WILTSHIRE 70+ “A”  v OXFORDSHIRE 70+ 

 

5 June 2023

 

         The market town of Wallingford has witnessed many important events in the history of our island. Kings, from the villainous John to the arch-thug Henry VIII have imprisoned, tortured and murdered their enemies in its castle while Parliamentary and Royalist troops have marched and counter-marched alongside the tranquil River Thames. The town and adjoining village of Crowmarsh Gifford to the south of the imposing Wallingford Bridge are, then, no strangers to the frisson of high drama. Yet its burghers and citizens could hardly have anticipated the nerve tingling theatre which was to unfold on the fifth of June in the first year of the reign of King Charles III.

         On that day, as the eternal Thames flowed quietly by and the red kites sought the thermals under a cloudless sky, a titanic struggle would take place when the finest of Oxfordshire's veteran cricketers would compete for glory against the grizzled denizens of Wiltshire. As the players assembled at Kidmore End cricket ground few could have predicted a match which would produce so close a result.

          On a dry and cracked wicket and somewhat irregular outfield John Williams' side took to the greensward and by the fifteenth over the Oxford men had mustered 55 runs by the time the ever-dependable Williams (8-4-19-3) had bowled their opening batsman. Batsman number three was sharply caught by Martin Bennett off a swinging delivery from Trevor Carlton (8-1-31-1). Shortly afterwards the second opener fell to the wily David Gibson (6-0-30-1) to be followed in quick time by  the unfortunate C Ricks who once again succumbed to the pinpoint accuracy of the worthy captain. Williams was eventually to strike again when he bowled Hutchence towards the end of the innings. The passage of the years has done little to dull the cat-like reactions of our captain. In the 36th over when Oxfordshire had reached 188-4 he swooped kestrel-like to intercept a return drive off his own bowling and in so doing deflected the ball on to the stumps thereby to run out Oxfordshire's H Lancaster for a bludgeoned 87 runs. Leaving aside the excellent bowling of Arthur Hunt (8-0-32-2), the efforts of Wiltshire's remaining bowlers were to little avail with Tony Sully and debutante Robert Eustace returning figures of 4-0-26-0 and 4-0-31-0 respectively. Your correspondent bowled two overs which are best forgotten, although it has to be said that the unerring tendency of Wiltshire fielders to airily convert singles into boundaries did little to further his cause or, for that matter, that of Messers Sully and Eustace. Overall there was a sort of end of term lacklustre quality to our fielding. Yet an exception should be made in the case of Rob Eustace who, returning to the summer game after a break of ten years, fielded splendidly and, we hope, will play regularly in the months ahead.

           At the close of the innings Oxfordshire had accumulated 194 runs for the loss of eight wickets and on the face of it Wiltshire had a steepish hill to climb.

           As tea was taken our captain wrestled with the thorny issue of the batting order which required a degree of complementarity between pairs of batsmen to secure the necessary five runs per over while retaining an element of steadiness. Eventually, like leaders of the Tory party some years ago, an order evolved, wherein Keith Redding was accompanied by Tony Sully at the head of the innings. Meanwhile Williams himself, wearied by mental strain and the chills of the north-east wind, retired to his car to view the unfolding drama. Others watched keenly while concurrently listening to homespun nutritional advice being delivered by the inimitable 'Demon' David Gibson.

          Those of us who have played with Keith Redding for some years have come to rely on his watchful and common-sense batting and on this occasion were not to be disappointed. His partner Tony Sully, having despatched his first ball imperiously to the boundary dragged his fourth ball onto the stumps and retired to the pavilion with 4 runs to his name. Perhaps it is of little consolation to him but he might care to note that along with your correspondent he returned a strike rate of one hundred! Mid-way through the second over, when the score stood at 7-1, Michael Harrald emerged from the pavilion. He remained at the crease until the ninth over when, having delivered several lusty blows to gather 14 runs he was adjudged lbw so vacating his place to the imposing and swashbuckling figure of Martin Stratford. Stratford's arrival had been much anticipated by his many admirers and it was fondly imagined that he might, in short order, put the opposition to the sword. This, indeed, may well have happened had he managed to negotiate his first ball which, to his discomfiture, smashed into his middle stump. At 27-3 in the eleventh over the situation did little to encourage Wiltshire optimism. The arrival of Martin Bennett at the crease offered some reason for hope although several wondered whether his recent bout of bronchitis would dull the edge of his natural dash and agility. But like his fellow denizen of Aldbourne, the redoubtable John Sanders, Bennett is a man of mettle and he and Redding accumulated runs at such a pace that the Oxfordshire players began increasingly to look worried. In a stand of more than 150 (which included only fifteen fours) they skipped, scampered and plundered runs as to the manner born thereby imposing severe pressure on the fielding side. The removal of the opening bowlers from the attack offered ample scope for run scoring and both batsmen took full advantage and several memorable shots were effected. Besides Redding's elegant cuts and drives, a remarkably audacious scoop over the non-existent slips by Bennett remains enshrined in the memory. The Redding-Bennett partnership is akin to the proverbial marriage made in heaven, with both men having the speed, skill and sense of anticipation to gather quick runs under pressure. When the score stood at 183-4 half way through the 36th over Redding departed with 79 well-made runs to his name. Tension was mounting and finger nails were being gnawed as the Demon of Trowbridge trudged to the square. Surely, he and the sturdy Bennett would carry us successfully to the close to effect a famous victory. A good deal of dash and scurry followed when, with the match tied at 194, Gibson (4) was bowled mid-way through the last over. With three balls remaining and the opening bowlers in a state of high excitement the confident Richard Moore-Colyer strode to the crease, the hopes of Wiltshire resting upon his shoulders. As one might have expected the Oxfordshire fielders surrounded the bat while their captain ramped up the tension by holding a lengthy conversation with his 'quick' opening bowler. Bennett (71 no) watched anxiously from the bowler's end as Moore-Colyer took guard and cast his eye loftily over the encroaching field. He crouched over his bat and waited. In seconds the game was over as he deftly and nervelessly turned the ball between the two close mid wicket fielders and, declining the second run on offer, jogged the single required for Wiltshire to take the day in a five wicket victory.

     Those among us who have been leaders of men will understand the importance of coolness in the face of adversity. In both the undefeated Wiltshire A matches so far this season, cool heads and a disciplined approach have been important. Long may it continue.

      Our colleague Cyril Yorke, to whom we send our best wishes for a speedy recovery from his infirmities, will doubtless be proud of our efforts.