Scorecard

Great Waltham Cricket Club 2nd XI v Sandon Sports on Sat 03 May 2014 at 1.30 p.m.
Great Waltham Cricket Club Won By 113 runs.

Match report A fairy tale start to a season that will undoubtedly have plenty of twists and turns along the way.

'One swallow doesn't make a summer' and one win means very little at this early stage. That said, it was the manner in which the victory was achieved - far more than the margin - that gives the most encouragement for the next 17 games. This season has been earmarked as one for progression, development and enjoyment for all involved, as our burgeoning Youth set-up are encouraged to play with confidence and belief. With such a young XI, defeats are inevitable but provided we're competitive and work hard hopefully our performance this Saturday will prove to be more than just a one-off.

Asked to bat first, our new-look opening pair of Matty Reed & Neil Robinson put on 92 for the 1st wicket with the former batting sensibly and maturely and the latter at his belligerent best with a boundary-laden 59. A flurry of wickets saw us quickly subside to 96-3 and we were indebted to Slippery and Phil using their combined experience to steady the ship and steer us towards a score of 200+. The pair of them made batting look effortless. At 229-5, I was pretty darn chuffed.

The passage of play after tea was one of the most enjoyable I can recall in all my time as a player & captain. Sam and Pete opened up and were largely unplayable. With a deadly combination of pace, seam and swing, Sam has improved beyond all measure in recent seasons. Equally, with the welcome return of Pete to our ranks, our bowling attack offers more than just hope for the season ahead. And this bring me nicely to my 'change' bowlers...

Both Lewis and Joe looked bemused when told to warm-up: 'Boys, you're not hear to make up the numbers, you're here to bowl'. Lewis settled in to a wonderful rhythm and looked so assured and unfazed as he picked up two priceless wickets. The second of which got rid of the batsman who had - just an over before - smashed him into Langleys for a towering 6. Matty taking a sharp catch (stood up) behind the stumps. And then we had Joe Reed. On full league debut. After apologizing for a No-Ball with his first delivery, Joe bowled with an unerring accuracy - a nagging off-stump line and length - and richly deserved his 3 wicket haul.

Finally, to the disciplined bowling of Josh DeAth. Spin bowling is a difficult art to master but if he persists and works at it, he could take more than his fair share of wickets this season. Flight, guile and drift are all apparent in varying degrees. Developing a 'stock' delivery is his biggest challenge. He thoroughly deserved his two wickets.

To all the bowlers - Well done. Savour the moment but don't get carried away. Reflect on what went right and what didn't. As I've said to a few young players down the years, days like that can sometimes be few and far between. Enjoy it but keep working hard and they'll be more in store.

Sandon Sports CC were a shadow of the side from years gone by. To think that only a few years ago, our 1st XI were being routinely beaten by them shows how far they've fallen. They had age & experience on their side. We had youth & enthusiasm. And a good young 'un will always beat an old bad 'un every day of the week.

Our victory was testament to our Colts Section. To those who were there at the inception, through to those that continue to give countless hours throughout the summer - I can't thank you enough for safeguarding the future of the club. On Saturday 12-13 players who are current or former products of our Colts set-up represented our 2 Senior sides. Whilst it remains, our future is bright.

On a personal level, it was nice for my Dad to sit back and enjoy the 'fruits of his labour' from the last few years. Sadly, I think he takes more pride in them than he does me...

One of my favourite films is 'Coach Carter', with Samuel L. Jackson giving a classy performance as the erstwhile Ken Carter, a High School basketball coach guiding a team of young, indisciplined hopefuls to the State finals.

'Whatever happens, I guess we'll have new leading scorers this season' is his response when told that his team is too young and not good enough. I couldn't agree more. Even if we lose the next 17 games, in years to come we might look back at this victory as the start of the next gold generation.

Just the day before, the Club paid their respects to a wonderful servant of Great Waltham Cricket Club.

Ollie - I'm dedicating that victory to you.

Skip

Ps. Thanks to Ollie Fitz, Josh Fitz & Lewis (and Nindi) for suffering the slings and arrows of (good natured) abuse by coming up the ground after their defeat at Canvey. You don't realise just how much our young lads look up to you... even after a thumping like that. Chin up. Move on. The early part of the season will be a struggle for both sides... stick together.

Great Waltham Cricket Club 2nd XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
9nb 16w 7b 1lb 
for 5 wickets
33
229		        
Matty Reed b Pearce 19 3 1
Neil Robinson ct G Collins Bowled Mills 59 12
Neil Harman lbw Chapman 36 4
Lewis Chapman ct Pearce Bowled Mills 0
Phil Whettell Not Out  55 7 1 2
Tommy Clampett b Chapman 3
Simon Richardson Not Out  24 1 1
Sam Harman  
Joshua De'ath   1
Joe Reed   1
Pete Collins  

Sandon Sports Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Mills12.0343221.503.58
Cooper9.014800.005.33
Bird10.016400.006.40
Pearce8.0031131.003.87
'Sergio'2.001600.008.00
Chapman4.001829.004.50

Sandon Sports Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
4nb 6w 3b 2lb 
for 10 wickets
15
116 (34.0 overs)		     
Fletcher b Collins 5
Carter b Sam Harman 0
Begent b Sam Harman 0
Chapman ct M Reed Bowled Chapman 31
Bird b Chapman 9
S Collins ct & Bowled DeAth 36
Pearce ct Richardson Bowled J Reed 6
Mills ct Whettell Bowled J Reed 1
'Sergio' ct & Bowled J Reed 0
Cooper ct Whettell Bowled DeAth 1
G Collins Not Out  11

Great Waltham Cricket Club 2nd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Sam Harman8.031427.001.75
Pete Collins8.0035135.004.38
Lewis Chapman5.001728.503.40
Joe Reed6.011234.002.00
Joshua De'ath7.0033216.504.71

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