Concorde v Sheen Park

Match Report

Having only 7 players available for this game, it seemed unlikely that we could fulfil this fixture but an SOS to our friends at Woking & Horsall produced a positive response and four Colts from that club declared themselves available. Ages ranged from 14 – 16 but we were assured that all were competent and so it proved.

Sheen Park won the toss and elected to bat which was very much in line with the skippers master plan for the day. However, a swift look at the team sheat revealed a distinct lack of bowling and absolutely none of the quicker variety. The skipper, having been handed a nice shiny new ball was loathe to waste it by opening with spin and so paced out his long run for the first time in 30 years. To his surprise and everyone else’s, his first ball produced a wicket as the batsman pushed at one and the edge was well held by Justin Redfern in the gulley. Buoyed by this success, the skipper sent down 8 overs of medium pace which was treated with gratifying respect.

At the other end, Jamie Bach rather shyly agreed to bowl and produced a very serviceable spell of slow medium outs wing which was perfectly pitched on off stump and gave him the excellent figures of 4-44 from 12 overs with the result that the Sheen Park innings looked in big trouble at 94-5. 14 year old Alfie Michaels, who has been playing under 14 cricket for Surrey, also bowled an excellent spell of left arm spin but by now the Temple Sheen middle order were mounting a fight back and the numbers 6,7 & 8 began to attack the bowling generally and although Alfie picked up a wicket via a push to short midwicket the tables began to turn. Matt Stockbridge also bowled well and picked up an excellent ct & bowled but the run flow could not be totally contained and Sheen Park innings was closed at 208 -7, a very sensible and sporting declaration.

After a splendid tea put together by Mrs Symondson (mostly) plus Rob and Nick Freeman, Justin and young Ryan Bach opened our innings and looked to be batting very solidly before Ryan clipped one to square leg and was smartly caught for 12. Justin hit some of his trademark shots through cover in making 18 and then when he was caught, Oscar Day was looking untroubled until he hit a full toss down the throat of deep mid wicket. At 52 -3, we looked in a bit of trouble but Nick Freeman settled in with Alfie and put together an excellent partnership of 77. Nick batted in his pugnacious style playing some lovely drives through cover and mid off but Alfie at 14, showed the poise of a much more experienced batsman in defending solidly but taking every opportunity to attack and put the loose ball away. It was something of a surprise when Alfie was bowled for 31 and Nick was LBW soon after for an excellent 51.

At this point the innings stalled completely as Rob Symondson, Bruce and Scott all registered ducks and only the defiance of a very determined Jamie Back kept the innings afloat and was not out for 9 which would have been more had he not unselfishly refused a number of runs in protecting the skipper from the strike! Thanks to his efforts, an honourable draw was secured with Concorde closing on 139 – 8.

Finally, mention should be made of the very sporting and amiable spirit of the Sheen Park players throughout the day.