(Written by P. I. EMAN)
Chetnole CC Versus Ilchester CC
Readers Mid Wessex League, Division 3 Clash.
Sunday 5th September 2004
CHETNOLE CC LOSE OUT IN TIGHTLY FOUGHT CONTEST
Oh glorious warm sunshine! A beautiful early September day emerged upon us, giving us thoughts of summers yonder. An Indian summer, perhaps? Or more like ‘we wish we had an Indian spinner’? Who knows?
Chetnole’s skipper Neil Spearing turned up early, yet again! And he went and proceeded to win the toss. Ably advised by Chetnole’s elders and ‘senior citizens’, Neil chose to bat, on what looked an interesting wicket. Green and damp in parts, pudding like and stodgy in other areas, and dry and dusty around the crease; A typical Chetnole wicket!
The sun beat down unforgivingly as the temperature rose to heights not seen since last August; ‘phew what a scorcher!’ Last week’s hero D.Maude ‘never say die iron pads’ strode confidently to the crease, with that wily veteran WC Stan Kemp. Maude looked assertive from the word go, and in the third over struck a majestic 2 runs through the covers. There was an astonished gasp from the growing crowd of spectators (oh yes, perhaps free entry works!). Maude on the attack! Alas, it was not meant to be. Wilf Martin struck early with his wicked seaming medium pace.
The traditional early Chetnole collapse (of late) happened yet again. Stan Kemp flashed, but not hard enough, and Martin picked up his second wicket. Andrew Ashmore, trying to capture his early and mid season form, fell trying to accelerate the scoring, after looking in fine fettle. Young Stuart Beasley’s miserable batting form continued, after being bowled first ball by the slower one of Martin. Young Ross Lambert saw off the hat-trick. Rodney Yeatman then fell to young Pickford’s tidy line and length.
Here we were again, at an abysmal 17 for 5, a traditional albatross for Chetnole in the latter part of the season…the top order struggling to find form. Skipper Neil Spearing then strode out to the crease, his face set with determination, and his furrowed brow creased with annoyance. Young Ross Lambert, playing with a maturity of a thirty year old, well beyond his 14 and ¾ years, showed remarkable initial composure and determination. Neil Spearing faced with the usual collapse showed the gritty side to his character. Together these two batted for 8 overs and put on 55 useful runs.
Ross was superb for his 38 runs. He cut, he drove, he slapped, and he hooked. Shots appeared from everywhere. This young lad has a good future with the bat, and as number 5 for Chetnole, the ship was steadied. Well done young man, well played! Skipper N Spearing’s 19, was vital. Some mighty stroke play yet again, before he fell to canny JJ Green.
Chetnole fell to a respectable 102 all out, however we witnessed a wonderfully brief cameo from veteran Tony Woodroffe, who helped out young Ross valiantly. In his 10 not out, he struck one spectacular straight drive for 6, then violently pulled a muscle, came off retired hurt, but valiantly came out later with a runner, to help Ross put on another useful 10 runs. Bravery beyond the call of duty, for ‘Queen, country, and Chetnole!’ Well done that man. (Unfortunately Tony was unable to field however we have found a scorer whose hand writing is better than anyone else! Carry on Tony.) Kudos to young Ross, a good little knock.
A comment on Ilchester’s noble warriors. Wilf Martin, their medium pace seamer, bowled a superb spell straight through under wilting heat of 8 overs four for 16, cleaning up Chetnole’s top 4 batsman. A superb effort, and well done to young Pickford (nicknamed Flamingo by Chetnole, check the run up! Even his Mum laughed), who bowled a lively spell of 1 for 6 off 8 overs, and at times was quick. A note of thanks to Paul Chalmers who bowled like a gentleman to Ashmore junior, and figures of 1 for 2 off 4 overs, shows that Ilchester can bowl all the way down to 7 bowlers. (JJ, we did not forget your 2 for 24 off 6.1 overs! but I’m running out of space!).
Faced with a trickier prospect than last week, Ilchester decided to stick to their traditional batting order. Chetnole came out with all guns blazing. A superb fiery spell by young Beasley who bowled four overs of pace, line and length and aggression for 3 runs and a vital wicket. Stan Kemp struggled initially before finding his line and length, and then his bowling became mesmeric! With both openers gone, Ilch were struggling at 23 for 2, with Paul Chalmers (coughed cries of Judas were heard? followed by old wounds never heal?) trying to steady the ship. JJ and Tyler soon went to a superb spell by Kemp, and all of a sudden Ilchester were at 23 for 4! Chetnole were bubbling, the fielding was tight, and Rodney Yeatman was in inspired fielding and catching form. Not only did he stop 3 certain boundaries with some brave fielding, but also he took a superb catch to get rid of the dangerous JJ Green early. Well-played Rodney!
However Paul Chalmers was calmness personified. Picking out the bad balls (which he hammered), and respecting the straight ones, he and D Marten added a calm and serene 23 runs, guiding Ilch to certain safety, or so it seemed.
However Skipper Neil had other ideas, and he brought on Andrew Ashmore, either a) for a laugh or b) as a secret weapon. This has worked before; he broke up a partnership early on in the season at Ilchester, so there was ‘method in Neil’s madness’.
After a mixture of wides, leg side turners, and a couple of nifty off breaks, D Marten popped one up for young Luke Wills to take a fine catch in the covers. Well done Skipper, your plan worked again! Alas that was it, Paul Chalmers put his foot down, and tore into Chetnole. Nine off Neil Spearing in one over, 8 off young Ross, 7 off young Beasley, then hammering Ashmore (buffet bowling?) for four four’s before carrying his bat for a superbly crafted 48. The epitome of calmness personified, and a gentleman throughout his knock.
A note of Neil Spearing’s performance, yet again. His figures belied the truth of the matter. His 0-20 off 7.3 was as quick as we have seen this year, and he bowled with speed and fine aggression. Again Neil was unlucky. Young Beasley bowled a sensational 2 spells and had figures of 1 for 13 off his 8. But yet again, Stan Kemp, 3 for 15 off his 8 overs was the pick of the bowlers. His last five overs read 5 overs, 3 maidens, 3 for 10. What a spell of canny bowling. A note also for young Ross Lambert who bowled a very tidy spell of 6 overs for 19 runs. A lot pressure on the young man, who responded well on the day.
Ilchester were noble in their victory. Hard fought in the end, but a match played in the true spirit of the game. Some good umpiring, fair to both sides, made the game a better occasion. Fielding was good on both sides and ‘a laugh’ was had by all.
There were even some spectators at The Oval on Sunday, which was encouraging, who they were we don’t know, but hey, everyone’s welcome.
Chetnole’s season has ended, although there is a friendly next week at Thornford, a crucial local derby. Whilst they didn’t set the league alight, on their day Chetnole are as good as anyone, and have given everyone a close run for their money. If they have a full side, watch out this team is dangerous, with 5 or 6 good bowlers, 5 or 6 good batsmen, they are a match for anyone…on their day.
Roll on next season, and big congratulations to everyone at Ilchester cricket Club on your promotion, it was well deserved!