Sunday 1st XI Vs Harrold

On one of the coldest opening weekends that many could remember, the Sunday 1st XI got their campaign in Division One underway with an away fixture at Harrold. The core of the side from last season was the same, and The Boars welcomed slow left arm bowler and middle order batsman Dan Vernon back after a few years away.

Wet weather in the lead up had meant problems with mowing the outfield, which was long and very slow, and also a bowler-friendly looking pitch. Harrold’s captain Kieran Fowler won the toss who didn’t hesitate to bowl first on this pitch, especially with healthy cloud cover overhead.

Eversholt’s openers Rowan and Josh started slowly against the new ball that was moving laterally significantly, as well as bouncing inconsistently. Eventually Josh was tempted into a drive and was bowled for 0, bringing Ian Barrie (making his Eversholt league debut after two highly impressive friendly performances) to the crease. Unfortunately, Ian couldn’t add to his record of two 100s in two games, caught brilliantly by the Harrold ‘keeper Stevenson.

Dan and Hassam Mushtaq, usually such reliable members of the middle order were both adjudged LBW without making too much of an impact on the score, and when Rowan was also trapped in front, Eversholt were in trouble at 38-5. Harrold opening bowler Will Johnston finished with impressive figures of 8-1-18-4.

Oli Woodhouse and Saturday skipper Jake Nicholls combined into the first meaningful partnership of the day, Oli digging in as Jake attacked. The bowling was still tight, and the ball still moving and misbehaving, making Jake’s 40 off 44 balls all the more impressive. When he too was given out LBW, the score was 93/6 off 27 overs.

Buzz joined Oli who took his turn to attack as much as he could, hitting several boundaries including a handsome 6 over wide long on. Buzz became the umpires 5th victim when he was also out leg before. The tail joined Oli and attempted to hit some lusty blows in an attempt to get us up to a par score, however it was a tough ask and eventually Oli, followed by Kalim and Kamran were caught on the fence. All out 129, with 8 balls of the innings left un-faced.

Ricky and Kamran shared the new ball as Eversholt looked to defend 130, hoping that we would get a similar amount of assistance from conditions. It was Kamran who struck first, with opening batsman Ratcliffe caught in the gully by Jake. Despite the moving ball, Harrold’s other opener Pritchard and wicketkeeper-batsman Stevenson counter attacked adding 50 in quick time. Pritchard, who was dropped on 6, was eventually trapped in front by Rick for 12.

It was the introduction of spin that changed the nature of Harrold’s chase; with Hassam and Kalim bowling in tandem the runs dried up. Kalim bowled both Harrold’s number 4 and 5, before Hass crucially had Stevenson LBW for 32. When Hassam also bowled both of their numbers 7 and 8 for ducks, and Kalim had number 9 stumped for the same score, Harrold were 82-8 and struggling.

Their skipper Fowler went on the attack, hitting several big 6s over the small leg side boundary and straight down the ground, sharing a partnership of 25 with number 10 Johnston (9), who as caught off Dan’s slow left armers, before being joined by the last man Luke Barnett with 23 still needed for victory.

Fowler survived an incredibly close LBW shout off Dan, before, with 4 required to win, a running mix up led to him being hit by the throw that would have left him stranded. The benefit of the doubt was given to the batsman and Fowler survived. With two to win Eversholt to a man were convinced that Fowler had feathered an edge through to the keeper off Oli Woodhouse, but their appeals were again waved away. With the scores level, number 11 Barnett hit Oli for 6 over mid off to win an extraordinary game.

Man of the match goes to Hassam Mushtaq for his spell of 8-1-19-4, with honourable mentions to Jake for his 40 and Kalim for his 8-2-20-2.

Scorecard