Good morning all
On Sunday we visited Sampfords.
This weeks match reporter is Matt Archer
Sampfords vs Leavenheath
Friendly — 35 overs
There are days when winning the toss matters. This was definitely one of those days. With only ten players available, Jeppo duly lost the toss — he had one job — and Leavenheath were put into the field on a day when the temperature was pushing 30°C.
Waugh and Wells opened the bowling and kept things tidy, but Sampfords made steady progress, reaching 42 without loss after ten overs. Jeppo eventually made the breakthrough with an LBW, and the game settled into a familiar pattern: Sampfords scoring, Leavenheath chasing the ball, and everyone gradually melting.
The heat was taking its toll. Chown in particular appeared to be experiencing a complete physical and spiritual breakdown somewhere near the boundary, at one point going spectacularly arse-over-tit while chasing a ball. Somehow he survived, dusted himself off and carried on.
Sampfords’ opening batsman reached a hundred before retiring, with their number three also making fifty. Despite some increasingly weary fielding, Leavenheath kept plugging away. Bowlers came and bowlers went, but it t was David Little who provided the moment of the innings.
With Sampfords approaching the end of their 35 overs, Little was thrown the ball for the final over. What followed was quite extraordinary: dot ball, dot ball, dot ball, wicket, wicket, dot ball. Two wickets in two balls left Little on a hat-trick with one delivery remaining. The hat-trick wasn’t to be, but a double-wicket maiden to finish the innings was a proper champagne moment. Everyone calling for LBW with that final ball, even though from square leg wee could see it was going down. An appeal and moment for the ages, not the scorebook.
Sampfords closed on 232/5.
After tea — and a particularly well-received coconut sponge with jam — Leavenheath began the chase positively. Nev Pearson and Bevan Gordon put on a strong opening partnership, with Gordon particularly enjoying the third over: four, four, four, dot, dot, four. At five overs Leavenheath were 44 without loss and had reached 100/1 after eleven.
Gordon eventually fell for an excellent 43, with Pearson following for a valuable 45. Little and Jeppo added useful runs before both departed, while Dan Common’s contribution was somewhat more concise: one ball, one golden duck. Eyes lit, floated ball, Common, out.
Hobson came and went for 7, despite producing what he described as possibly the best shot he’d ever played before finding the boundary fielder. With the score at 145/7 after 21 overs, the chase looked all but over.
Enter Wells and Chown.
Wells battled his way to a valuable 35, while Chown somehow transformed from a man who had looked moments from heat-related retirement into an effective middle-order batsman, nurdling boundaries and keeping the chase alive. For a brief period, 233 didn’t look completely ridiculous.
Ultimately, though, the ten-man side couldn’t quite get there. Chown was trapped LBW for 17, Wells was caught at extra cover, and Waugh was bowled after two balls, leaving Archer stranded on 9*. Leavenheath were all out for 192, falling 40 runs short.
Disappointing? Absolutely. But with ten players, temperatures around 30°C, a near-meltdown from Chown, a double-wicket maiden from Little and enough coconut sponge to keep the village economy moving, it was also exactly the sort of day amateur cricket is supposed to be about.
Sampfords won by 40 runs.
Plenty to improve. Plenty to laugh about. And, most importantly, still plenty of reasons to play the next one. 🏏
This Sunday we visit Linton. If you fancy a game please get in touch.
Thanks
Dave