CURDRIDGE vs TROJANS IV's - 24th May 2025
The Harry Wilkins Special Bulletin: Curdridge win again. Maximum points.
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On a day which the weather forecast had hitherto suggested would be threatened by rain, precipitation failed to materialise, and the game was on.
Mark walked out and won the toss; having done so twice in a row, now, the weight of expectation must be beginning to bear down on his shoulders… Electing to bat first (it worked last week – just about), in went Dom and Rob to open. A couple of weeks ago I mentioned form being temporary and, typically, after an encouraging (-ish) innings last week, Rob made the mistake of feeling reasonably confident, missed a full ball landing on his toe and departed LBW after a couple of overs without troubling the scorers.
Back to square one. Jules, returning to the side, clearly felt some sympathy for Rob and decided he also didn’t want to make trouble for the scorers, and with the score at 14-2 things looked decidedly iffy against a decent bowling attack.
Fortunately, speaking of form, Dom and Jack are very definitely in it. Sorry, chaps, that’s put the mockers on it. But I’m told the cricketing gods don’t exist, so you should be fine… Jack’s complaint about last week’s match report was that he only got one line on his innings, although, as said in that report, it being rather serene progress there wasn’t an awful lot to comment on. However, I shall now commence a ball-by-ball account of Jack’s 89…
No, I won’t.
Suffice to say, Dom and Jack got a handle on the opening bowlers and began the recovery, picking off the bad balls, using their luck when it came, and importantly staying in and stopping the momentum Trojans had gained from the two early wickets. From 14-2 at the end of the 6th over, the runs began to mount in a trickle, then more of a flood. A change in the bowling brought on more tricky opposition for the batsman, but momentum built as both began to find the boundary regularly. The 50 partnership came in the 18th over, and by drinks at 20 overs the score was just shy of 100. As the score continued to accumulate Jack’s father arrived, and Jack evidently realised he didn’t have much longer to bat, as the scoring rate continued to increase until Jack was caught and bowled for 89 after another outstanding innings, having put on a partnership of 144 with Dom, and the score at 158-3.
It was Dom’s turn to take over accelerating the run rate, and with Craig joining him at the crease this continued steadily. Craig dealing only in boundaries delivered a cameo, caught for 16, but having ensured there was no let-up, with Dom striking ever more cleanly at the other end. In went Alan, and a score of 200 was definitely on, with 220-odd looking a distinct possibility. Alan had other ideas; one of these wasn’t so much about cricket as how much of a fright could he give Jan and Hayley at the scorer’s table – a six from the bat bouncing once, coming within a hair’s breadth of removing Jan from her chair, and inexplicably bouncing back off the clubhouse window without breaking it… Alan’s rapid 17 before being run out accelerated the score well towards the 220 mark, and with Steve coming in and doing his job of getting Dom on strike, yet more supreme batting saw the total reach 246-5 at the end of the Curdridge innings, with Dom carrying his bat for 94 not out, and challenging target set for Trojans.
A change-up in the opening bowlers this week saw Messrs Turner and Hillman into the attack, and Trojans rapidly found themselves falling behind the required run-rate of just over 6 an over as both bowlers kept it tight. The breakthrough came from the pressure applied by the bowling and the energy in the field, with the batsman attempting to flay a shot and only sending a dipping catch into Sam’s hands at point, well watched and held to leave the score at 12-1. At the other end, a couple of lofted drives to the boundary set up a trap, with Mike being pushed back to the line. The number three batsman duly lofted it high, heading for six, but instead only finding Mike ‘Bucket-hands’ Punt for a fine catch and vital wicket. Stu soon picked up his second, the swing confounding the batsman and sending his stumps askew. 20-3.
A bit of stand then came from the Trojans batsman, as they dug in and tried to build their innings; fine spells from Steve and Stu ended without any further wickets but with Trojans well behind in the run-chase. Into the attack came the in-form Mike Punt, and the reward came just after drinks as the batsman tried to turn a shot round the corner and instead top-edged it. Under the falling ball was Mr Hillman, and the Curdridge fielders were already returning to their places anticipating the drop – but, determined to get everything out of his season before he departs to don a beret and surrender every time a German looks at him, Stu held the catch to give Mike his first wicket of the game. 81-4. Make that 81-5, as the very next ball a catch was dollied up into Craig’s hands, and for the second time this season Mike was on a hat-trick. This didn’t come, but at 81-5 it was becoming a matter of survival for Trojans.
With Sam at the other end, a wicket was reward for some tight bowling, to leave the score on 104-6, and then Mike’s third wicket came with a sharp stumping by Jack to make it 105-7. At about this time Jules, attempting to stop the ball, flopped to the ground like a manatee pumped full of tranquilisers after a hard night out in the grimmer parts of Southampton. Fortunately, this had no effect on the game and is in fact a gratuitous attempt to shoe into the report the mandatory animal-related metaphor.
With three wickets to find, Mark brought himself and Rob into the attack; with his second ball Rob picked up the wicket of a batsman who had been shepherding the score along, dismissed for a fighting 59 through another stumping by Jack. Mark fittingly finished the innings off, first finding the stumps, and then a catch once again finding its way to Mike, to leave Trojans all out for 133 and a Curdridge win by 113 runs.
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Once again contributions in one shape or form from everyone, a brilliant innings by most (if not all) of the batsmen, backed up by both tight bowling and noticeably improving and commitment in the field paying dividends as Trojans struggled throughout to find the runs.
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Currently, Curdridge have players at the top of the bowling, batting, fielding, and batting partnerships standings for league, long may it continue! And to channel ‘Just a Minute’, thanks also to Jan and Hayley for scoring on the table throughout the game.
Next week, at Home against Locks Heath; Mark may have mentioned he is quite keen to win…
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Man of the Match: Once again a number of candidates, Mike with a great bowling spell and two catches, Jack with 89 and excellent keeping, and Dom with 94 not out. I’m afraid I have to sit on the fence again and award it to both Dom and Jack.
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Donut of the Day: There were a few options for this, too, but by popular acclaim this week it goes to the Hillman Clan, with erroneous messages from Stu’s boys about phone calls, Stu disappearing off the pitch to make a call, trying to come back on just as Mike was in his run-up, and generally causing confusion all round!
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Champagne Moment: Some classic shots, including from the opposition with a six shattering the security light on the scout-hut, and Alan attempting to eliminate Jan, but as a whole team effort the Champagne Moment this week goes to the final wicket of the game and securing another maximum points.