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Great Waltham Cricket Club

Scorecard

Basildon & Pitsea CC v Great Waltham Cricket Club 1st XI on Sat 01 May 2021 at 1pm
Great Waltham Cricket Club Won by 1 wicket

Match report “The season is alive because of one cricketer, and that cricketer is Joseph Reed” (excuse the hyperbole but it was a truly special innings).

Firstly, please accept my apologies for the tardiness of this report; its exam season and I am trying to not fail my Masters. Also forgive me if this thesis is littered with academic prose.

For those of you who were not lucky enough to witness this extraordinary game, the scorecard reads that Waltham won by a solitary wicket. This does not depict the fear, the nerve, the resultant jubilation as James Taylor stroked the winning run to secure Waltham their first league victory: Imagine Headingly 2019 multiplied by The Great Escape; only if Ben Stokes spent nights out in Winchester not Bristol, had suspiciously white teeth, only ate falafel and only ever talked about Strength and Conditioning. I needed to get that out of my system as the second half of this report is basically a eulogy to Joe.

Competitive cricket is back. The cricket badgers among us (@Matty Reed) have counted down the days since at least February for a return to league cricket following a pandemic ravaged season. Pre-season training and performances in friendly fixtures have shown glimpses of our exciting 1st XI, steeped in batting and bowling depth. The pre-season transfer market yielded success for Waltham, with the acquisition of Alex Warren, known colloquially across Mid-Essex and now parts of north-east London as Wazza. If you don’t see him on the scoreboard below its because he has changed his name on the website to Cal The Dragon (don’t worry I’m just as confused and concerned as you are). Wazza is an experienced, diverse cricketer who on many occasions has terrorised our bowling attack (see Tillingham v GWCC 2018). He is also one of Simon Richardson’s bezzie mates from school. Ooh Hockley friends (Cartwright, 2009).

The 2021 league season began with a medium-length jaunt (relative to our remaining jaunts in this league) down the A130 to Division One newcomers Basildon & Pitsea. For us country-folk it was an intimidating affair, playing amongst high-rise buildings and infrastructure. Upon arrival, I looked in admiration as our counterparts took part in regimented fielding drills. I had hoped that the new look Waltham players, freshly adorned in Adidas teamwear, would have arrived eagerly and early to the game, ready for some pre-match drills, a team jog and isometric stretching led by Joe perhaps; my anticipation subsided when Sam emerged from his Clio (R.I.P) in his staple grey double-denim and Duggers turned up just before the start of the game at 12:45. I managed to win the toss (1 from 1) and elected to bowl first on what appeared to be a green, hard (?) seamer. The umpire chuckled that this was an obvious decision.

Rhys and Ollie looked threatening in their opening spells, reducing Basildon to 11-2 from the first 5 overs. A smart one-handed pouch from Wazza in the gully saw the opposition 3 down, with rebuilding required to avoid further collapse. We watched in bemusement as the Basildon top four played rash shots, almost throwing their wickets away. Leonard (29) offered some resistance, punishing any stray balls on his pads. Rhys, who has sprouted at least another foot over winter, bowled with real pace, constantly challenging the outside edge, returning figures of 2-18 from his 6 overs. His dangerous opening spell was cut short due to an injury; from an ex-quick bowler who is also over 6-foot, shin splints are not fun. The captain came on and bowled some boringly economic off-breaks (1-15-8), managing to dismiss current international player Leonard (more on him later) leg before. At the other end Ollie was finding the winning formula, swinging, and nipping the ball to rip through the Basildon middle order. After 15 overs the opposition found themselves 59-5. At this point, we thought the Canvey reversal was on the cards.

Poole (30) showed some fight, although to Ollie’s frustration most of his runs came from edges over the slip cordon. After another flurry of wickets Basildon were 94-7 in the 20th over; Ollie had 4 scalps and only one ball remaining in his 10 over spell. A characteristically accurate swinging delivery outside of the off-stump and an even more characteristically loose drive from the batsman, induced a thick edge straight into the welcoming hands of Gary Bloom, taking a difficult low catch at first slip. Cue scenes. Ollie returned figures of 5 for 66 from his 10 over allocation, not bad for the first game of the season. The next 14.2 overs were frustrating as we struggled to remove the Basildon tail-end, who’s final two partnerships added 33 more runs to the total. I didn’t think we bowled badly during this spell, just maybe our intent as a unit dropped, a curse which has plagued Waltham for millennia. James (1-13-6) bowled some tight lines and Joe (1-9-3) was fired up as we bowled Basildon out for 127. Shout out to the inexperienced yet genetically gifted Dan Bloom for keeping exceptionally on a low, slow wicket, taking a smart catch standing up to JT and not letting a single bye through.

During our self-catered tea break, Wazza lamented that 128 would be an awkward chase on that wicket; although none of us were prepared for the onslaught that was about to occur.

Following their successful efforts the previous year, father-and-son Bloom opened the innings. Gary departed early in the third over, snaffled well down the leg-side by the Basildon keeper off the opening left-arm quick. Dan (10) looked assured and confident on the tricky wicket, stroking cover drives and cut shots but unfortunately straight to well-placed fielders. He and Sam saw off the new ball bowlers with relative ease and Waltham found themselves 30-1 after 7 overs, helped in part by some wayward bowling and extras.

Our good start prompted the change bowlers, Leonard (5-13-10) and Bedford (3-44-10) to be brought into the attack. Before we descend into the collapse of catastrophic proportions which was the next 45 minutes of play, it is worth noting that Yannick Leonard, Basildon & Pitsea’s left arm orthodox bowler, also plays first-class international cricket for his home Island in the Caribbean. Thanks for the scouting report Duggers. I don’t think it is too early to predict that he will be one of the better players in our league this year, bat and ball.

For the next 8 overs we cascaded from 31-1 to 33-8. 7 wickets, for 2 runs, in 8 overs. I’m not sure I have witnessed a collapse like that, with that strong of a batting line up, in all my years playing cricket. It is true that Dan, Sam and Wazza were at the receiving end of some honking umpiring decisions but there was some bad decision and stroke making in that collapse. Leonard showed his class, giving nothing away and mixing his pace expertly.

Enter Joe Reed, batting at number ten. 33-8. 95 runs adrift of our required total. Joe joined me at the crease and greeted me with stern intent. I think his exact comment to me was: “We can do this boy. Also, did you know that I can deadlift 175kg and I coach future Olympians.”

I proceeded to take the attack to the Basildon bowlers, even entering a verbal confrontation with the 6-foot-7 pace bowler Bedford. I told the boys that I did this to try and fire myself and Joe up, but really, I was just frustrated at the situation we found ourselves in, staring down both barrels. Sorry Deano. Joe politely reminded the paceman that he bowled “50mph lollipops.” I, or Ye of Little Faith, was intentionally farming the strike and got out attempting to Push The Tempo, gifting Leonard his well-deserved fifth wicket.

The score was 53-9. We required 75 runs to win the game. Joe had one partner remaining when he remembered what James had told him days earlier: "Look to my coming on the first light of the fifth day, at dawn look to the east." The hopes of a nation solely rested on Joe Reed and Waltham’s stalwart number 11, James Taylor.

For the next couple of overs, we watched on helplessly as James and Joe blocked out the first-class spinner from one end and the lollipops from the other. A couple of boundaries from Joe kept us interested, but during this phase the two showed great grit and application, getting themselves in to mount their assault. After a couple of quiet, low-risk overs, Joe decided to target Bedford, hitting him out of the ground twice with glorious straight drives. On the side-lines, Joe’s big hitting (Wickham, 2010), got us excited and from our reactions Mopsies Park briefly turned into Basildon Square Gardens.

87-9. 41 required. The Basildon skipper turned to their loopy off spinner to try and halt the onslaught from Joe. This type of bowler would normally spell doom for Joe, but not today. 14 runs from the over, including a one-bounce four and a towering six into the road. 27 required. At this stage, doubt turned to hope, and murmurings of a victory were hatched; apart from Catherine, Joe’s mother, who kept reminding us that he would get out sooner or later. Superstitions started to brew, with players refusing to move from their seats during overs.

Basildon’s opening bowler, Thompson, returned to try and unsettle James but could only muster five wide deliveries. 22 required. Basildon skipper Bedford, the left-arm quick, brought himself back on and bowled a tight set, with Joe taking a single off the first ball and entrusting James with the rest of the over. Just as Jack Leach at Headingly, James’ part in this partnership should never be understated. His 4 runs from 28 deliveries included 17 consecutive dot balls and his innings was arguably just as important as Joes.

21 required. Joe greeted the new Basildon bowler with disdain as he crashed consecutive boundaries. 10 from the over, 11 required. Meanwhile, on the side-line superstition had turned to madness; Gary unmoving next to his lucky concrete slab, players sprinting back from updating the scoreboard to ensure they were back in their assigned seats before the start of the over, Catherine staying unwaveringly negative about our chances in the game. I think we even turned down Catherine’s request to live-stream the game to our fans back in Waltham as we thought it would unsettle Joe and James. Apologies that the finish wasn’t recorded. It did actually happen.

With only 11 required, Bedford was instructed by a Basildon supporter to deploy a body-line tactic to James. For those that don’t know James that well, after years of being in a set at school with Ollie and Tucker, he loves pain, he even thrives off pain. This tactic did not work and will never work on James. JT managed to get off strike leaving Joe to hit yet another boundary and a couple of runs. 7 from the over. 4 required.

The penultimate over yielded two runs, including a wide and four dot balls faced by James. 2 required. Joe told me after the game that there was a conversation in the middle to secure the draw, but I think we were all expecting him to go for the glory. Joe dropped the ball in the inner ring and scampered through for a single, ensuring that Waltham would get something from the game and leaving James the responsibility of securing the unimaginable victory. A flayed cut (edge) through the vacant third man region saw Waltham complete the most absurd run chase in cricket. Joe, carried off the pitch raising his bat aloft for his 57 not out from 48 balls, was the hero in a game where 75 runs were required for the final wicket. Outstanding effort.

After the dust settled and many Moretti’s’ were consumed (I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a bloke get a jug in for a 4* but I’m all for it), we reflected and reminisced on past 1st XI victories from unwinnable situations. The two that instantly came to mind were Dan’s unbelievable 101* in the Waltham derby in 2016, and bowling Stock out for 68 to defend 81 in 2014. Personally, the efforts from Joe and James, to chase down that total, is my favourite moment in cricket ever. I think it may have only just sunk in that we managed to win that game.

I was going to give out some awards and muse over the game, but this has turned into quite a lengthy thesis and reliving that game 10 days later has left me exhausted.

Due to the aforementioned exam season, the Match Report next week will be brought to you by Ian Smith from the Cayman Islands.

“What a way to spend a day” (Swan, 2018).

Basildon & Pitsea CC Batting

Player name		Runs
extras TOTAL :	8w 4lb for 10 wickets	12 127 (34.2 overs)
David Bonnett	b Rhys Chapman	0
Rob Davies	b Ollie Fitzwater	3
Steve Ayres	ct Alex Warren b Rhys Chapman	5
Phillip Tooke	b Ollie Fitzwater	8
Yannick Leonard	lbw Josh Fitzwater	29
Jonathan Bonnett	b Ollie Fitzwater	7
Tom Poole	ct Gary Bloom b Ollie Fitzwater	30
Dean Bedford	lbw Ollie Fitzwater	5
Harrison Birch	b Joe Reed	18
Craig Thompson	ct Dan Bloom Bowled James Taylor	7
Dan Bedford	Not Out	3