CURDRIDGE vs TROJANS III's - 14th June 2025
For the readers from the Harry Wilkins School of Big Words: We won, yay.
I normally start these reports with a comment on the weather (well, after we’ve got the nonsense out of the way regards Harry needing a short version of the report), however, if even our resident weatherman Tom Radar Mould is flummoxed, what hope do the rest of us have. Suffice to say, the sun was out, the pitch was dry, and the game was on.
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Having roundly beaten Trojan IVs a few weeks ago, the opportunity was on to do the double over Trojans. Although, as we now play every side home and away, meaning this season we’re playing Trojans four times (!) the opportunity was there to do the… half? Out strode Mark to do the toss, successfully inducing a false shot from the opposition skipper and electing to put us in to bat first. The usual opening partnership of Dom and Rob’s Still-Counts-as-New Bat went out to kick things off, following their hundred-odd partnership from the previous match.
Trojans elected to open the bowling with a left-hander, prompting Rob to think ‘oh not another one’; fortunately, Dom absorbed a fair few of the opening balls from that end, as a tight line was bowled and runs restricted. The bowling was equally tricky from the other end, with some excellent balls mixed in with some indifferent ones which both batsmen began to capitalise on, after both survived early on being dropped behind the wicket. The luck seemed to be going our way, for once.
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At 10 overs the score was nearing 50 without loss, and the partnership increased in pace as the innings headed towards drinks, before Rob top-edged one to be caught for a reasonably solid 34 and a decent opening stand of 75-ish.
In went Jules to support Dom and immediately went on the attack, and runs began to mount. Come drinks no further wickets had fallen. The attack from both Dom and Jules continued after drinks, and the ball was despatched to the boundary in all directions, before Jules was dismissed for a rapid 27 but which in concert with Dom had seen the score move well past 150.
Jack joined Dom at the crease, and both batsmen continued to find the boundary before Dom was bowled for 76 after another excellent innings pushing us on towards 200. Craig and Jack each added 16, with Jack caught at square leg by the fielder who had been hiding behind the square-leg umpire, before Craig was bowled, leaving it to Alan and Dan to see the innings out. Dan striking the final ball for 4 to leave Curdridge on a solid total of 223-5 at the end of their innings. A total boosted, it must be added, by Trojans conceding 43 extras…
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An excellent tea this week, provided by Sam. Sorry, I’ll rephrase that, tea this week was provided by Hayley, although I’m informed Sam helped a bit, mostly by supervising.
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Onto the Trojans innings, and the bowling was opened by Dan at one end and Stu at the other. Tight overs ensued, and after a wayward opening-ball wide Dan soon struck, as the ball was directed into Dom’s hands and the first wicket had fallen. Keeping it tight at both ends Trojans struggled to find the runs, and the pressure was kept up as Dan bowled the other opener; incidentally this taking his wicket tally above Mike Punt’s – and long may that continue!
Stu then struck from the other end, a just reward for his initial spell, as another catch went to Dom, dropping all the way but Dom had his hands under it and Trojans were three down with the score still only in the 30s. This, by my reckoning, also takes Dom ahead of Mike’s tally of catches for the season so far – again, let’s keep that up!
Curdridge seemed to be right on top and may have been forgiven for anticipating an opportunity for getting into the tail of the Trojans batting order. The player hitherto known as Steve but who has informed me he wishes to be referred to as Monster was brought into the attack, with much endeavour failing to be rewarded but also limiting the runs. Cagey starts from the fresh batsman, tight bowling, excellent work behind the stumps by Jack, and a good effort in the field helped to limit the runs, and by drinks Tojans had only reached 50 for the loss of three wickets.
What happened thereafter in seasons gone by may well have resulted in a chastening defeat for Curdridge, and certainly little motivation to write a match report. The Trojans batsmen began to accumulate the runs, and gave away no chances as the Curdridge bowlers could find no answer. Seeking to change things up, Mark brought Rob on. Two overs later, by common agreement (very much including Rob), Mark took Rob off and brought himself on. (All I shall say is that bowling is a fickle art and today it completely deserted me).
As the batsmen continued to accumulate their scores, the total began to loom ever closer. Learning from the defeat to Locks Heath the other week, the field was spread with almost every fielder on the boundary, and an excellent effort on a hot and humid day saw many balls which on another day would be boundaries cut out for ones and twos. It has to be said, if the Trojans batsmen had pushed to turn singles into twos more, I would probably be writing about a defeat – another lesson to pick up for our own batting.
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Even as the total got closer, the required run rate remained or crept up. A change to the bowling brought both Stu and Monster back on to finish their overs, but still the runs came. 36 needed from 3 overs became 26 needed from 2, becoming 16 runs needed from the final over, with one Trojans batsman already having scored a fine century and the other in the 70s.
As a skipper should, Mark had the final over with every fielder out to stop boundaries at all costs. The Trojans batsmen couldn’t find the boundary, and despite pushing for twos Mark held his nerve with the bowling, offering nothing free, and the Trojans innings came to an end on 217-3, leaving two rightly-disappointed batsman and 11 very relieved Curdridge players on the field. A win is a win, but let’s not have too many like that!
Thank you once again also to Jan for scoring – it always affords to be said how much having a dedicated scorer makes things easier; not least having a scoresheet we can all read!
Next week, away at Wide Lane to Southampton Community, on what promises on early forecasts to be a bit of a scorcher.
Man of the Match: a couple of candidates this week, Dan with outstanding bowling taking 2-20 for in his 8 overs and really restricting the Trojans innings early on, but Dom just edges it this week with another innings anchoring the Curdridge total and two fine catches.
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Donut of the Day: this week by agreement it goes to Mark, for uttering the words “Rob, take the next over from that end”… We should also note he apparently forgot both the scorebook and the match ball.
Champagne Moment: This goes to Mark, too, for the words “Rob, I’m going to have a bowl”, but also for a nerveless final over holding out to ensure we got over the line for the win.