Victory from the jaws of defeat!

Before leaving to face the newly-relegated Old Woking 1’s team, several members of our own 1’s offered work of advice about how our opposition was likely to play the match. This in itself was enough for the travelling team to know that the game was likely to be a tough one.

With the M25 a mess and one of the longest trips in the league, it was unsurprising that some members of the team arrived after the start time. With his time-keeping abilities in inverse proportion to his generosity to the club, Jan was demoted from his opening slot to number 4 in the order. South Nutfield Cricket Club are developing a deserved reputation for entirely unbiased umpiring, and so that continued, with two of the top order adjudged LBW by their peers. Four wickets fell quickly within the opening overs, before Matt W and Kyle set about steadying the ship. Despite playing his first game in two years, Matt looked in sparking form and elicited several compliments on his shot-making from the fielding team. However, a smartly taken catch by square leg, followed by a fleeting visit to the crease from Damo had us in deep trouble. Gibbo was squared up by a straight one which looped nicely to gully. Old Woking had bowled and fielded superbly well, and had all the hallmarks of a div1 team. The game was done at 57-7.

Or so we thought. Up to the crease came Dylan to join his brother. The following partnership brought back memories of East Horsley last year. It’s still not clear which is the senior partner when these two meet mid-pitch between overs. In fact it’s not clear if either of them actually speaks. They certainly don’t smile. It’s either steely determination or nerves that cause the apprehensive demeanour. In fact the last person to look that nervous would have been the ex-VC explaining to his wife how he came to lose his shorts AND PANTS!! in a secluded carpark in West Surrey whilst his kit looks remarkably unused.

With the partnership eventually broken, South at least thought they had three figures to bowl at. Up to the crease came the new man, Prasad. Within his first over, he had played a wonderful square cut for four. He and Dylan proceeded to put the tiring OW bowlers to the sword. With each passing over, the home team felt their good humour being stretched. The tempers flared as the batsmen took not one, but two overthrows off one delivery. Finally Dylan tried to smash the very competent South African off-spinner over his head and missed. Out bowled but a 69 partnership. Big Dave came to wicket and hit an astonishing six. Despite this, Prasad felt it expedient to farm the strike. And with some success. Partnership of 68 took South to 236, before Prasad failed to regain his ground trying to get to his century in the last over. An extraordinary innings of 93 from a number 10 batsman.

Wills opened the bowling and was ruthlessly slashed for 4 second ball. However, overconfidence caused the batsman to hit a ball flat at Damo at mid-off. He doesn’t drop those (although he nearly did). Number 3 also looked decent until Wills bowled a beauty and he nicked off and the new wicket keeper stole a catch off first slip. 4-2 after one over! With Gibbs proving impossible to score off, and Wills taking a third wicket before the end of his spell, Old Woking’s 17-year-old batsman was crucial. Big Dave did what Big Dave does and took two middle-order batsman, one of which to a huge roar of celebration. Wickets were steadily falling, until a ninth-wicket partnership put everyone in mind of our own innings. However, when Prasad (who else!) removed the opening bat after an excellent maiden half-century, OW were always behind the run-rate. When the last two wickets fell to Kyle in the 39th over, the game was done, and a victory that will live long in the memory was achieved. Thanks to Old Woking for a game played in excellent spirits, despite what must have a disappointing afternoon for them.

The only remaining question: How long before Jack learns of the new kid on the block…?