20 Sep v Hawkley CC – WON BY 21 RUNS
Brigands 239-4dec; Hawkley 218ao
What an exciting match on which to end our Golden Jubilee campaign!
On the back of last weekend’s phenomenal performances, the Brigands wrapped up
this historic season with another superb all-round team effort against strong
opponents. Hawkley, entertaining Brigands for the first time, were the perfect hosts
and made us feel instantly at home in their cosy village hall/pavilion. The Brigand
players rather enjoyed the rare treat of playing away: not having to prepare the
pitch, open the ground and manage the match. And batting first on a beautifully flat
track, openers Nick Harris and Dom Humphrey rather enjoyed the early runfest too!
Nick (59) led the way in a sublime opening partnership of 105, his elegant fifty
coming from only 55 deliveries with a six and 6 fours. Teenage partner, Dom, settled
in just as smoothly and rapidly saw the possibility of a maiden ton. Batting with
determination and a maturity well beyond his barely 16 years, Dom reached his own
half-century in 79 balls. After Nick’s departure to a good high catch on the extra
cover boundary, with skipper Mike Beardall (16) Dom added another 50 for the 3rd
wicket and then enjoyed a measured stand of 59 with Andrew Polson (22) who,
batting well up the order, hit some fierce blows. Andrew’s cameo knock was a brave
one: having tweaked a hamstring mid-innings, he muscled on without a runner but
was eventually bowled trying to boundary another back foot punch.
After nearly 3 hours at the crease, anchoring the innings well beyond a strong 200+
tally, Dom’s patience was rewarded with his maiden century (in all forms of cricket),
coming when his twelfth boundary crossed the ropes at 3rd
Man. With Jake Peach (10no) Dom crashed a brace of sixes in their cameo 30-run, two over stand, to finish on 120 not out from 171 deliveries, whereupon Mike declared after 53 overs of
highly entertaining batsmanship. For the record books, Dom’s was the highest
undefeated innings of the year and included 4 sixes and 12 fours. And Jake’s
contribution took him past 400 runs for the season at an average above 50. Two
young stars to watch closely in the coming years.
It was a tantalising declaration and, to their credit, Hawkley were not going to play
meekly for a draw. Their top order all got quick starts and each looked capable of
chasing down the 240 to win from about 50 overs. Jake took full advantage of the
new ball and relishing the downhill slope and hard track, made it bounce steeply and
swing late. He was rewarded in his 3rd over by a sharp diving left-handed slip catch
by his father, Graham. The breakthrough wicket took Peach Jnr to the ‘double’ of
20+ wickets and 200+ runs in the season, only the 7th player in Brigand history to
achieve this all-rounders’ feat. It was a pity that he then had to take an enforced
break after his allotted 6 overs; as carnage was wrought at the other end, Jake had
been on a roll from his, with initial figures of 6-1-13-1.
But Hawkley’s other opener, Henry Batten, had already eyed the shorter boundary
and was now clearing it with abandon, first to the slow medium seamers of Andrew
Reed (0-28) and then taking a liking to Mike’s off-spin. Paul Porter (0-24) had a rare
3-over adventure following Jake’s first spell, bowling with good pace off a short run
up, but to no avail as the partnership between Batten and Mullard (28) flourished to
75 in double-quick time. Coming on after Paul, it was Graham who broke this main
Hawkley partnership, clean bowling Mullard with his second delivery.
Colourful Hawkley ‘keeper and number four batsman, Usmar, then strode to the
wicket with a determined gait, intent on accompanying Batten to victory. He started
cautiously but soon joined his partner in taking the aerial route against Mike.
Another 70 run stand was soon achieved and it looked all over for the visitors as
Batten smashed the skipper for his 5th maximum to reach a forceful ton from just 81
balls. It was 166 for 2 in the 30th over and Hawkley were racing towards their target.
The next few deliveries from Mike changed the whole complexion of the match and
gave the Brigands a scent of hope. He cleverly clean bowled the tiring centurion,
who’d tried to hit him for a 3rd successive six, then tellingly repeated the outcome
against middle order dangerman Burkie, who had just hit 16 from his first four balls.
Vital breakthroughs, but it had been costly: Mike’s figures at this stage stood at 10-
1-96-2! With Usmar at the wicket and playing sensibly the balance was still firmly
with the hosts. Time for Jake’s second spell then; and, although now with a well
battered cricket ball, he bowled his lungs out in a fiery burst that first splayed
Usmar’s stumps, then very nearly broke the next man’s ankles with a swinging
yorker delivered so fast it knocked both feet out from under him!
Game on, then; the teenage quickie had stopped Hawkley in their tracks with his
aggressive second spell of 6-3-10-1. A brilliant effort for a young fast bowler who
had gone for fewer than 2 runs an over, blasted out two top order batsmen and
terrorised the rest, and all this on a dream of a flat batting track. Meanwhile, Mike
had started to calm things down from his end and the scoring rate had slowed but
Hawkley, at 196 for 5 in the 35th over still had more than enough players and time to
do the job.
The final phase of the match was exciting to watch, to say the least. The hosts did
not pull their punches or ever opt for a safe draw. Trying to smash Mike out of the
game, two Hawkley hitters perished to superbly cool catches right out on the
boundary line by Paul and Dom. Then, replacing his son, Graham (3-20) got straight
back into the action drawing a return catch from left-hander Hudson and two balls
later induced a classic off-spinner’s bat-pad catch to tall Paul, diving forwards at
short square leg.
As the late evening sun emerged below the cloud line beyond the Hurdles, it
illuminated the final moments of this special season in warm golden sunlight. And
what a match situation on which to end it all! It was 218 for 9 with 7 overs
remaining. The final match couldn’t have been left more evenly poised: 22 runs and
time enough to push the ball around without slogging … or just one more wicket? …
Anyone’s game, really.
But, no, it was going to be Brigands’ match … and very next ball … to another
monster of a skied catch just inside the rope at long-on … this time the excellent
handiwork of Paul’s even taller brother, Chris Porter. Brilliantly held and just keeping
his feet inside the rope, Chris rounded off the season by helping Mike to a thoroughly
deserved 5 wicket haul (15.1-1-113-5) and the Brigands to a hat-trick of September
victories. Very well done indeed, gentlemen!