Match Report

With the mighty Lavant buoyed by the last game’s defence with the ball they welcomed Elsted to the village knowing that a stiff challenge faced them. With the weather turning during the week heavy rain had fallen so a big thanks for the efforts of TamTarps™ for keeping the strip dry, fresh ready for the day’s play!

With the Lavant team arriving and the pitch ready to go, the Elsted team gathered around the middle waiting for the arrival of the Lavant captain either keen to watch the tossing proceedings, impose a level of intimidation OR, word of the legend of the fine tossing form of the home skipper had reached Elsted and they wanted to observe the high class tosser in action.

The Lavant captain did not disappoint and delivered under the pressure of the watching opposition…winning the toss and (with no shock to anyone) elected to bat first.

After some gentle nudging / barking of orders from the skipper to his players to umpire and score, the now well established opening partnership of the Justin and the Lavant captain walked out to the middle to start proceedings and straight away were faced with tough conditions. 

The Elsted openers offered nothing at one end to score off (whilst probing the defenses of both men) while at the other end (after one of the Elsted bowlers had been hooked quickly from the attack after taking a bit of tap from the home skipper) the variable bounce caused no end of issues with deliveries taking off from a length. 

Both openers had to construct a different type of partnership this week by remaining watchful and doing their jobs of seeing off the opening bowlers knowing that the pitch wouldn’t be the easiest to start on for any incoming batter. 

At the 14 over mark (with both men looking to push on) tragically Justin fell for 10 by a caught and bowled. Next to the middle came Will who (fresh from his marathon tea making duties which were rumoured to have started on Saturday) found it tough going on a tricky pitch against decent bowling. After unleashing 7 or 8 beautiful crunching shots straight at the fielder’s frustration got the better of him and he was out caught for 7.

Next was super Steve but, just as Will, found it tough trying to score. With the overs ticking over Steve did his best to get things moving but was also out caught for 6.

Next was Andy who was making his Lavant debut after returning to cricket from a long period out. Only having a handful of winter nets under his belt he joined the Lavant skipper in the middle, understandably nervous but ready to do what was necessary for the team. Honestly from the other end you couldn’t tell considering how quickly he settled into his innings. Hitting the middle of the bat from the off and moving the ball into the gaps Andy soon settled into taking on the Elsted bowlers and finding the boundary. 

A vital partnership formed between Andy and the Lavant captain (who had battled hard and was able to register his second 50 of the season). With the scoreboard now moving Andy and the Lavant captain were able to push the scoreboard up to the 130 mark by running hard 1’s and 2’s and (with the Elsted fielders stationed back on the boundary all over) trying to pick up bounderies wherever they could.

Disaster struck when the Lavant captain pushed for what seemed a regulation second run and found himself (slightly drained of energy) running in custard! Regardless he should have been able to get back in if it wasn’t for an very unfortunate moment where the tip of his bat got jammed into the ground millimetres from the crease! With the Elsted team able to hit the stumps, not even going head over heels in a rather clumsy looking roly poly was able to spare his blushes. The Lavant skipper was run out for 78.

With the scoreboard still looking 40 / 50 runs shy of a competitive total Fraser played a selfless innings trying to throw the bat from ball one and was able to get a boundary away before being out the next ball for 4. With slight chaos in the home changing room from people trying to pad up Will T joined Andy in the middle and offered a calm presence to the proceedings, playing a vital knock for the remaining overs of the game AND also was able to register the only 6s of the Lavant innings too!

Will T and Andy were able to bring the side home with a very respectable 171 to defend. Considering the conditions and the bowling of the opposition it was a competitive total but did still feel under par. 

Tea was taken (which I am reliably informed was magnificent!) Too many rocky roads were consumed, clothes were changed, painkillers taken, foam roller was rolled on and Lavant took to the field knowing a tough defense was ahead of them.

Due to the monumental fail of the the half time team talk last week the Lavant skipper put his speech back into his kit bag however this also did not seem to have the desired effect either! 

Chris ‘John’ Maclean started proceedings and the early deliveries looked good but the Elsted openers (who appeared to want to get off to fast start and get above the run rate) took off. Suddenly it became brutal with anything Chris tried being dispatched to the boundary. 

At the other end ‘Jean Claude van’ Tam was also experiencing the onslaught. After 6 overs Elsted had rocketed to 51 for no loss of wicket. Thankfully (with the Lavant captain unpacking the shepherds crook) Tam showed his class delivering a brute of a ball that the Elsted #2 could only chip up to the very safe hands of Fraser. 

This wicket was the turning point for Tam, not only buying himself another over (and avoiding the skipper’s axe) but suddenly he was able to click and find his rhythm and rattled off 4 overs for not many runs and (more importantly) was able to extract the Elsted #3’s wicket too (who holed out to Justin for a smart catch in the deep)! 

It’s been tough going being an opening bowler this season as the chasing teams have all looked to get off to flying starts. Tam didn’t let his head drop and showed his class (and why he’s the clubs premier opening / strike bowler) and stood up when the team needed him. Tam completed his 7 over spell with 2-29.

Replacing Chris at the other end was James ‘the slayer’ C who had the tough task of coming on and trying to slow down the scoring. The key thing about James this season is that even when he is under extreme pressure from opposition batters coming hard he just has the knack of getting good players out. It might not have been his most economical spell of bowling however he was able to get the vital wicket of the explosive Elsted #1 batter forcing him to hole out into the deep taken by a terrific (and vital) catch once again from Fraser. With the pressure starting to mount Lavant were able to extract a run out with Will MC pouncing on a ball in the deep and dispatching a perfect throw for James to scoop up the ball and take the bails off! James finished his 7 over spell 1 – 33.

With the game in the balance the Lavant skipper turned to the ever dependable Will ‘The MC’. Yet again the master of ceremonies was able to preside over dragging the game back into the home side’s favour. Honestly having the best seat in the house behind the stumps is a pleasure to watch Will in full flight. Yet again ball after ball past the batters edge with no answers forthcoming. 

At the other end Justin replaced James and continued the good work started by Will keeping things tight. With the run rate now starting to increase something had to give and Justin was able to pick up a wicket in his second over with Tam able to cling onto (yet another) another vital catch. With only singles being on offer from the home side Justin also picked up another wicket in his 5th over extracting a top edge for the Lavant keeper to chase round and scoop up into the gloves (even with his trousers falling down)! 

With Will being held back for the final overs of the match the Lavant skipper brought Chris back to complete his spell. After the onslaught from the start of the game Chris showed tremendous character and skill to put that behind him and go again and boy did he deliver. With the game getting tight Chris was not only able to bowl a maiden but then went on to keep things tight and also pick up a much deserved wicket of the Elsted #7 (yet again Fraser taking a smart catch)! Considering his first 3 overs went for 27 it was a brilliant recovery from Chris finishing with 1 – 41. 

With the run rate starting to get out of control and the frustration building, Will MC returned and was rewarded for his efforts. Firstly taking a truly outstanding low, one handed caught and bowled and then clean bowling the Elsted #9 by breaking through the batters’ defenses with ease which was met with huge celebrations from the home team who wanted to share the moment with him. Will finished with 2 -12 runs off 6 overs.

At the other end Justin was able to take the final wicket of the game of the dangerous looking #5 who was looking to go big off every ball. The ball sailed up high out to long on but was taken by (who else) Fraser for his 4th and best catch of the game! 

The team rushed to swamp Fraser in a massive celebration of an unbelievable victory (bowling Elsted out for 146 in the 33rd over). Quite a crowd had formed at the ground to watch the game and you could tell how captivated everyone was watching a match that had swung one way and then the other. It had looked like the writing was on the wall but the ‘never say die’ attitude from the Lavant team was in full effect.

From a captain’s point of view there were SO many great moments in such a compelling game. I’ve said it many times whilst writing these reports that, as skipper, all you can ask from your fielding unit is that everyone contributes their best for the team, fights hard to the end, try to keep the standards high and support one another. It’s much easier to scream and shout at each other, sulk, get angry at their mistakes and give up. 

Hand on heart if we had lost by a close margin of course it would have been bitterly disappointing however I would have been equally as proud of the effort as I am now after the win. It was a superb team performance regardless of the result.

To a man every player in the field gave everything. Bodies were put on the line, the chat and encouragement was loud and consistent through the highs and (most importantly) the lows of the innings. Will T acting like a town cryer making sure everyone knew if it was a left or right hander on strike certainly kept everyone going and laughing! There were some tired, sore and weary bodies in the changing room after the game! 

Who knows what the season will bring but this win will last long in the memory and will be hard to top…but you never know…

Honestly this is one of the harder man of the match selections as I could make a case for most of the team!

However…..Man of the match jointly goes to Fraser and Will. Fraser for taking some brilliant and (most importantly) crucial catches. It goes without saying if he had not held onto them the game most probably would have got away from us. And it also goes to Will for a truly incredible spell of bowling. Considering the stage and context of the game to bowl 7 overs (in two stages) for 12 runs!!! Outstanding.

Champagne moment was also tricky as there were some decent moments in the game until Will pulled off a low, diving one handed caught and bowled. Not sure anyone can argue with that!

Well done to everyone. Great win. We go again!