In a season full of superb games of cricket, this was the best yet.
A really hot summer day, two quality teams, an excellent lunch and tea, a tight finish and a brilliant individual performance which decided the game. What more could one ask?
A hard and true wicket and a lightening quick outfield indicated a game which was likely to be dominated by the bat and certainly, as the President XI openers set off, there was nothing to dispel this idea. Johnny Wright and Alex Reynolds, both somewhere in the region of 6'5" bowled fast and accurately and were a handful but Lee Wood and Paddy Haddow punished anything loose and the score rose quickly. With the score at 49, Paddy leant back on a drive and was well taken above his head by Jordyn off Alex. A few minutes later, Johnny ripped an absolute pearler through Lee's defence to take out off stump.
After whole hearted efforts by both bowlers, they were relieved by Jordy and Ian. Jordy continued the theme of fast and accurate and, keeping the ball well up to the bat, bowled his best spell for quite some time and was rewarded with 3 wickets as David Wrightson thin edged an attempted cut through to Howard, Mark Neale was well caught off a skier by Alex Reynolds at cover and Louis Lynch had his furniture rearranged. Ian was bowling his usual cunning spell at the other end to keep the pressure on and the change in pace seemed to confuse the batsmen.
However, Gordon Christianson was slowly getting the feel of the wicket and was putting the loose ball away with great efficiency and even at 5 down. it was daunting to know that there was still plenty of batting to come. Indeed, Graham Neale coming in at no 7 and Phil Haddow at 8 is enough to let the bowlers know that they still have plenty of work to do.
Lunch, however, was taken with the score at 127 for 5 and it is fair to say, that Concorde were feeling pretty much in control as we tucked into a splendid salad and sponge pudding.
After lunch, Jack purveyed his off breaks which though turning sharply were slightly off line so that they could be turned away on the leg side and the score mounted. Jacob at the other end bowled a decent spell and picked up the prize wicket of Gordon Christianson for 75 as he was bowled hitting across the line. Jacob also took a fine catch at Mid off to dismiss Graham Neale off Jack and following a few blows from Phil Haddow, the innings was declared closed on 237 which seemed on the face of it to be a very reasonable declaration but also a testament to the quality of the Concorde bowling.
Our innings was begun by Jordy and Chris Turvill who had the problem of facing up to Chris Williams. Chris is currently opening the bowling for Walton 1st XI and is distinctly quick and bowling, as he was, a length which might charitably be described as short, it was not much fun. Jordy squared up to him well however and Chris Turvill employed the uppercut to 3rd man profitably until Jordy was superbly caught by Louis Lynch at Mid on off Olly Clarke and then Chris's off stump went flying from a ball from Chris Williams. NIck W and Jack Brown took us through to tea with about 35 on the board.
Following tea, the bowling settled down to the more sedate pace of Phil Haddow and Matt Cliff and having despatched the ball for 3 boundaries, Nick looked to be rediscovering some form before being adjudged LBW for 21. To lose Jordy and Nick at this stage was a major blow and although Jack looked to be playing very comfortably, it was becoming difficult to see how we could get the runs. I was then bowled for a miserable 4 by a cunning quicker ball from Louis and Johnny to edged a drive to backward point for 13.
With the cream of our batting gone for around 100, things looked desperate but Jack was very much into his stride by now. Seeing the ball well and aided by the fast outfield, it seemed that every time he he drove or pulled, the ball went for 4. Respectability, if nothing else, seemed the best we could hope for and as Jacob came and went for 9 and then Ian for 4, a total of 175 would have been accepted.
Jack was having none of it. Now seeing the ball like a football, he was unstoppable and his driving through mid off and cover was delightful. Chris Williams was summoned to put an end to the frivolity but was hit out of the attack with 4 boundaries in the over. Jack passed 50 and then it became a possibility that a maiden century might be on the cards and this was duly achieved as the score passed 200. With 32 required off the last 4 overs, the faint stirrings that a famous victory might be on the cards had begun.
Staunchly supported by Alex Reynolds and farming the strike like an old hand, 19 year old Jack went for it and as the last over began, we required 14 to win. With Chris Williams back, it seemed impossible but Jack took 2 from the first ball and slammed the second magnificently over long on for 6. Turning down a single off the 3rd ball, Jack drove the 4th straight towards the sight screen where Olly Clarke, in a brave attempt to take the catch, merely succeeded in palming it over the boundary for another 6 - and the match was won with Jack 126 not out (17 x 4, 2 x 6'. His 8th wicket partnership with Alex had been worth 77 of which Alex had made a brave and beautifully crafted 3.
The Presidents XI seemed barely able to move for a few moments, so shocked were they at this turn of events and Jack too, exhausted and dehydrated by his efforts seemed barely able to make it back to the pavilion. After a restorative pint of water, he recovered sufficiently to tell us that he had never previously made a 50 and that his highest score was 35! On this evidence, he will make a lot of runs in the future.