The 2026 league season started with a visit to Hunton. They were a nice bunch with an age range even longer than ours.
The wicket had been cut very short, unlike some of the rest of the pitch.
With the track on the edge of the square, it meant one boundary was short. The car park looked in danger.
Availability had been excellent this week, meaning we had to leave out some good and loyal cricketers. 5 sides in a weekend though is impressive, and we hope to do it more frequently.
Skinner lost the toss and we were asked to field. It was rather warm.
Damps opened up and was soon in the wickets. The first was a good catch by Horrocks in the slips. The next two, clean bowled
Slevin started slowly from the other end. As soon as his very attractive girlfriend arrived though, he got some metaphorical lead in his pencil and started swinging the ball at pace. He found the edge of one batsman and Skinner took a good low catch. Unfortunately neither the batter nor umpire claimed to be able to hear the edge.
Hunton were gradually scoring some runs. The left hander had started using his feet well. He seemed bamboozled by our keeper suddenly standing up to the stumps. Slevin bowled a beautiful length and got his deserved wicket. 7-0-32-1
Palipane replaced him and bowled some beauties.
He got his wicket with a good clean bowled. 6-2-30-1
The football on the adjoining pitch was a little distracting. It was a slight concern how many of our fielders saw the red card incident when one goalkeeper apparently conceded a goal and immediately swung a haymaker. Entertaining stuff but our game was going on at the same time.
Damps was starting to blow a bit but a fourth wicket meant he was keen to try and get a 5-for. No such luck but excellent figures of 9-0-4-32.
We put down three chances, the one in the slips not helped by some distraction from our keeper.
Many other chances just didn’t go to hand. Having been very confident at drinks, we did perhaps switch off in the second half of the innings.
Nathan Salter replaced Damps and bowled 5 good overs. 5-0-31-1
Pace off was the next and obvious choice and we had lots of options. Latter volunteered for the end with the short leg boundary.
Norton, who seems to grow an inch every week, almost took a great catch on the rope but was not helped by low hanging branches.
Patton got some lovely flight. A thick top edge hit the keeper in the pecs and bounced off just out of range. 6-1-21-0
We finally did for the opener when he foolishly took on Horrocks’s arm for a risky second. The throw was inch perfect and Skinner took off the bails.
If only he did that more consistently. Hunton had a young lad in at the death, playing his second game of cricket. He wandered out of his crease and was given a deliberate reprieve. Public apologies are due to Latter who was deprived of a wicket. 7-0-32-0
Somehow Hunton reached 190 for 8.
A tough target. But we had a ridiculously good amount of batting.
Baker senior opened up with Norton.
Baker was harsh on anything short and started peppering the leg boundary. He seemed to be aiming for one particular car, a Porsche with a personalised reg plate. He finally was able to celebrate when he left a dent in its bodywork.
Hunton seemed a little short of bowling. And had several fielders who didn’t look athletic. With one in their 80s and a keeper who was 75, it was perhaps not surprising.
Our progress was good but perhaps a little stately and we didn’t put as much pressure on the field as we should have.
With our captain out umpiring, he started encouraging the pair to take risks. And they did.
Baker got to 50 first and was run out when a risky second was considered and declined. A great knock of 63
Latter was in at no 3. A glorious flick off his legs augured well
Norton got his 50. Well deserved. Under pressure from his captain, he was then bowled playing an extravagant drive, but that sort of shot was needed in the circumstances.
Patton was looking good. He was run out, for 4, coming back for a second. It may seem odd to say but it was the right choice in those circumstances. Anything other than a perfect throw and he would have been fine. Taking one for the team. His skipper was proud of him for that.
Latter departed, bowled for 24, leaving Millen and Horrocks to try and see us home. With Hunton having used up their recognised bowlers, we were able to despatch some poor balls and ran well.
Horrocks hit the winning runs and finished on 16*. Millen was unbeaten on 9*.
A good win by 6 wickets. But we will need to up our intensity against stronger sides in the Division.