Concorde v Kensington and Chelsea

Match Report

Declaration cricket is generally felt to be the purist form of the game and when thoughtfully applied can lead to genuinely exciting games. However, as limited overs cricket becomes increasingly popular, the art of setting teams a target is becoming lost as it is so rarely played or understood, and this game was ultimately, an example of this.

On winning the toss, K & C elected to bat and they set off at quite a pace. Matt Jarratt opening the bowling for us bowled extremely well without much luck and suffered a dropped catch at Mid off by perhaps the safest pair of hands in the team, who misjudged the flight of the ball. It proved an expensive miss as the batsman concerned went on to make a very hard hit 84. Nevertheless, Matt got some reward by bowling the other opener with the score around 40.

Jacob, opening at the other end, had difficulty finding a length and after taking a bit of stick, came out of the attack to be replaced by Alex. This too, was not very successful and the two old pro’s, Ian and Jerry. came into the attack with the score around 100 -1. This had the desired effect with Ian almost immediately winning an LBW against the hard hitting opener.

At the other end Jerry exerted some pressure and was somewhat deflated to see Pat let a drive through his legs for 4. Next ball, the ball was driven in the air to Pat again and this time he took an excellent tumbling catch to redeem himself. However, K & C middle order began to settle in and runs began to flow once again until a lofted drive down the ground off Jerry was astonishingly well held by Nigel Wright who ran 30 yards and took the ball in mid dive.

With half an hour to go to the half time point, the score had reached 250 and it was apparent that K & C had no interest in a declaration. By this time, every minute of batting time used up was time that we did not need to bat to save the match and was thus swinging in our favour.

Jacob returned to the attack and bowled much better taking a wicket and Pat Wells had a burst of three overs picking up two wickets but the score had reached 303 – 7 before K & C declared leaving us 90 minutes plus 20 overs to bat to see out the draw.

Edgar & Chris Turvill opened the batting with Edgar looking cautiously belligerent and Chris, playing his first game of the season, unsurprisingly showing signs of rustiness. These two took the score to 40 before Chris played a pleasing shot off his legs and was very well caught at short square leg. Alex, replacing Chris, played as Alex does dispatching anything pitched up straight down the ground and pulling anything short powerfully to square leg. Our score mounted quickly with Ed & Alex together but with the score around 100, Edgar was out for 44 (10 4’s) and Alex was joined by Jerry.

Alex continued his aggressive ways but having reached 25 (with six 4’s) he then pulled a ball to cow corner, not quite finding the middle of the bat, and being very well caught by the running fielder at knee height. This put paid to any thoughts of a run chase and when Nick Freeman was LBW very quickly thereafter, his one scoring shot being a six, our thoughts turned to survival. By this time, 20 overs were nigh and this target was passed by Jerry and Matt Jarratt without any alarms but at this point, K & C summoned up their fast bowler, who had not yet turned his arm and was itching to show what he could do.

With a run up as long as Shoaib Acktar and running in as quick as Brett Lee, he was a daunting sight and he was seriously quick but on one of the best wickets yet produced by the Chairman, Jerry Wright felt confident enough to get behind the ball and after 3 overs of savage but unfulfilled intent, the quickie returned to graze in the outfield without success.

Sadly, Jerry, emboldened by his success in repelling this runaway train, drove at his first ball from the much friendlier replacement bowler and was bowled leaving Matt to see out the remaining 11 overs with the tail. This he did, showing great concentration and determination whilst not missing the opportunity to take runs when poor deliveries were presented. He was very well supported first by Nigel and then by Jacob until to the first ball of the final over, Matt ran down the wicket and was lucky not to be stumped. Taking no heed of this close call, he ran down again to the next ball and this time, he was stumped for a very good and valuable 44 (9 4’s)

Pat saw out the last 4 balls in his inimitable style and a draw was honourably attained with the Concorde score an creditable 198 – 8 but how different it might have been if K & C had declared on 250 and given themselves an extra 30 minutes to bowl us out