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Sunday 06 September 2009

Match Report

The Chris Tarrant Lord’s Taverners XI v Bourne CC
Bourne, Lincolnshire
MANAGER/ADMINISTRATOR: JOHN PRICE

To view the match scorecard please click here.

The Lord's Taverners XIII won by 2 wickets.

Bourne CC: 247 for 7 ( C. Williams 61; A. Stroud 2-39)

The Lord's Taverners XIII: 250 for 10 ( P. Collins 83; C. Dring 2-13)

As hoped, it all came down to the last over with Chris Tarrant’s Lord’s Taverner team chasing 248 to win in just 35 overs.

Mike Gatting, opening the batting for the visitors, makes a swift start, taking advantage of being dropped badly at mid off when on 3, but he departs for 24, caught superbly in the deep by Bourne’s Pat Hallam with the score on 37. Gatt’s departure makes way for Barbadian paceman Pedro Collins, batting somewhat higher in the order than would normally be his place in the West Indies test team. Pedro plunders the Bourne attack taking 83 from just 53 balls including 14 fours and two mighty sixes. The home side’s earlier posting of 247 for 7 is beginning to look insufficient when Pedro is caught behind going for another huge six. Charlie Dale has already departed, second ball, without troubling the scorers, and with James “Jimbo” Gatting and Graeme Archer both back in the pavilion with their scores only in the teens, the Taverners are wavering at 146 for 5, needing another 102 from the last twelve overs.

Skipper Chris Tarrant is joined at the crease by The Taverners secret weapon, Lorraine Chase, who blocks her way through one of the precious overs, scampering a single off the last ball to keep the strike! Lorraine manages a second run before being stumped by Bourne wicketkeeper, Matt Creaney. The Lord’s Taverners’ skipper, meanwhile, keeps his composure, lofting a mighty six over midwicket, before also becoming a stumping victim. Suddenly the Taverners are 183 for 7, 65 runs short of the target with only a handful of overs left.

Cometh the time, cometh the men, with first Tim Stimson and then Neil Smith striking the ball sweetly to all points of the compass. With just ten runs needed for a famous victory, Tim Stimson attempts one square cut too many and is caught behind, 238 for 8. This brings Mike Neilson to the centre, striding out with (lack-of) confidence oozing from every pore. He stands and waves his bat as the first four balls faced whistle past to the keeper, before his fifth finally puts him out of his misery, neatly bending back the middle stump, 238 for 9. Up stands, Archie Stroud, fifteen-year-old son of the Bourne CC chairman and the ringer in our midst. But again the willow cannot find the leather and a couple of leg byes move the score agonisingly slowly on to 241 before Archie’s stumps are broken by the bowling of Chris Dring. The Taverners are 241 for 10.

Premature celebrations by the home crowd are quickly hushed as the Lord’s Taverner batsman number 12, Frazer Hines, strides to the crease with just nine balls of the innings remaining and with six runs still needed. Captain Tarrant, watching from the pavilion, shouts instructions at his number 12, “Just block out these three, Frazer, and let Neil have the strike for the last over.” Not a bad idea really considering Frazer’s long tradition of ducks for the Taverners. Nevertheless, JK Lever, the secret thirteenth man, is sent to pad up, just in case.

Frazer’s first ball thuds into his pads and the bowler utters a stifled appeal that the umpire, Mike Denness, dismisses with the disdain it deserves. The second ball escapes the edge and smacks harmlessly into the keeper’s gloves. “So far so good,” mumbles the skipper, his knuckles showing white with tension as he grips his wine glass. And so to Frazer’s third ball, the last of the over - a long-hop on leg stump that Frazer cannot resist. He swipes and makes a connection of sorts. The ball runs out to mid wicket but, alas, there is no fielder. “Yes,” cries Frazer, charging down the wicket. Neil Smith has no alternative but to take the run. Frazer Hines has stolen the strike for the last over with five runs still needed. The skipper hangs his head and groans, the best laid plans have gone awry. “Perhaps Frazer will score five more,” says Mike Neilson forlornly. “Don’t be bloody daft,” retorts team manager John ‘Sport’ Price, “he’s already got one run and that’s more than he usually gets in the whole season.”

And so we arrive at that last over climax.

Bourne fast man, Tom Bentley paws the ground. Frazer, meanwhile, stands unconcerned as the bowler thunders in. He wafts his bat in the general direction of the ball but carefully avoids any contact. Tarrant groans audibly, and sips more wine. Now five balls are left and still those five runs are needed. Bentley is back at the start of his run. International umpire Don Oslear checks that Frazer is ready. The ground almost shakes as the bowler approaches and there is a hush around the ground as he leaps into his delivery stride. The ball is on its way, seemingly in slow motion. Frazer swings and, what joy, he connects with a swipe to cow corner “Yessssssss” he cries setting off. “Just one,” is the chorus from the pavilion as Frazer looks to turn and register his highest ever score. Neil Smith sensibly sends him back. Can Neil now follow up his ‘impossible’ reflex slip catch of earlier in the day with the four runs needed to win? He calmly takes a two off the next ball before swatting the fourth of the over to the boundary for victory. Dare one say, it’s a bit of an anti-climax with two balls of the innings remaining.

And so ends a great Lord’s Taverner day out to Bourne. The Lincolnshire cricket club hosting a wonderful match and a delicious lunch during which our president and team captain, Chris Tarrant, was able to announce that a second Lord’s Taverner specially adapted wheelchair minibus would soon be presented to the nearby Willoughby School. Chris, together with Gatt, Lorraine and Frazer, also cajoled and bullied bids at the auction raising more than nine thousand pounds for the charity. Add to all that a perfect pinpoint drop from the RAF Falcons parachute display team as well as a spectacular mid-afternoon aerial display from a Spitfire, it’s Merlin engine sounding so sweet as it repeatedly dived towards the cricket ground waggling its wings in greeting to those feasting on the hog roast or queuing for an ice cream. Even the weather cooperated to make it a day to relish and remember. We wearily take our leave of our hosts offering our thanks and appreciation for such a special occasion.

And so to the cricket result - as if it mattered: Bourne Cricket Club 247 for 7 (Craig Williams 61, Will Clough 55), The Chris Tarrant’s Lord’s Taverner XIII 250 for 10 (Pedro Collins 83, Neil Smith 43no). I suppose scorer Trevor Sturgess should record that as a win for the Taverners by no wickets!

© Felix Francis 2009

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