Match report

With the big weekend of the BBQ behind us the next game always feels a little like ‘after the lord mayor show’ which was highlighted with many of the Lavant players absent. It was a day for the Lavant skipper to shuffle his pack and dip into his squad. Stuck in traffic on the drive over gave the skipper time to think about the game ahead and the plan of action. Considered one of the great thinkers of the game he hatched a plan which went along the lines of. Win the toss. Bat. Rack up a big score and bowl the oppo out.

After these 30 seconds of ‘planning’ he popped on the radio and listened to the England game pleased with his Mike Brearley-like thinking. 

Well and truly into September it was surprisingly warm upon arriving at Ferring, and it appeared the traffic had caused issues for the travelling side with the team arriving in dribs and drabs, something which wasn’t the case for the very young and hungry looking Ferring team who were waiting poised for the mighty Lavant.

Gazing out to the square it became clear there was no point doing any sort of pitch inspection due to the fact it just looked like one emerald green block! He decided to wait for the opposition skipper and follow them to the middle to see which ‘cut strip’ we were going to play on (and then claim it all along it was obvious)!

The game format was set (40 overs on the 7th September)! The toss went up and yup. You guessed it. The Lavant skipper won it (I’ve already mentioned that Brealey-like the plan right)? Now….I’m sure that the bowling unit were licking their lips to be unleashed on the green top but that’s not how the Lavant skipper saw it and told everyone to pad up. I’m sure there were some grumbles from the bowlers….but they didn’t consider the deep thinking in the car.

With the Lavant skipper restoring himself back to the top of the order he and Justin walked to the middle knowing they had a very important job on their hands. Keep out the new ball, keep the opening bowlers quiet and get through the opening burst which was bound to be tricky considering the conditions. 

Getting off to a great start (flicking a ball round the corner to a vacant fine leg for 4) the Lavant skipper was watchful and solid. At the other end Justin was equally solid with both openers having to deal with variable bounce and seam movement, but both men stuck to their tasks and scored when the opportunity arose. It was a fascinating period of play with both men dealing predominantly in boundaries found themselves stuck at their respective ends for the majority of the opening stand! With the Lavant skipper having to get forward to balls not bouncing Justin was having to deal with balls taking off and hitting him in the stomach.

With the opening bowlers finding their feet Justin decided to counter attack (rather than just wait for a ball to get him out) and started to walk down the wicket and take on the bowler. 

During a tough period both openers did their jobs of absorbing the majority of the opening bowlers balls but also scoring when possible and they registered another 50 opening stand of the season in the 10th over. 

Sadly the following over the Lavant skipper was out getting a ball that lifted and took a feather off the shoulder of the bat out caught behind. 

Boyed by this breakthrough the Ferring bowlers looked ready to pounce and (with the opening bowlers tail up) broke through Lloyd ‘The Lumberjack’s’ defences and then picked the wicket of ‘Super’ Steve who played a very uncharacteristic shot trying to launch the bowler back over his head only to be caught. 

With a slight wobble in the order next in was Will ‘T-Rex’ T and instantly settled things down. Perhaps showing his predatory instincts he needed to show the opening bowler who was the ‘alpha’ and dispatched three 4’s from the opener’s final over!

With the opening bowlers taken out of the attack Justin and Will started to rebuild the innings and then counter attacked with some lusty blows coming from both men and the ball flying to all parts requiring the Lavant skipper to assemble a squad of ball finders! Unsurprisingly ‘The Lumberjack’ was terrific at tracking the ball in his natural habitat of the trees.

With Justin blitzing some big 6’s and T-Rex hitting the ball so well square on both sides of the wicket the Ferring bowlers looked devoid of answers. Feeling left out, T-Rex was able to dispatch a very high no ball for 6 high over deep point which was amazing for such little arms. T-Rex has proven himself to be a high quality middle order player being perfect and adaptable when needing to either steady the ship, re-build an innings, push on a score or have a blast and score quickly. As he heads off for his trip away (heading to Jurassic Park) he will be sorely missed for the last few games of the season. 

Equally Justin was the other critical component. Standing firm during the opening spell, putting on a solid opening stand to protect the middle order, steadying the ship after a loss of wickets and then forging a partnership and pushing on. 

After the mini collapse both men settled down the proceedings and refused to allow anyone to bowl at them and moved the score along quickly (after being 61 for 3 in the 12th over) to 167 for 3 in the 23rd over. It was high class batting and crucial in the context of the innings.

Just like before (and perhaps showing the type of wicket it was) another two wickets fell in quick succession.

Will T was out bowled agonisingly 7 short of a much deserved 50 (out for 43) and with Justin down the wicket and hit on the thigh pad he was clearly out plumb LBW and finished with 83 playing a critical role in putting the first innings score in a strong position. 

With the Ferring bowlers looking weary next in were Steve Cox and Chris ‘John’ Maclean looking to get in and then go big. Benefiting from the great work from the top order it was great to see two guys come in and look to carry on the momentum….and did they ever! 

Steve C (making his long awaited debut for Lavant and another representative of the Cox family) was playing his first game in 7 years but it didn’t show. After having one net session in the winter his game looked in good order and started to showcase some wisden-esque shots with a large range of classic drives and knocking the ball into gaps, keeping the scoring constantly moving. 

With Steve C showing the class of a refined Rifle, at the other end was ‘John Maclean’ who was more like a blunderbuss showing a range of power hitting that was amazing to watch. Many people were in serious danger of leather injuries with the ball being muscled with tremendous power to all parts. The already demoralised bowling attack looked devoid of answers to deal with both men. 

It was a real shame that Steve (after scampering another quick single) pulled up with a bad hamstring issue and couldn’t continue and was forced to retire hurt. He was going so well that the team were convinced he was on for a 50 but it was not to be.

Chris at the other end was puzzled why anyone would bother ‘running’ when you could just smash it over the boundary, stand still and watch and admire….it seemed a much more efficient use of energy….

As was the way after Steve was hobbled off another couple of quick wickets fell again with ‘Jean Claude Van Tran’ trying to go straight into 6th gear and mistiming a shot that was caught and the same with Chris P who also tried to get going fast but was also out caught.

With Chris desperately looking for a batting partner, next in was ‘Mr Chairman’ Mark S. Obviously buoyed from his recent T20 outing, rumor has it Mark marched to the middle and told Chris to stand down as the real big hitter had arrived……clubbing his first delivery through the covers for 4!

With the innings coming to the conclusion there was a hope from the team that Chris could try and get 100 before running out of deliveries and with an absolute monster 6 hit down the ground and into someone’s tree in their back garden there was a real chance of it happening. However after smashing a ball straight to the only fielder on the boundary for a single Chris was stranded at the wrong end. 

With Mark able to dispatch another 4 he was able to carry his bat for 9 no.

At the other end Chris also carried his bat for a blistering, barn storming, box office and almost x-rated 87 not out and had put his team in a truly commanding position of a mighty 311 for 7 from 40 overs.

It gave me immense pride in the way the score was achieved. From a solid opening stand that saw off the new ball and opening bowlers, to then a rebuild and counter attack that really ran the opposition ragged and when the oppositing heads were down the power house middle order were able to capitalise on all the hard work of the top order to really press home the advantage. I told you. Brearley-level thinking…..

Tea was taken and thanks to Will T (and his crocodile dundee knife) a LOT of cake was eaten. The Lavant skipper then rallied his troops reminding them that nothing was won yet and set the directive of keeping the level’s and standards high and don’t let the opposition into the game.

With a new ball on offer the Lavant skipper instructed Chris ‘John’ Maclean to put down the cake, take a few deep breaths and open the bowling. As one of the club’s best exponents of a new ball it was an important factor in the ‘grand plan’ of making sure we keep the Ferring batters quiet and really ramp up the pressure of a massive run chase.

Chris certainly rewarded his skippers faith by embracing the cake energy and bowling full and straight (at one point using the wicket keeper more like a baseball catcher)! 

At the other end Chris ‘Big Pig’ P was asked to open the bowling and clearly listened to the skipper’s brief (which is nice that someone did for once) and got into his work early. And did he ever!

First over double wicket maiden!! First ball dot. The second ball clean bowled the opening bat. Third ball dot. The fourth ball gave the other opening bat the ‘hurry up’ who could only fend it away which was caught smartly by Jayden at square leg (who deployed the customary fist bump!) Fifth ball dot. Sixth ball dot. The perfect start.

Chris wasn’t finished there mind…next over brought another wicket clean bowling the #3. Chris slightly let himself down in his 3rd over by not taking a wicket but came back strong in the 4th over picking up another clean bowled (and the best of the lot) with a brute of a ball that seamed back, cutting the #4 batter in two and smashing into the top of the stumps. 

With the Ferring batting top order blown away the Lavant skipper chose to shuffle his bowling options with Chris Mac finishing with a 0 for 7 from his 4 over burst and Chris P finishing with an amazing 4 for 5 off his 4 over blitz. Outstanding effort from the ‘Big Pig’.

A wise man once said ‘I love it when a plan comes together’…..

With no mercy being shown for the Ferring batting order the Lavant skipper had the luxury of deploying the ‘Chairman’ and the club’s premiere strike bowler ‘Jeane Claude Van Tran’. Setting attacking fields and looking to press home the advantage both men settled into their spells.

As is his way Tam struck early. Bowling with some real pace and rhythm (must have been that cake) Tam tempted the Ferring #5 for a drive and the big booming hit went straight to the very safe hands of Justin who was stationed at cover for a great grab close in.

After this came 4 overs on the bounce of frugal bowling with Tam bowling an attacking length outside off and hunting wickets. After bowling so well he had to wait until his 6th over to get a breakthrough, a brute of a ball that took off from a length, catching the shoulder of the bat which the keeper was able to get a thumb to it and deflect the ball up and catch it on the rebound. Tam saw out his next over with a maiden and finished his 7 over spell 2 for 9. Great work Tambo! 

At the other end ‘Chairman’ Mark looked to be having one of those days where he was bowling well but not being rewarded for his efforts (and also faced with a lower order resistance looking to stay in). Mark wheeled away and saw the ball pass the edge, pop up just short of a close stationed fielder or the ball falling into a gap. He bowled very well for 6 overs but faced a late counter attack in his 7th but came back strong in the 8th over with another standout moment of the match.

With the Ferring #9 (who had taken a liking to Mark in the 7th over) looking to club the ball away square he couldn’t keep it down but when it looked like it was about to race away Jadyen (stationed at square leg) suddenly took off. Making up the ground quickly he got round to block off the ball and with many of the team about to celebrate and congratulate Jayden for being able to stop the 4 he suddenly stuck out a big paw and clung on for a simply amazing one handed catch and wheeled away in celebration! 

Mark completed his 8 over spell 1 for 25.

After the highs of his fielding Jadyen was asked to come and bowl (replacing Tam) and it was turning into a day to remember for the inexperienced young cricketer clean bowling the Ferring #7 and giving the big Freddie Flintoff arms out celebration! After getting a bit of tap in his second over he bowled much better in his third and with the pressure really building the Ferring batsmen pushed for a run that just wasn’t there, allowing Chris P to swoop in from point and send a pin point throw to the keeper to run out the #8 by a distance.

With the Ferring #11 being the last wicket Jayden was then able to clean bowl them in his first ball of his 4 over which drew a huge celebration from the young man but also the whole team. Ferring were bowled out for 70 in the 24th over giving Lavant the win.

There have been many great performances this season that when I look back during the winter it will be hard to pick one out, however today’s batting performance (scoring 311) was a stand out and will be hard to beat. On a grassy pitch to see off the opening bowlers (but still score), set a platform, rebuild, push on and then go big it was as near a perfect batting display as you could have wanted….and it was all down to the Lavant skipper’s plan during the drive over. You are all welcome.

Man of the match.

It’s really tough this week. Clearly the batting was where the game was won (because the scoreboard pressure on the Ferring batting was immense) but it’s too hard to pick one individual out because (no matter what ANYONE says) the batting unit is the sum of ALL its parts. So the man of the match goes to Justin, Will T, Steve C and Chris who all played a crucial part in amassing such a huge first innings total. Well done all of you. 

Champagne moment however is much easier as it goes to Jayden’s worldie of a catch. It would have been worthy of a mention if he just stopped it considering the ball speed and the distance he had to make to even get near it but then to grab on one handed (whilst at full running pace) and hold on was something to behold. 

On to the next!