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Whiteparish vs Sherfield English (home) August 24 '08
The annual ringers competition looked a little unbalanced before the start of play,
with Sherfield boasting a trio of Nobles while Whiteparish invested heavily in the 2nd XI.
However, with three Saturday captains past and present in the ranks, not to mention skipper
for the day Lord Harris, could the nouse of the home side carry the day?
As Rob Noble smashed Harris to all parts, it looked like the usual familiar tale would unfold.
However, Turkleton was proving a tricky proposition from the Football Ground End, the ball
holding up in the sticky surface, shot making becoming a risky business. AJ perished to one
that buried itself in the pitch, playing far too early and offering an easy caught and bowled,
before the brace of guesting Nobles followed him back to the pavilion, Graham given out LBW
as he walked across his stumps and Rob caught by Darryl Parsons at mid-on. Turkleton’s allocated
5 overs had returned 3-11, and the Sherfield total now relied heavily on the one remaining Noble,
Malcolm, and captain Graeme Sharp.
Sven “pot hunter” Hocking had other ideas, and proceeded to rip through the Sherfield middle order
with 4-?? as he replaced Lord Harris from the Church End. Malcy and Sharpy were among his victims,
as was the returning Jimmy Dovey, who lasted all of one ball before being well caught low down at mid-off.
Pete Newton continued to apply the pressure, and when Timmy Drew was run out by Turkleton going for a
suicidal second, it was left to Bambo Petty to nudge and nurdle the score towards respectability. Not
being able to prize him out by legitimate means, Charlie Evans attempted to hospitalise him instead,
hitting him square on the noggin with a return from the boundary that caused a short hold up in play
while the injured batsman sought medical attention.
In tricky batting conditions, the final score of 8? looked adequate, but possibly 10 or 20 short of a challenging total.
However, even that looked a long way off as Sven and MC began the Whiteparish reply and demonstrated the
telepathic understanding built up opening for the 2nds this year, MC being run out by yards.
Sven played a couple of attractive shots before being bowled by Rob Noble, and with the rest of the top
order also failing to fire, Sherfield were fancying their chances of retaining the Doug Dougard Shield yet again.
At this point, the innings was in need of a hero, and Captain Flap of the 2nd XI duly arrived on his white charger for his
Bonnie Tyler moment, wielding his 3lb Gunn & Moore. After a circumspect start, making sure he didn’t add to the catalogue
of disaster taking place at the other end, Jazzer slowly started to take control, and as the victory target loomed into view,
so he pressed the accelerator. Shots disappeared all round the ground, and with Sean Coulshed keeping a cool head,
the pair eased Whiteparish home with a couple of wickets in hand. Marvellous effort, that!
And so the annual grudge match was won by the home side for the first time since 2002, and the Sherfield think tank
will no doubt be tapping up more ringers for next year even as you, dear reader, are browsing this report,
as the ones they brought in on Sunday clearly weren’t of the right vintage!
Summary
Sherfield English 8? all out (Sven Hocking 4-??, Glyn Turk 3-11)
Whiteparish 8?-8 (Rich DaCosta 4?)
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