Southwick Wanderers Cricket Club

Sunday 17th August 2008

Southwick Triumphant in Beefy swansong

This fixture played host to an emotional farewell to the Ballam’s as they embark into a new and exciting life in sunny Scotland. Paul gave way to captaining the side to allow Beefy to have his day. And have his day, he did……………..

As was customary when he was captaining two seasons ago, Beefy duly lost the toss and the visitors put themselves in to bat. The Wanderers’ openers Jamie and Paul were well and truly winning the early exchanges, as the Chailey openers scratched around for scraps to feed on.
They were given very little which led to some very desperate calling and running between the wickets.

Crouch should have gone for 0 half way down the track when Marco fired one in over the stumps for John to unusually spill the chance. It was the following over though that saw the pressure tell as Crouch ambling again was caught well out of his ground from a Jez and John run out combo. He left with 0 to his name. Packham came in next for the visitors only to be adjudged (in the end) plumb LBW from Paul’s excellent bowling.
Shurham was walking back to the pavilion several balls later after being run out with a contribution of 4.

Meanwhile Anni the opener was nicking the ball around for one’s and two’s but never really looking comfortable. The change pair bowling of James Ayton and Dave Field proved to be the killer move as the pair snaffled 5 wickets between them in a 10 over spell.

James picked up his first 2 wickets in quick succession and in a similar fashion bowling both Jacob and Eric for 0 and 2 respectively. Dave too was in on the act as he accounted for Kurt 0, wonderfully caught by Simeon at short cover, inevitably ending up on his backside, and then a very well judged running catch by the main man Beefy at deep mid-off saw off Luke for 11 just as he was threatening to take the attack to us. Anni departed soon after on 26, their last remaining hope for a reasonable total. He was pouched by Jamie from James Ayton’s bowling leaving him the pick of the Wanderers’ bowlers with figures of 5 – 0 – 11 – 3.

Into the tail now and enter Marco Lincoln who substituted Luke earlier in the day after injuring himself. Immediately into his line and length, the Chailey batsmen were clearly surprised by his accuracy and offered him due respect. Not for long though, as his nagging length lured Gabrid forward for an ungainly swipe and miss leaving John the easy task of removing the bails.  The ensuing celebrations reflected everyone’s delight for young Marco. Not content with that, he continued his accurate bowling with growing confidence and saw off Goopy LBW with a tremendous shout leaving the umpire with no choice. Marco swept up the tail then with magnificent figures of 1.5 – 0 – 2 – 2. Not bad for 10.

So Chailey finished on a flimsy 55 runs all out due to the excellent bowling and fielding performance by the Wanderers. Everyone played their part, but the star performance had to go to young Marco who was deservedly clapped in by everyone there. A magic moment.

The stage very much set then for the Wanderers’ openers Lewis and Ballam to knock off the runs. Beefy wasted no time at all as he clubbed and bludgeoned his way forward with Simeon at the other end playing the perfect supporting role nicking himself 1’s and 2’s. It was to be an emphatic victory for the Wanderers once more as the pair ticked over the runs with little bother. Beefy finishing on a season’s best 39 not out and Simeon remaining unbeaten on 14.

A great day for Beefy in his last official game for the Wanderers.

A presentation, a speech, a few beers and another serious game of cricket with the SWCC juniors where Marco once more showed the way.

Nice one the Wanderers.