Hollingbourne

Match Report

The final game of the season, in failing autumnal light at Hollingbourne, was a game to remind all who participated, what a great game cricket an be, with the Stragglers chasing one of the largest totals achieved batting second. With the Straggler keeper due to leave for work at 5pm, the toss was conceded, and Hollingbourne batted with considerable enthusiasm. On an excellent track, and a man short in the field, the runs flowed, in spite of Harry Thomson’s pace, and the control of James Ryeland. A wicket apiece for these two seemed to check the batsmen, but not for long, and the barrage continued (taking out an umpire with one straight drive). A couple of high catches were held, but, when the opposition number 3 made his century secure with 28 taken from the 36th over, and set a total of 266 for 5, the task looked daunting indeed.

Patrick Mitchell only had 14 overs to bat, and he wasn’t hanging about. He reached 50 in the 9th over, with the total on 53, and retired on 88 out of 111 for 1. With only 9 to bat, it looked as if Patrick’s early departure might herald the end. However, Nigel Snape joined Harry Thomson at the crease, and the pair put on 150 at exactly 6 an over to keep the Stragglers on course. When Nigel (on 62) finally failed to make his ground, running yet another rapid 2, the score had reached 260, and only 7 were needed from the final 9 balls. Harry, having just completed his century, deposited yet another 6 in the field to reach the target with 5 balls in hand. On checking back in the books, this run chase is the second highest in the history of the Stragglers, only bettered by successfully chasing 305 against the Stock Exchange XI in 1980 in an all day game.

In an extraordinary day for the bat, 535 runs were scored (including 2 centuries) in 79.1 overs for the loss of 7 wickets, and still the old master, James Ryeland returned figures of 13-5-38-2, and had time to film Harry and Nigel, while umpiring at square leg. A great finale to the season.