Nonington

Match Report

Nonington wheeled out some big guns to face the midweek Straggler side, and proceeded to bat with great control and power. Indeed it seemed that the only way we would see the back of the top order was through injury (an opener retired hurt after falling awkwardly while turning for yet another run), or retiring on fifty to let another bat tuck into the buffet. The opening Straggler bowlers (Jamie Adams and Nick Wright, followed by Louis Glyn Williams and Hugo Snape), in spite of the lack of wickets, did exert a degree of control; the drinks break on 20 overs saw Nonington on 96 without loss. However, the tempo then increased, a chance went to ground, and the boundary was well peppered. When George Moynihan induced an edge to Ed Solly standing up in the 32nd over, with the score on 178, it was something of a surprise. Further wickets followed finally, in the last two overs, but a big target had been set with nonchalant ease – 242 for 3, with two retirees and one retired hurt.

Ed Solly was a man in a hurry, lofting drives over the infield, and barely bothering with singles. His half-century came with the total still under 70. When Ed was out for 55, the chase was well in hand, even with a second wicket falling immediately to cause a little flutter of concern, but George Baker White (34), Dom Barnes (43) and then Hugo (60) kept matters moving along nicely. With George and Dom gone at 156 for 4, Hugo dug in, managed his partners well, and hit two monster sixes into the parked cars to generate some urgent activity in the crowd. Jamie and Louis came and went, and on 225 Hugo holed out, with the target in sight. George Moynihan (18*) had protested his inability to bat in talking himself down the order; there are plenty of Stragglers who would like to be able to bat as poorly as George!! Four beautifully driven boundaries, with a Nick Wright chipping in from the other end, and it all was made to look easy – victory by 3 wickets with seven balls to spare.