have the legs to clear the man at the deep square leg boundary. Some minor dissent in the ranks was quickly quashed following a change to the batting order as Mark Tennant took to the crease at 6. A typically elegant and effective innings from Tennant would then ensue as he saw captain Barker surge past 50. However a Jason Roy style demise on 88, with the Hayes keeper taking a good stumping would have the Wooburn skipper on his way back to the pavilion having missed out on a superb hundred to usher in his new dynasty. Luke Johnson, who had tactically lost a few kilos behind the nets before the game, leaving him with the second fine of the year, strode out to join the former captain. However, an ambitious 2 had Johnson making the long walk to the away team tent. O’Regan, the tallest keeper in the league gave some stick to the bowlers before Will Cuthbert, finally recalled to the 1st team rotated the strike well leaving Wooburn 199-7 from the 40 overs. A bold wardrobe choice from O’Regan on the hottest day of the year so far saw under armour making an appearance behind the stumps. Mark Tennant, a man who is no stranger to taking quick wickets opened up with the ball and immediately caused problems for the openers. However, an “eager” over from Dan Broughton, which didn’t quite put him in the 30 club, left Wooburn on the backfoot with Hayes at 35-0 from 2 overs. However, an effective change of bowler saw Will Cuthbert take a wicket in his first over and put Wooburn back on to the right track. Having not given himself enough of a game, Ben Barker joined in the attack and, like Cuthbert, struck in his first over. Still reeling from his last over being hit for 31 (661666), John Henry Kelly was thrown the ball and worked in tandem with Barker, taking 2 wickets in the process. This period of the game was not without controversy as the Hayes skipper padded up to a ball which carried at chest height back to the bowler followed by claims of “there’s no bat in that mate”. This certainly had an adverse affect for the other batsmen in the side as Barker put a noticeable extra yard of pace into the next few overs. With the game poised to go either way, David Bushnell and Tom Wright set to the task of getting the Narks over the line. With 3 wickets between them, Wooburn finally exercised the demons of 2018 and 2019 and lodged their first league win in a full calendar year.
