Before this match report begins in earnest, please spare a thought for the second half of Radcox’s sandwich, a pre-game casualty of a crafty sea gull. In keeping with this amusing interlude, life in the Surrey Downs League got off to an interesting start as Hill’s curtain raiser was switched to Ewell Castle School in order to get the game played – incidentally it was the only game in Division 4 to go ahead – so the astro wicket was a blessing in disguise.
Having won the toss and caved to the fear mongering of the assembled ranks, Chipperton elected to bowl first. With a small boundary and consistent bounce (for a change) expected, a good start was required in order to vindicate the decision. Jones Jnr charged in down the hill at one end and Smith trundled in from the other. Tyler’s lines – when pitch up – caused both batsmen some issues and he was unfortunate not to claim a wicket when the opener refused to walk after seeming to nick off – what happened to the SDL being a whole new word?
Smith claimed the first wicket with a caught and bowled, having kept things miserly at his end. Baker extraordinaire Newcomen replaced Jones and to the surprise of everyone – including himself – he claimed a ‘proper’ cricket wicket as Mackay held onto a sharp one-handed catch at first slip following a thick edge. A flurry of boundaries from Salfords saw a brief rally, but Smith earned his second of the afternoon after Ransom held onto a catch at mid-off.
Newcomen then went through the wringer as not one, not two, but three catches went down in a single over. The first was a sprawling one-handed attempt from Chipperton at gully. The next two ought to have disappeared onto the A240, but instead lobbed up to Rolfe and Srivastava at square leg and mid-wicket respectively. Fourth time proved to be the charm in the following over, as Jones held on at point.
Ransom’s first ball of his spell was a full toss outside of off-stump, which the batsman patted up to Radcox at cover, much to the hapless captain’s chagrin. His second and third wickets were far more comprehensive though. Mackay, claiming injury to secure a berth at slip all game, earned his keep with another sharp take before Ransom clean bowled another victim.
The remaining three wickets were shared around. Radcox made up for his lost lunch by eating up the ground at backward-square leg to hold on to his second catch, this time off Chipperton’s bowling. Aynsley-Smith claimed his first league wicket following a Stupples stumping before the final man departed by heaving Smith to the well-positioned Ransom at cow.
With a modest total of 91 to chase, Stupples and Radcox were sent out with the brief of ensuring Hill could find themselves in the garden of the Spring as soon as possible. The visitors struck early, leaving Hill 14-1 after claiming the wicket of Radcox. Mackay took to the crease and soon settled into his groove, capitalising on any length: a lofty cover drive disappeared for six and he deposited a couple of hefty hooks to the bushes. Not to be outdone, Stupples managed to glance a short ball all the way to the rope for a maximum.
With things looking relatively comfortable at the crease and Hill past the half way mark, disaster struck and Stupples – perhaps suffering from lack of blood circulation in his new skin-tight whites – was marooned at one end and sent back from Mackay. A moment of madness from Hill’s resident tortoise, he was left regretting more than his S/M top selection as he trudged off for 16. Srivastava strode to the crease and played the supporting role as Mackay looked to ensure that Stupples’ sacrifice was not in vain. In fairness to him, he guided Hill home inside the 18th over to cap a comfortable win on their first outing in the Surrey Downs League.
Sterner tests will undoubtedly await, but a share of catches and wickets will hopefully stand them in good stead for future weeks. Next week will also see them take to now familiar surroundings on the astro – just remember to hide the teas!
Player of the match – Sponsored by Nicholls Residential = Alex Mackay
Park Hill Cricket Club 