week 14 - Ist XI lose top spot in division 1, welcome wins for 2s and 3s.

There must be considerable frustration amongst the team as this game followed a similar pattern to last week. Bat first, bowled out for 160 ish and then fail to remove one key batsman who managed to take Swindon to victory. For the record, Winsley were bowled out for 163 with Ollie Hendy top scoring with 48. Swindon lost 6 wickets in reaching their target With JNG taking 3-38 and Chris Mann 2-17 (70fps). There were no catches behind the wicket so thankfully we had not employed ‘clicky Ponting’ tactics!

There are 4 games to go and wins in these games should secure the title…the match at Marlborough in two weeks time will obviously be crucial!

The 2nd XI were at home to White Horse and won by 5 wickets. Two excellent performances for Winsley stood out. Firstly James Cousens taking  5-16 in just 4 overs as White Horse were dismissed for 179…he also scored 29 in 19 balls (119fps). This was followed by 51* in 52 balls by Modester to steer the team over the line by 5 wickets; Modester also took 1 catch and a stumping (131 fps). Huss 2 catches (51 fps), Rupert Pugh 25 (55 fps) and Peter Merrell 2 catches and a run out (75fps) also made significant contributions although there were good performances from all the eleven. The seconds are currently in 5th place in Division 4.

The very local derby for the 3rds at BOA gave bragging rights, thankfully, to Winsley and lifts the 3rds to 7th and out of the relegation places. Winsley batted first and amassed 305-5 in their 45 overs. Andy Owen 95 led the way and he was supported by 59 from Matt Cousens and 48* from Nelson Owen. Bradford-on- Avon opener James Edward’s scored 114 but their innings fell away to 266 all out after 43 overs. Andy Owen 3-55 (140 fps) and Nelson 3-55 (193fps) had most successes with a first ever hat trick recorded since we started fantasy cricket!. Rob Hawkins had 4 dismissals behind the stumps (76fps)..(I had written my report above for the 3rd XI on Sunday morning but I’m indebted to Kevin Hendy who has also sent me his reflections on this fabulous match).“

There are games that drift quietly into the scorebook, forgotten by all but those who update Play-Cricket. Then there are games like this.

Winsley 3rds travelled to their oldest and dearest rivals, Bradford, on Saturday 1st August for what was, in every sense, a bottom-of-the-table scrap. It ended as something altogether different: a glorious village cricket epic containing everything the game can offer. Runs. Wickets. Heroics. Sledging. Sacrifice. Youth. Experience. A full-blown tantrum or two. In short, proper cricket.

Preparations had begun unusually enough with whispers that Winsley had too many players available. Such dangerous optimism was quickly extinguished by the traditional debates over selection, the inevitable fitness concerns and the annual exercise of “balancing the sides”, restoring normal service.

Our esteemed captain Ben was the first casualty, voluntarily standing aside to allow last week’s Second Team Player of the Week his opportunity. A selfless decision that spoke volumes about the man and the spirit around the team.

And so, under the temporary stewardship of your correspondent, an eclectic collection of battle-hardened veterans, loyal club servants and their increasingly talented offspring assembled at a sun-baked Culver Close. The toss was duly lost, and Winsley was invited to bat.

The batting order required remarkably little discussion. Andy, fresh from last week’s Player of the Week performance, and the returning Rob were tasked with laying the foundations. Their brief was simple: occupy the crease, build a platform and leave something for the youngsters to enjoy later.

They interpreted those instructions rather differently.

Runs flowed from the outset. Rob looked in excellent touch until one drive found only the grateful hands of cover. Matt arrived to discover the first delivery fizzing alarmingly past his nose, but after surviving that examination he joined Andy in dismantling the Bradford attack. Loose deliveries disappeared to every corner of the ground as the pair added well over 140 together before Matt eventually succumbed to a beautifully delivered yorker.

Gareth was next, charged with supporting the well-set Andy.  I mean well set in cricketing terms rather than physical stature… although, if we’re being honest, perhaps both. Cricket, however, has never promised fairness. Confronted by a bowler enjoying his best spell of the afternoon, Gareth found enough movement to defeat him and departed with a solitary run to his name.

Freddie continued the assault, refusing to allow the momentum to fade and striking positively before eventually falling to the increasingly impressive Moss.

Then came the moment that almost overshadowed everything else.

Two generations of Owens stood together at the crease.

Young Nelson looked understandably tentative. Calls were hesitant, movement uncertain, but beside him stood the calming influence of his father. Experience settled nerves. Confidence slowly replaced uncertainty.

Then calamity.

A late call.

A change of mind.

Nelson slipped heavily.

Andy assessed the unfolding disaster, bellowed another “No!” and set off anyway, sprinting past his fallen son towards almost certain doom.

Throw.

Gather.

Bails removed.

Appeal.

Silence.

Not out.

Pandemonium.

Bradford erupted. Disbelief gave way to accusations. “Cheat” was among the more printable contributions.

The umpire remained unmoved, standing firm as guardian of both the game and its laws.

But the drama was not finished.

Someone asked Andy quietly:

“Were you in?”

He simply shook his head.

Then he walked.

On 95.

A father sacrificing his own milestone to protect his son.

In an age (and the back page of multiple newspapers this week) where the Spirit of Cricket is too often discussed rather than demonstrated, this was it in its purest form. Besides, we’re not northern… or Australian.

Nelson dusted himself down and, joined by Teddy making his senior debut, ensured Winsley finished with exactly the sort of flourish the innings deserved. The youngsters remained unbeaten as Winsley closed on an outstanding 306 for 4.

Tea has rarely tasted better.

Defending 306 ought to have been straightforward.

Cricket, naturally, had other ideas.

Riley was handed the new ball, with Bella sharing the attack, and both youngsters responded magnificently. Each claimed wickets in their opening spell, aided by Matt, whose first catch was straightforward and whose second—a brilliant one-handed grab off Riley—was anything but.

“Caught Dad, bowled son.”

There are worse ways to dismiss a batsman.

Unfortunately for Winsley, Bradford skipper Edwards and the returning Gerrish had not read the script. Both settled quickly, both passed fifty, and despite Sam’s wholehearted efforts, boundaries continued to arrive with uncomfortable regularity.

The younger bowlers were rotated. Older heads returned. Some boundaries came via unfortunate bounces on Bradford’s lively outfield, others through our own mistakes.

What never arrived was criticism.

No shoulders dropped.

No blame was passed around.

Every player remained encouraging, positive and fully invested.

That, more than anything, kept Winsley alive.

At the second drinks interval Bradford remained only two wickets down. They still required twelve an over, but with two established batsmen it felt dangerously achievable.

A brief huddle followed.

One message.

Believe.

Every ball matters.

Every moment matters.

The response was immediate.

Gerrish drove expansively once too often and edged behind.

Game on.

Another experienced Bradford batsman arrived and immediately resumed the assault, before Andy finally persuaded the tiring Edwards into a top edge. Rob moved in safely beneath it.

The centurion had gone.

Still, the game refused to settle.

Then emotions boiled over.

The remaining set batsman, never knowingly short of an opinion, decided the bowler required several of them. Rob, having already witnessed one father sacrifice his own innings for his son, decided enough was enough and assumed the role of defender of youth.

Words were exchanged.

None of them especially poetic.

The tension only heightened.

Then cricket delivered its perfect ending.

Nelson versus Cooksey.

The same batsman.

The same exchange.

One enormous swing.

The ball climbed high towards the boundary.

Matt stood beneath it.

Waiting.

Waiting…

The Bradford supporters were already offering opinions.

“That’ll take some catching.”

Down it came.

Twenty-two players and everyone watching collectively stopped breathing.

Held.

Never looked like going anywhere else.

Matt somehow made one of the hardest catches of the afternoon appear completely routine.

Pleasantries were exchanged.

Some warmer than others.

Then everything unravelled.

Next ball.

Turn.

Miss.

Rob removed the bails in a flash.

Two in two.

Hat-trick ball.

No field changes.

No fuss.

Nelson ran in.

Pitched.

Turned.

From square-on, time seemed to slow.

The ball clipped the very top of off stump.

Hat-trick.

Three in three.

The celebrations were magnificent.

Players arrived from every corner of the field. Nelson disappeared beneath a pile of teammates as everyone shared the moment with a young bowler who will remember it for the rest of his life.

There was still work to do.

Five overs remained.

The senior bowlers were finished.

Only Andy had overs left.

The ball returned to Riley, whose second spell was every bit as impressive as his first. Accurate, disciplined and mature beyond his years, he squeezed the scoring exactly when it mattered.

One wicket left.

Two overs remaining.

The skipper wandered across to Andy.

“I fancy Bella again. I think they’ll either miss it or sky it. Her pace might just be perfect.”

Andy agreed.

Bella took the ball.

Third delivery.

Good length.

Straight.

Missed.

Middle stump flattened.

Winsley had done it.

Winsley win.

What followed was exactly as cricket should be.

Handshakes.

Smiles.

The earlier hostilities quietly forgotten.

This was never really about escaping the foot of the table.

It was about a group of young cricketers discovering they belong. Learning that pressure can be embraced rather than feared. Finding out that games which appear to be slipping away can still be won.

Those lessons will last far longer than a few league points.

Finally, on a personal note, thank you to everyone who took the time to send kind messages over the weekend. It was a genuine privilege to captain this group for a week. If Saturday proved anything, it is that the future of Winsley Cricket Club is in exceptionally safe hands.

Spye Park 2nds were the visitors at Southwick to play the 4ths. Winsley batted first and, thanks to 54* from Darren Sparrowhawk (99fps) and 58 from Chris Hole (73 fps) reached a creditable 175-7 in their 40 overs. Unfortunately Spye Park were in fine form and scored the winning runs in just 26 overs. The one wicket taken was Milo Unwin for 53 bowled by Chris Hole!

The week 14 leaderboard is:

Top 5 improving teams of the week:

Team of the week:

This team would have scored 1121 points and would have cost 51 units. With Nelson Owen as captain, it would have scored 1314 points.

League position graph:

Next week’s fixtures are:

Honours Board:

Just for interest, the current fantasy scores for players to date are at the bottom of this email.

All the best,

Martyn and Ben