Southwick Wanderers Cricket Club

SWCC vs Hammerwood Away

Match report done by 'Papi' Preston. Star!

SWCC Innings

As has become the norm this season, the wind was at full speed, but we were unable to take advantage of the full potential for electricity generation as unfortunately the wind-farm that is Mark Johnson was not playing this time. However, as is normally the case at Hammerwood, it was an entertaining afternoon’s cricket, with Wanderers coming out comfortable winners in the end.

Not sure who won the toss, but Wanderers batted first, and ‘Erroll’ Noakes, fresh from building a tree-house for his brood in the garden, made his crease in the company of the be-tattooed Jamie. This is a happy hunting ground for Noaksey, and again it proved to be the case, although he approached his task with unusual circumspection.

Jamie, however, was not at all circumspect, and raced to 16 before being caught off the aptly named Ali.30-1 and ‘Papy’ Preston in next. ‘Papy’ Preston out next LBW for a paltry 3. Mark ‘Golden Arm’ in and out just as quickly, for 2, bowled by Ali. This brought Gwyllem to the crease, and he restored normal service with some brutal hits, racing to 50 in double-quick time, overtaking Dave N in the process. When Gwyllim was finally out for 79 the score had reached 190 and Darren was in. He, however, ‘did not trouble the scorer’, and made way for ‘Chuckles’, hoping to avoid the dreaded ‘pair’, which he did, but was unable to capitalise and was bowled for 9. Adrian Butcher, a new recruit, came in, and it was obvious immediately that he is a cricketer of some prowess, scoring several fours with good shots, getting to 30 before being well caught by the diminutive keeper with a good reaction catch. I should have mentioned that Taylor ‘DG’ had come in before Adrian and bashed his crease, only to bash himself in the mouth first ball by deflecting the ball upwards when attempting one of his subtle shots to leg, so he departed to make some repairs, then reappearing when Adrian was out. He tried to repeat his first ‘hit’, but this time only succeeded in scoring a four, somehow piercing the heavily-populated leg-side field. Noaksey was finally out for an excellent 63, and Dave F appeared, and played out till tea with ‘DG’, for a total of 235-8. 

Hammerwood Innings

After the customary feast that is Hammerwood’s tea, we took the field, and this time, their openers started the innings scoring freely, moving quickly to 30 ish before ‘Golden Arm’ took a good catch off ‘DG’ to dismiss Hillyer. Cue Hammerwood’s MoM Ali, who is anything but boring. He put bat to ball, and scored freely with Boxall, who was eventually caught by Jamie behind the stumps off Dave F. Hammerwood’s skipper Page came in, but could not build a decent innings, being fortunate to survive a caught behind appeal, only to be bowled by Gwillem a few balls later. Yeah!! Page D in now, but he departed for 4, well pouched by ‘Erroll’ at deep mid-wicket off Darren. Morris joined Ali, and the score raced along at about 8 an over for a while. We were not in great danger of losing, but regularly went for a stroll in the adjacent fields, and it was somewhat of a relief when Morris was well stumped by Jamie off an even more relieved Adrian who had been ‘put to the sword’ by the two batsmen. Then Ali was deceived by Gwillem and departed, bowled, for a good 72. Still they didn’t give up, so Jamie played his trump card and brought on ‘Golden Arm’ and ‘Papy’ Preston. Mark has tended to get a wicket in his first over, and didn’t disappoint, bowling Mark, then in his next over, bowling Jimmy. At the other end ‘Papy’ bowled his first ball down the tramlines, and Gail left it, only to see it rip back (I’m writing it so that’s how it was, ok), and shave the off stump. Normal service was then resumed and 9 came off the over.