CURDRIDGE vs HYTHE - 24th April 2021
Cricket made a welcome return to the lane on Saturday as Curdridge’s finest athletes took to field to face a friendly Hythe & DIbden 11. The ground was looking serene following a huge amount of work by Groundsman Mike H and the pavilion had also enjoyed a bit of lockdown love.
Those assembled had been acquired through a variety of means, the old hands were combined with a couple of short term loans, and Del’s defrosting program had been set to complete a couple of weeks early meaning the Machine had 11 warriors on the field.
Skipper only has one job as it turns out, and he failed miserably losing the toss and being invited to have a bat on a drying green mossy masterpiece.
The housewife’s favourites Mark and Mike started up and it wasn’t long before they were back in the shed and early favourites for this years duck cup, Mark with one that stopped in the pitch and Mike with one that stopped at his stumps.
Jay and Jack then took the attack on and some class shots demonstrated that pre season net practice does pay off before Jack found the man in the covers.
36-3 was the score as Doctor Block and his partner in crime Piero started a rebuild, nice and steady until Piero decided that the ball deserved a trip to the playground. Unfortunately he picked the wrong delivery to attempt it and a sharp catch at slip left the score at 51-4 and the innings needed some momentum.
Momentum is one thing that Skipper can generate (downhill only) and he demonstrated this with a quick single that Jay didn’t see coming. Cue a requirement for swift about turn, however Skippers footwear didn’t oblige. Now Imagine a prized halibut floundering in the middle of the wicket then that was pretty much how his innings ended.
Jay meanwhile had motored past fifty and needed people to stick with him to take the innings to a competitive score, Alan obliged briefly but it was Rob who formed an unbeaten partnership, ending unbeaten on 18 whilst Jay found more gaps and was not out 89 at the close, well batted sir!
Tea taken and 167 was the target for Hythe, Skipper went for youth with the Del Candy train coming down the hill and loanee George at the Car Park end. Bowling was predictably tight and fielding surprising good for the first game. Rob in particular making some great stops to limit the run rate but wickets were hard to come by,
Skipper had a host of slow bowling options up his sleeve, so Sammy, Rob had a twirl but again without reward as Hythe moved towards 79 without loss at drinks.
Jack then took a beauty behind the sticks to give Jay a wicket and Piero then tempted the number three into a heave to cow corner. Punter sprinting into action like a new season lamb and taking a stunning catch at full velocity, suddenly Curdridge were in with a squeak,
More bowling changes followed with Piero, Punter, George again all trying to limit the flow but eventually the Hythe lads got home with a few overs spare.
A friendly game for all concerned, and a good run out for the lads to get rid of the rust. Onwards and upwards from here with another friendly vs Five Rivers at the Lane 1.30 next Saturday,
Champagne Moment: - Punter with another catch to add to his worldy collection
Donut of the Day: Skipper takes it this weak for his mid wicket roll, (we won’t mention the first page of the score book ladies)
Man of the Match: Normally it would be a straightforward choice but being involved in a run out with the skipper results in instant disqualification for Jay, so Rob takes it this week, dynamic in the field, some decent tweaks sent down and a valuable late order contribution with the bat.