With 9 players on the morning of the match, I was consolled by the knowledge that WNCC perform well with a reduced number of players. When the side was boosted by Hugh “threequarters” Waters half way through their innings, things looked up.
On a lifeless wicket we opened the bowling with an equally lifeless Nic Pull, who looked relieved that he was restricted to only 6 overs. Richard Thompson, who opened from the other end, looked to be the only effective bowler in our team when he removed the potentially dangerous Mike Johnson for nought. The skipper wisely took Richard off “to make a game of it”, and put on the untested and mismatched Wally Hammond and James “Joel” Garner. This seemed to confuse the opposition and the classy David Shaw (50 not out) went into his shell with the fear of getting out to such dross. The result of this was that WNCC restricted the gents to141 for 9 off 30 overs. Garner taking 3 wickets (someone said he turned one). Hugh Waters managed one wicket in his come back match, plus a catch, the rest were shared out to all the “bowlers” apart from the luckless Pull.
After a fantastic tea from Sue Waters, WNCC made easy work of knocking the runs off on a wicket where the long handle favoured finesse. James Harrison (39) and Mike Fairey(22) led the way in style before their Andrew Scoley (no relation) got them both. Nick Skerritt’s cameo was ended when he was baffled by Jim M-M’s arm being lower than the horizon, and he said it turned (if it did it would have been a first) and bounced. The game was finished off by an authoritative 40 from Robert Gurney, ablely supported by our all rounder Richard Thompson, with several overs to spare. Such was the ease of the win that the hutch door was never opened and Pully never had to interupt the flow of canned IPA.
We were lucky to get the use of the Hillington ground at short notice; they were very hospitable and everyone enjoyed the fantastic setting.
Apparently in a post match analaysis the Gents thought they lost the game because WNCC bowled better than them, well done the bowlers.
