Southwick Wanderers Cricket Club

Hammerwood vs SWCC 30th May

Jamie wins the toss and chooses to bat on what turned out to be a rather warm day with a strong wind.

Noakes and Bird stride out to face bowlers on a wicket that had been cut a little wonky. Dave started strong making the now standard attacking strokes. John finding it hard to get the ball away and finally falling to a mistimed off drive bringing the ultimate nurdler to the crease in the shape of Tony Preston. After a few more overs of Dave taking a liking to the bowling he is eventually caught on 27 leaving Tony at the crease to deal with batting along side Jamie. Tony gives in and takes the supporting role to Jamie as he too takes advantage of some indifferent bowing but also some very tight stuff from the ex Ashdown Forest bowler.

After a long hop too many Jamie mistimed (become quite common that) a pull shot to the only player for Hammewood that doesn't play cricket and he is gone for 28. Kim comes to the crease to join Tony who after some cracking drives moves onto 27 but is also caught out after being frustrated but a lack of "quick" singles that should have got things moving a little more. With Kim on 18 Darren comes in with instructions to 'have a go' and push the score on in the last few overs. Darren with only a couple of blows Darren top edges one into orbit and was taken. Jason comes to the crease with the same instructions he was bowled for one and with 2 balls left Woody went in but missed both balls. 148 after 35 overs a good target on an unpredictable wicket.

With tea out the way Jamie chooses Luke and Taylor to open the bowling Hammerwood start with the youth policy but despite his good knock a fortnight before Robin top edges one to Taylor who at the 50th times of asking eventually takes the catch off Lukes bowling. With youth and exuberance going against them2,3 and 4 all fall in quick time Dan getting caught off Luke to Kim, Ali edging Taylor to Tony and Sean bowled by Luke also. This brings 'not so chatty man' to the crease followed by Rosie who also falls to Luke for a duck. Bob and Stuart, the stronger bats, start to hit the bowlers to all areas until Bob pulled his hammy and can barely move let alone hit the ball. Luke eventually takes Stuart's stumps for his 5for and in his next over he takes his 6th and calls it a day with the ball. In the mean time Taylor is replaced with Darren who instead of steaming in, bowls some quick leg spin and pins the batters down. Jamie takes over from Luke with a real Heinz variety of balls. He takes a caught and bowled, makes Michael spoon one into Noakes' welcome hands and bowls the number 11 all for ducks.

A good game again played in the right way against a very nice team.

FoW 33 Bird-1: 50 Noakes-27: 87 Hyde-28: 131 T Preston-27: 142 Radford-8: 148 Thackeray-1