CURDRIDGE vs TROJANS III's - 16th August 2025
The latest game in the saga of our season was our fourth (!) match against a Trojans team, this time the return fixture against Trojans IIIs. Having beaten them at home earlier this season and their being one place above us in the table, it was another match which felt like it could be a close one, but with every chance of finding another victory in our battle at the southern end of the table.
The promised heatwave seemed to be having a bit of a day off, and in overcast and windy conditions the skipper won the toss and elected to bowl, with full confidence in our ability to chase down a total. Accompanied by the noise of the motorway, the wind, and some sort of music festival going on in the distance, we took to the well-trodden turf of Hardmoor (an apt description, given recent weather).
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This week it would be Harry to open the bowling, fresh from some coaching with the skipper and sporting a headband making him look like the karate kid gone wrong. Unfortunately, the Trojans batsmen were in no mood for messing around and soon latched onto Harry’s bowling as we immediately saw the ball start to find its way all round the park. Opening up at the other end, Billy applied some early pressure, but to no avail as he too came off worse against the openers, and the Trojans score began to mount rapidly.
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With the score speeding to 75-0 after 8 overs, a change was called and the skipper came into the attack, whilst Mark Emm came on at the other end. The skipper found the breakthrough, and the first wicket fell on 98, whilst Mark kept things tight at the other end.
A second wicket soon fell with the score on 106 as the skipper picked up a second wicket, that of Curdridge alumni Tav, and with still more tight bowling from Mr Emm the Trojans’ run rate began to fall, although having reached the 100 mark in only 12 overs a big total was definitely on the cards, and the other opening batsman was still going strong.
With the score onto 132 Mark Emm got due reward for perseverance and pressure, taking a skied ball off his own bowling for a caught and bowed to claim the third wicket. Just a run later the score was 133-4 as the skipper got his third, and it felt like Curdridge were wresting back some momentum and energy, though still there were plenty of overs left in the innings. However, a fifth wicket would soon follow; Jules sliding in to stop the ball on the boundary restricted a shot to just a single, putting the opening batsman, still going strong, on strike. The next ball the batsman struck the ball in the air to Rob at short cover and the catch was taken for Mark Emm’s second well-deserved wicket and Trojans were 145-5.
Hope of rattling through the rest of the order was soon dashed, however, as the Trojans batsmen dug in and started to build a partnership again. The skipper finished his eight overs with three wickets, and Mark Emm, the stand-out bowler of the day, finished his spell of eight overs having conceded just 15 runs and claiming two vital wickets. They were replaced by Sammy at one end and Mike at the other, but sensible batting saw the score continue to mount, moving into the 200s.
Mike had picked up where Mark had left off, bowling a tight line, and being rewarded eventually: as the score reached 220 a long high shot was lofted towards long-off, only to fall safely into Billy’s hands. The score moving on by only one run, another shot lofted off Mike long down the ground, and in ran Billy to take a terrific sliding catch. Not long after, with the score on 236 Billy would complete a triumvirate of outstanding fielding with a rocket throw into Mike to complete a run-out as the batsmen pushed for two (Billy admitted to considering that that attempt to take on his arm had a degree of temerity about it…).
Just four runs later it was Alan’s turn to get in on the action, as the Trojans rail pushed for every run, calmly gathering the ball in and throwing it to Sammy to complete a run out, before just a couple of balls later diving forward to take a catch off Sammy’s bowling and dismiss the final Trojans batsman.
A bit of a fightback after a rapid start to the innings, with particular credit to Mark Emm for arresting the run-rate with his bowling, splendid fielding from Billy, and Mike also keeping the runs down off his bowling on a difficult day for the attack (I’d like to put a word in for some of my fielding too, but mainly on the basis of having put yet another hole in a pair of cricket trousers diving (successfully) to prevent a boundary).
So, a challenging total of 240 to chase down, but not insurmountable.
Last week’s opening partnership of Rob and Mark opened up again (this after I’d finally managed to wedge a sweatband under my helmet in an optimistic attempt to stop the constant requirement to clean my glasses every few overs…).
Following last week’s pattern, the innings began slowly, against a Trojans attack who weren’t initially giving much away at all, although it felt like it was only a matter of time before the wayward balls would come. (Incidentally, the Trojans opening bowling involved yet another left-arm bowler – seriously, this league seems to have a job-lot of them). The runs duly began to flow as both Mark and Rob began to find the boundary and pick off the singles, and although the run rate was more like 5 an over rather than the 6 needed, with plenty of batting to come it felt like a solid platform was building. This week it was Mark taking the lead and beginning to pick off the runs comfortably. The score began to mount, and the 50 partnership came, the bowling attack changed, and the score moved to 70 without loss. Unhappily at this point Mark incurred a muscle injury which stopped him from running, and forced him to retire hurt. In came Alan to the crease, but the next over Rob on 28 nicked one behind into the keeper’s gloves and immediately walked without any need for the umpire’s decision.
Next in was Billy, fresh from his rapid half-century last week, and immediately showed intent and struck his first ball to the boundary – which is becoming something of a habit, but a very welcome one! Sadly, this week it seemed the cricketing gods were turning their faces from Curdridge, as Billy then got one which struck the strip, failed to bounce, and thumped into his boot to dismiss him LBW with nothing he could have done.
Jules would soon follow, and from 70 without loss the score had fallen to 76-3 and of course the loss of Mark retired hurt.
Gary was next in, and with his usual vim and vigour was soon crashing the ball around as he and Alan attempted to inject momentum into the innings. A change in bowling brought a spinner on, using the dry, dusty pitch and finding the turn, sneaking one past Alan’s bat to bowl him and leave the score looking shaky on 110.
The innings was turning int a decision on chasing the win or ensuring the maximum number of batting points possible, as Trojans bowled well and tried to turn the screw. As they often do, Craig and Gary put on a partnership, using their prodigious batting abilities to find the boundary and punish any wayward balls, and the score again began to mount, moving past 150 before Gary was caught – a well-taken catch, it has to be said – at long off from a shot which for all the world had looked like it would be a boundary.
Soon after Craig fell, to leave us on 166-6, and with hopes of reaching the total fading the plan became to manage the score and reach the 200 mark for full batting points. Contributions from the skipper, and Harry edged us closer, as we moved past 175, and progress held together by a swashbuckling 25 not out from 19 balls from Sammy. With the score on 198 Mike fell, to leave us nine down, and two short of the final batting point. Back in came the injured Mark Emm – applauded by the Trojans players in a gesture of appreciation for the return of an injured batsman. With Mike acting as runner, Mark and Sammy steered the score past 200 and up to 212 before Mark was bowled in the last over of the game, denying him what would have been a deserved not-out and leaving us 28 runs short.
A chastening loss, and another one of those games where there are probably all sorts of things we can look back on which might have made the different, with ball, bat and in the field, not helped by poor luck such as Mark’s injury or the shooter to dismiss Billy.
Maximum bowling and batting points out of the game was a consolation, but with Eastleigh, our rivals in the relegation battle who we beat last week, shocking Locks Heath they have once again leapfrogged us, and the battle for survival is back on again with only two games to go.
A big thank you again to Jan and Hayley for scoring and acting as a safety deposit scheme too.
Man of the Match: One candidate this week, and it goes to Mark Emm for his outstanding bowling and solid batting, as well as going back in to help us get that final batting point.
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Champagne Moment: Billy claims it again – both his second catch and run out showing the way in the field.
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Donut of the Day: Nothing particularly comedic of note this week, and no single outstanding act of muppetry deserving of a Donut, so once again it rolls over.
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