Sissinghurst

Match Report

The Straggler season burst into action on a May Day in Sissinghurst, when even the Inuit would have been wearing two fur-lined parkas in the outfield. And the cold wind teased the players with slow moving showers, which held off just long enough to see a result.  Jasper and Will Fenwick opened for the Straggs, and, with a fast outfield rewarding firm shots, were soon into their stride.  Pace was seen off, and it took guile and experience to break the partnership at 121 in the 22nd over, Will sent back for an excellent 57. Charlie Kingsman, making his first appearance for a couple of years, joined Jasper, and together they picked up the pace, with a couple of big shots disappearing into the road.  Jasper (84) was finally surprised with some steep bounce extracted by a returning opening bowler, but Charlie was well set, joined by Ben Simpson (32) and then Hugo (10*) for the final flourish; he ended undefeated on 72.  The declaration came at 261 for 3, when another big 6 got lost in the hedge.

Straggler captains tend to exploit the willingness of Nick Wright to run in all day, and Ed Prest is no exception.  Nick pounded in for 11 overs, as he and skipper Ed took a little early punishment.  Fifty came up in the 7th over, and the chase was well on track.  A moment of magic was required, and it was duly provided by Will Fenwick; a hard pull to leg was heading to the boundary, when an airborne Will intercepted it with two hands (clearly taking inspiration from the IPL).  Nick (2 for 59) struck again and then Hugo (2 for 11) put a break on the run rate to get in on the act, his second being the opposition skipper, who has just passed his half century, well caught behind the wicket by Jasper.  At 109 for 4, the scene was set for the introduction of the Chairman.  A complete absence of pace, which is causing concern among theoretical physicists (did Einstein miss something important about space and time?), has now been supplemented with an even slower ball.  The even slower ball requires the suspension of normal perception of time, and, for the batsman facing, the ability to exist in a state of suspended animation, while waiting for the ball to arrive.  The Sissinghurst middle order had not been briefed and the Chairman picked up 4 for 13.  At the other end, confusion was also being sown by debutant Harry Vavasour (2 for 16), bowling leg-spin.  One of his wickets saw Nick Wright take another remarkable tumbling catch at long-on, and the innings brought to a close on 151, with specialist out-fielder, Harry Churchill, getting in on the act; victory by 110 runs.