Wickham& Stodmarsh

Match Report

A rare rainfall event and a cancellation by the opposition caused an early May hiatus, but normal service was resumed at Goodnestone on a stunning day. Wickham & Stodmarsh have been on the receiving end of successive Patrick Mitchell centuries over the past two years, and were keen to instigate change. Winning the toss W&S made an important first change in electing to bat, and, apart from the timeless pace of Philip Hook removing an opener without score, bat they did. Occasional Straggler, Simon Mount, was soon launching Nick Tapp into the long grass with his signature shot over long on, and a very large total loomed. However, the Chairman had the last laugh, taking himself off in favour of Theo Allport, who duly had Simon undone with extra flight and he was safely pouched on the boundary by Andrew Cloke for 86. With Allports now operating at both ends, the huge W&S score disappeared in a flash, as 179 for 3 became 191 all out. Theo, having excelled with the bat at Bossingham, now did so with the ball, taking the last three wickets for his first ever hat-trick. A particularly good tea was taken early, much to the relief of Nigel Snape, who had begun to hallucinate in the heat.

The Stragglers have an enviable ability to collapse, and once again threatened to do so, with three early wickets falling for 36. However, Matt Smallwood, with a delightful half century, and the lower middle order of Rupert Hill, Eliot Forster and Theo kept the chase on track with 26, 29 and 26 respectively. The winning boundary was, inevitably, struck by Theo with three overs to spare. The balance of advantage had swung nicely through the afternoon, with both sides in with a shout until the last.