Stoics v Ditchling –Tuesday 9th August 2011
Match Report
On the morning of Tuesday 9th August, Simon Bridgewater and Chris Grant started their long journey down through the battered streets of North London and other Stoics jumped in a minibus from Cranleigh hoping to blend into the riotous scenery of the south Surrey and Sussex countryside praying that they did not get stopped by police for causing all the havoc of the night before.
Upon arrival we quickly made the side up to 11 thanks to Will Collard from Ditching stepping up due to a last minute drop out of Ben Walter through illness. 10 pints were quickly poured and the captain called heads and won the toss electing to bat on what was a beautiful warm morning with the fluffy white clouds of smoke making there way slowly through the Sussex hills. The team settled into their deck chairs to enjoy a nice quiet morning of good cricket which was to last all of 10 seconds when Nolan hit the 2nd ball of the day straight down covers throat, chaos quickly ensued with Teale, Harms and Chapman all going quickly, only Cawood with 21 making any progress and Stoics found themselves at 42 for 5 with an hour and a half still to lunch and Leadsom bowling very well (3-23). The captain Gillett instructed Grant and Lowe to just bat till lunch which they did successfully adding 98 for the 6th wicket with Grant making 47 and Lowe 55. Bowers (20no) rallied the tail and upon the final wicket falling stoics had made 176 off 51 over of what proved to be a very slow hard wicket to bat on.
Ditchling then had a difficult period of 20 minutes before tea to encounter of which they successfully managed and found themselves 15 for 0 from 6. It was a different story straight after tea as Nolan (2-22), Teale (2-12) and Bridgewater (2-37) turned the screw and Ditchling found themselves 82 for 6 with only Savil (28) showing signs of resistance and being able to score freely. Ditchling’s lower order applied themselves and slowly chipped away at the score Leadsom (35no), McMinn (22) and Shillaker (23) edging them ever nearer the total Ditchling required 11 off the last over with 1 wicket remaining. Teale steeped up to the plate bowling very full and the over went for 9 leaving Ditchling 174 for 9, 2 runs short and Stoics one wicket short for victory.
An honourable draw with both sides enjoying the day, a big thank you to Ditchling for hosting the day and providing us with a great lunch and tea, Penelope for scoring and for everyone that played. We look forward to the fixture next year.
Brett Gillett
Match Manager (Stoics v Ditchling)