Highest score of the season needed to beat The Deverills

Henry Comyn reports:

We welcomed Deverills CC to Fonthill for their first match at the park yesterday. After discussion with their captain, we agreed to bat first as he felt they were a bit light in batting and was worried they wouldn’t make a game of it. At several points during the game, I wondered if this had been some excellent tactical manoeuvring on his part!

Finn and John “Boycott” Grinstead opened the batting - with Finn being undone with a jaffa first ball, and the park was 0/1. Coming in at three, John and I steadied the ship, and thanks to a terrific wicket and quick outfield, the runs started to flow. We put on 136 runs for the second wicket - after which I holed out in the deep departing for 86. We were on for a large total, and Simon Prior continued the scoring, ably supported by the steadfast John Grinstead, who was fast approaching his century…in balls faced in the innings. In the final few overs with the park looking to accelerate Simon was bowled in the last over, leaving Dan Brickell (who had been in his pads for most of the match) in for a short three ball cameo. We finished our innings on 211/4 - with John carrying his bat on 59*.

Having posted the highest total of the season so far we were feeling fairly confident heading out to bowl - with Dan and Finn opening with a tight spell. Tim Mockridge entered the attack with immediate impact - dismissing their left handed opener who edged through to the keeper just as he was looking set. In his very next over he bowled their no. 3 with a screamer - moving up the slope to hit the top of middle. At 41-2 we were in the game. However, over the next 10 overs, Deverills struck back; they ran very well between the wickets, and boundaries started to flow - John Grinstead eventually found the vital wicket with a stunning caught and bowled. After this point their no 4. decided to press the attack and for the first time they were ahead of the required rate - and we were under some pressure. Dan returned to the attack from the far end and the change resulted in a wicket - with a looping edge through to the keeper, but the dangerous No. 4 was still in. The very next over, thanks to some tight fielding from Finn, resulted in their captain being run out going for a quick single. With three overs remaining, they required 30 runs - game on.

Deciding he had to go for it - their No 4. launched Tim down the ground - the ball soared high into the sky - Ash fielding at long off had no idea where it had gone - until suddenly he spotted it and with a dive forward took a stunning catch in the deep in front of the pavilion - with daughter Molly exclaiming in the crowd “Dad I’ve never seen you do anything like that before!!” - and sealing the win for FPCC. Deverills CC ended on 188/8 off 35.

It was a great game, and thanks to all those involved - it was a real team effort to get us across the line at what was a closer game than the scores suggest. Man of the Match John Grinstead for carrying his bat and picking up 3 wickets as well - champagne moment for Ash’s remarkable catch to win the game. Huge thanks to all those who helped behind the bar - Bexi in particular - and for Mark for preparing an excellent wicket and ground, something the opposition commented on many times at the end of the game.