CURDRIDGE vs OLD NETLEY & HIGHFIELD II's - 17th May 2025
The Harry Wilkins Version: Lots of runs, Curdridge victorious
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With the sunny weather continuing unabated, an away fixture against Old Netley saw us returning to a ground we’ve not played at for several seasons. Today was also a return to the club for Gary, and thanks also to Alan for flying in in time to become the new Andy, going out to umpire for the whole match, and with thanks to Jan for doing the scoring once again we don’t half look like we’re organised…
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Mark went out and won the toss, and we went in to bat first, the opening partnership of Dom and Rob restored. Application and concentration would be the order of the day, and Old Netley’s opening bowlers certainly forced that, bowling a consistent line and giving nothing away. With a face familiar to some – Matt Atkins – bowling inswing from one end, and the other opening bowler using the bounce in the pitch to constantly hang the ball just in the vicinity of off-stump, a mistake in the early overs would be costly,
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Digging in, Rob and Dom saw out the opening overs, and though slowly at first, runs began to come. Dom was dropped in the slips early on. Rob, meanwhile, managed to resist his tendency to go with a horizontal bat at balls just outside off-stump, and begin to pick up runs. Finally Rob nicked one and a sharp catch at head-height in the slips saw him dismissed for a grinding 17 in the 10th over, to leave Curdridge 26-1. (Though it is rather self-serving to say, being relatively satisfied to have seen out the first 10 overs and the opening bowling partnership – the dividend would come, as we will see).
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In came Dan, and the rate immediately began to pick up as both Dan and Dom found runs more easily, forcing changes to the bowling attack. Dan was then caught, to leave Curdridge 57-2 in the 15th over. In came Jack at 4, and from here onwards the story of the Curdridge innings is one of serene progress. The run rate continued to increase as both Jack and Dom found boundaries, singles, twos, and threes with regularity, and the Old Netley bowlers seemingly had no answer. After 20 overs, the score was 89-2.
Following the drinks break further changes to the bowling attack had no effect. Few, if any, chances were given by the batsmen on a still difficult pitch with variable bounce, ranging from head-height down to toe-height, and both Jack and Dom despatched the ball to all corners of the park. On the runs came, as the third wicket stand passed 50, then 100, the total also aided by Old Netley conceding 39 runs in extras, and overthrows exploited by Dom and Jack with sharp running between the stumps. Even the introduction of the opening bowlers couldn’t stem the flow of runs, and the frustration was evident amongst the fielding side as the batting partnership plundered the runs. The final ball of the innings sadly saw Dom’s stumps knocked asunder, but that takes nothing away (other than a not-out for his averages!) from a fantastic partnership of 183, with a Curdridge amassing 240-3 from their 40 overs, Dom having almost carried his bat for 81, and Jack not out on 93.
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The half-hour break for tea was welcome for both batsmen, before Curdridge took to the field fired up to defend the total and claim a first win of the season.
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With Del and Dan opening the bowling the first wicket was not long in coming. A maiden from Del was followed by Dan using pace and bounce and with the very first ball of his spell the batsman gloved it behind with Craig taking a sharp catch behind the stumps.
It was at this point that Alan displayed all the neutrality one would expect of an umpire. As the ball went into Craig’s gloves, up went Alan to join the appeal – I’m sure there was even a skip into the air - before remembering his role and turning it into a contorted raising of the finger and casually pretending nothing had happened…
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In came the number three batsman, who soon showed his intent taking a guard well outside the crease, and taking a particular liking to Del’s bowling as he flayed the ball around the ground. With the score having rapidly moved into the 30s by the 6th over, Dan then struck again, with Dom taking a fine catch at point to leave Old Netley 36-2. A third wicket for Dan quickly followed, knocking back the stumps to leave the total 46-3, and just an over later demolishing Atkin’s stumps to leave Netley on 59-4 in the 10th over.
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Singh for Old Netley was beginning to get into his stride and find the boundary regularly. A 5th wicket followed in the 11th over, though, as the batsmen tried to push the run rate. Singh struck a ball towards the boundary, which Tom tried to prevent, going down in a flail of limbs like an octopus taken out by a sniper, and the ball creeping over for 4. The next ball, however, a fired-up Tom sped round the boundary as the batsmen pushed to run three, and with an arrow-like throw the ball was in Craig’s gloves and the batsman run-out.
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A sixth wicket soon followed, with Sammy brought into the attack and cleaning up the stumps, but with Singh still in at the other end and seeing it like a football things were in the balance. Dan was still bowling at the other end (yes, we hadn’t even reached 16 overs yet), chasing his fifth wicket. In the final over of his spell this breakthrough came, with a rocket driven straight back at Mark and slamming into his hands for a fine catch and Dan’s 5-for. A sixth could have followed last ball of his spell, as the ball was bunted back but landing between two fielders, but Dan having bowled his 8 overs, taking 5 wickets and destroying the upper order. 114-7 in the 16th over.
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Runs continued coming for Singh, alongside an eight wicket as Sammy picked up his second, and the score at 131-8 in the 19th over. Drinks finally came, a welcome respite; despite the loss of 8 wickets in the first 20 overs it felt like if Singh kept going Netley weren’t out of the fight. Those runs duly came after drinks, with the rate accelerating to nigh-on 10 an over and a lot of nervous looks beginning to appear amongst the field as Netley began to believe. A change in bowling brought Mike and Rob into the attack, and some tighter overs and sharp fielding slowed the runs down, forcing Singh off-strike. As he does with regularity now, Mike struck, getting the ninth wicket with he score on 177 in the 27th over, and then in the 31st over the 10th finally came, with Mike striking again to claim the final wicket and round off Curdridge’s first league win of the season, with Netley dismissed for 202.
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A hard-fought victory which did justice to some outstanding individual displays, against an Old Netley side who also deserve credit and played the game in excellent spirit.
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Man of the Match: Several candidates for this one – but a deserved joint award to Dom, Jack and Dan with stand-out contributions with bat and ball.
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Donut of the Day: Alan definitely has to be a candidate for his umpiring celebration of Dan’s wicket. Mike is also a candidate for chasing a ball down and then deciding to kick it over the boundary. But in all fairness, there weren’t any real mistakes or failures.
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Champagne Moment: Tom’s run-out and Mark’s catch both excellent candidates, but for a singular moment for this week it goes to Dan for his fifth wicket, claimed in the last over of his spell.