Southwick Wanderers Cricket Club

A game played in the right spirit.

Wanderers were outright winner in a game that was a little one sided but brought out some solid military medium from an unlikely source as he is normally riding a horse and rustling cattle.

Match Report – SWCC v Hammerwood, 15^th May (somewhere in the Sussex countryside)

SWCC Innings

A match of 35 overs per side, we batted first and ‘Woody’ Higgs and the skipper opened the innings, getting us off to a flyer with 30 runs off the first 5 overs. A couple of sumptuous (well, everything’s relative) drives through the covers by the in-form ‘Woody’ were a delight to behold, and we were on course for a very good total. Jamie was eventually well caught for a good 33, which brought Morgan to the wicket. The scoring rate, which had been more than respectable, accelerated even more, and positively raced along, reaching 65 before Anthony was yorked by Ali. Gwyllim came to the wicket, and I feared for the fielders as he started off where Anthony had left off. It wasn’t to last, though, as he was very well caught in the covers off a howitzer shell of a shot that the fielder tried in vain to get out of the way of. 80 – 3 and Tony Preston wandered out, vaguely swishing his fire-place assisted bat about as if he was warming up. Morgan then proceeded to put the hapless bowlers to the sword, the only respite coming when they were searching for the ball in the adjacent fields. When Morgan was eventually caught for a super 53, the score was in the 120s, with still 15 overs to go. Aaron in next but was out of sorts and departed for 1, clean bowled. Kim strode out, and there were audible groans from the few people who were watching at the prospect of a Preston/Aspindale partnership. How wrong can you be. The two amply proportioned seniors knurdled and glanced and kept the score moving until Tony was bowled for 24. Gemma kept Kim company for a little while before she too was bowled for 1. Enter Wanderers’ very own wind-farm, Mark Johnson. With a series of death-defying swishes (several of which ended up with him sitting on his back-side and the spell-bound crowd in stitches) and an enormous six, he rushed to 27 no and with the patient Kim on 13 no, tea was taken with Wanderers on 203 – 7.

Hammerwood Innings

The customary feast that is Hammerwood’s tea was served, and Luke, doubtless mindful that he would have to bowl served himself an enormous plate of goodies including bread pudding and scones and cream, plus half a dozen sandwiches, in an unseemly display of gluttony, then showed no inclination to take the field for Hammerwood’s innings as he could hardly move.

He eventually made it, however, and in tandem with Morgan (Jamie again behind the stumps), terrorised the Hammerwood batsmen. Morgan yorked James with a very fast delivery, then Luke weighed in with two wickets, both bowled; not to be outdone, back came Morgan to bowl the dangerous Ali for 1 to leave Hammerwood’s innings in tatters, at very few for 4. Jamie rang the changes and Gwillem came on for Luke and Kim for Morgan. Kim got some good turn and trapped Hillyer LBW, then Hammerwood rallied and a decent score could be envisaged with Berry and Morris both batting well. Mark Johnson then proved what he had always (even if no one else had) believed, that he is a genuine all rounder, and got both of them, one a super caught and bowled. Samuel P bowled tidily from the pavilion end for a couple of overs, and was treated respectfully, then the other all rounder of the day ‘Woody’ Higgs came on and after a shaky (a euphemism for wild and woolly) first over, settled into a good line and length, picking up two wickets in his 6.1 overs. Tony Preston was the last to bowl and tempted Gail, Hammerwood’s player of the fairer sex into a swipe, and she was caught by either Luke of Mark J. Harris finished on 30 no and Hammerwood’s innings closed on 157, a good recovery after their disastrous start.

As always, a good afternoon’s cricket at Hammerwood, and some exceptional all round performances from Anthony Higgs, Mark Johnson(5.9s from all watching), and Morgan.