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Welford Park Vs Phoenix

Not the sort of cricket match that Brooksie would approve of. Definitely more Buttler than Boycott, particularly when the opposition batted. At least Dushy played properly. His dour 13 off 57 balls formed a base from which the middle order could expand, Aseem and Herro joining forces at 59-3 and just over half the overs remaining.

Aseem was quick to point out that his 32 puts him top run scorer for the season. Jurgo and Stinger followed him with brief cameos, far too entertaining for Brooksie’s liking. And, to top it all, Herro kept hitting boundaries with a brisk 57* off 63 balls, Park finishing 166-8.

Then the abomination. The Phoenix opener gave Park an interesting lesson in shot selection: “If it’s short … whack it”, “If it’s full … whack it”, “if it’s a Yorker … yup, still whack it”. Granted, quite a lot of the whacks were not entirely controlled but, with yellow a popular colour for headgear, it didn’t really matter. Mikey and Curly suffered the most. Judging by his choice of car Curly isn’t too fussed about economy figures, so I think he was probably still quite cheerful (couldn’t be sure though cos most of the time he had his back to me running after the ball).

Phoenix had 78-0 on the board at near 10 an over yet Park knew that if catches were held it was still game on. Sir Isaac obliged at mid-on from his brother’s bowling. Not the big hitter quite yet though; he was to be Jamo’s but 35 runs on.

Stinger still had fight. His two wickets in an over followed by Herro bowling the remaining top order bat kept Park hoping at 137-5. Ludgate threatened too but there was to be just a consolation wicket for Herro with the scores already tied and it was early to pub for the Park.

Tip of the day (sponsored by Tesco Blue Stripe): If you want a middle-and-leg guard when Dushy is umpiring ask for “One and a half”

Theale & Tilehurst Vs Welford Park

A slow, early season, wicket. An outfield requiring a curling team to run in front of the ball, brooms replaced with scythes, for a shot along the deck to reach the boundary. Yes, runs were going to be hard to come by so Jurgo was not disappointed when the Theale & Tilehurst skip decided to bat in an 85 over win/lose/draw format.

A pre-match conference between the opening bowlers about ends resulted in Cale deciding to come up hill, an arrangement which suited Hill well. Curly, on the other hand, was understandably a bit rusty since he has been working too hard to make nets, but his failure to block a firmly struck drive with his kneecap puts him behind Jamo in the “Idiocy for The Cause” category of the “Who’s our favourite left armer” standings.

With the score 39-0 after eight overs Jurgo rang the changes. Debutant David The Campanologist bowled with accuracy. A catch off his own bowling did for White and, when he bowled Sharp, T&T were and 69-2 in the 17^th over. Meanwhile, on the weekend of Shakespeare’s 400^th anniversary, Park played The Tempest from the top. Stinger bowled with controlled venom but it wasn’t to be his day with the ball.

Soon after the next double change; Wigmore reached his fifty. His efforts to ensure that everyone knew about it so he could milk the applause exhausted him and, next ball, he had energy only to nick Uday behind for Jurgo’s 98^th Sunday dismissal for Park. (The Jurgo jug is nigh!)

Two more wickets fell in quick succession, this time to Mikey (6-0-12-2) who bowled Freeman and then saw Brook hurling the ball high in celebration of his catch at mid-wicket. 88-5 off 23.3.

Park kept it tight. Ludgate and the de-oxidised Curly returned from the top end, each with a success and, after Uday’s quality spell had kept him out of the attack for all but four overs, Herro bagged a brace.

Park’s fielding had been sound. Minor blemishes were limited to David “Campo” Wardell’s comedy dive, Aseem, lurking like a tiger in the long grass and leaping like an elephant, to claim the Yellow Cap and a Blue Stripe stumping appeal from Jurgo who was informed that the batsman needs to be out of his crease and the bail needs to fall off for it to be out so; his appeal had failed on two counts.

Park needed 135 to win off 41 overs. Brooksie stayed in typical fashion for a junior share with three partners: Dushy who played across the line early on, Aseem (41) who impressively built his innings with sensible shot selection, reserving his airshot for his final ball, and Herro who inexplicably batted like he had a plane to catch. 76-4 at drinks.

When Uday holed out at 82-5, Jurgo and Stinger attempted to keep all options open by ticking the score along without undue risk until, with 35 required off 5 overs it was twist or bust time. Stinger busted and T&T smelt blood.

A Jurgotesque 8 from 47 balls brought Park to within a couple of overs of the draw. Mikey hurt himself by accidentally doing the splits whilst running, requested Deep Heat to make it better and, possibly distracted, was out next ball. Fortunately Campo and Ludgate saved Curly from having to put his pads on (which would have made him very cross) and Park finished 110-8. Match drawn.

1st Game of 2015

Well as friendly games played on a day that began at -0.5 degrees, this one was a real pot-boiler! The visitors from Southampton Uni looked every inch the team on a mission as they showed up an hour before the start looking resplendent in chinos, blue blazers and club ties. Our last player actually arrived an hour into the game in pilot fancy dress so our standards cannot be said to have been quite as high. As Whispering pointed out, the rocking up in uniform really loses its shine after the 50th time Spinders. Though given the recent whatsapp stream, we all suspect he wears it at Herro’s request…

After Monica, skippering his first Sunday match, lost the toss – clearly due to a faulty coin leant to him by Jamo and his “these aren’t sight screen pushing shoes” – the Park were inserted on a very damp but drying wicket. The first ten overs were about survival, with Dushy and Monica poking and prodding at imaginary vipers to reach 12 for 0 after 10. The crowd was raucous with excitement, so much so that the first 2 of the day warranted a cheer. Monica cashed in on the change bowlers and brought up his 50 before drinks at 20 overs, with the park 77-0. Having mentioned to Dushy they should push on after drinks, the next ball precipitated Dushy’s wicket as the opposition Cheese turned one back from outside off. Aseem came in, hit three sumptuous boundaries and was lbw to the same bowler. Whispering came in as their slow left armer and Captain was turning the ball square and was done through the gate going for his trademark sweep, swiftly followed by a (unusually) grumbling Herro. Who’s be an umpire eh? Poor Jurgo.

Monica went in the 29^th over as fatigue (lack of fitness) caused him to play over a yorker. He was still taking off his pads when Atul was gone too. This left Spinders and Uday to bring home the innings, with Spinders carving the final ball over cover for the first six of the season – which turned out to be somewhat important!

After tea (the actual cups of tea, as made by Jamo, being a sought a grey, warmed up water with milk affair – must be how the upper classes like it), Southampton made a confident start on a much dryer wicket, reaching 30-odd without loss of 10 oversbefore Whispering struck, Mikey C taking a fine catch at point. After both Jamo and Whispering had got 6 good overs under their respective belts, Uday and Mikey C proceeded to bowl with superior swing and, after Uday’s 11 ball first over, great control to peg the Southampton boys back, Mikey deservedly amongst the wickets. Special mention to Uday for warranting 2 slips on a slow wicket on a Sunday in April! Play swung back in the park’s favour until a good 4^th wicket stand meant that with 6 wickets remaining, the boys from Wessex needed 6 an over off the last 10. Spinders and the Real Cheese bowled well without luck, Cheese again showing that the ball could be swung at the Park and Spinders showing good rhythm. There were a few dropped catches and a missed stumping as the Yellow Hat of Shame was passed around, but generally the Park fielded well, with Aseem exceptional in the outfield and Atul catching sparrows. Herro had a good day behind the stumps on a very testing surface for the stumpers.

Jamo and Whispering came back and a couple of quick wickets for Steve meant the park were back in the hunt. A fantastic game, played in an excellent spirit, came down the the last over. With 8 runs needed Monica turned to Spinders. With a wicket and a run out, it came down to the last ball, with 4 needed for a Southampton win. Holding his nerve to complete a stellar last over, Spinders was heaved towards the legside boundary, where Uday calmly threw in and the second run out of the over meant the Park were home by 2. Not bad the day after snow had fallen on the ground!

The Wessex chaps joined us for the traditional blue stripe, awarding it to the hapless chap who missed the easiest run out we’ll see this season (“go to fine leg and think about what you’ve done”). Our award went to Herro for making it halfway to the middle before realising that we had decided, in a break with tradition to use bats.

Well done and come on the Park!

2016 Nets

Nets start from 25th Jan 2016 till 28th Mar 2016 from 9-10 pm, every Monday at Newbury College (near Newbury Retail Park).

Address - Monks Ln, Newbury RG14 7TD

As you enter the college gates, take the first right. Continue till the end of the road (you'll pass Busybees Nursery on your right). At the end of the road, take left. There should be a large parking area there. The sports hall is at the end of the road. Mark Jurgens and Dushy have got access cards. Hopefully at least one of them would be at the venue before you arrive to let you in.

Subs for the nets would be GBP 5 per session

Dawn to Dusk 2015

Dawn ‘til Dusk Cricket Match – Welford Park v East Garston – 7^th July 2015

The weather gods were not looking good on Monday night so the covers were put on the Welford Wicket. Sure enough as players started to arrive at 6.00 am, yes you did read that correctly, rain seemed to be in the air. The covers were removed for the scheduled 6:30 start but then quickly put back on as the rain fell. 24 people were feeling frustrated in the pavilion as other activities took place. The 9.00am Breakfast break was brought forward to 8.00 and then play did start at 8:30 with Welford Winning the toss and electing to bat – a split decision in the home dressing room as to whether this was a good idea.

Skipper Mark Jurgens quickly decided it was not a good choice as he returned to the pavilion having only faced 2 balls for a duck. Six overs into the innings things had got worse with the home side now 18-3. This brought Will & Ian Herrington together with the latter getting dropped on 0, which was to be significant. Will was give out LBW for 17 with the score on 44 which brought Mikey Carter to the crease. Along with Ian these two rebuilt the Welford innings matching each other score for score all be it Ian started 10 runs in front. At the drinks break the score had moved onto 141-3 with Ian having just reached his half century and Mikey 5 runs away from his first ever half century. The next 10 overs were painful additional cricket at East Garston kept everything tight with only 11 runs added. Mikey’s Granddad arrived at the ground which was the signal for Mikey to hit a glorious drive to reach his first half century. A few runs later the 138 run stand was broken as Mikey was caught behind off Galbraith, 182-5. This signified a Welford collapse as Andy Barr went next ball and then Ian Herrington for 99 with Welford eventually 224-11 all out, (it was a 12 a side game) with Matty Galbraith taking 5-35, and it was lunch time!

Garston made a great start with Chris Aubrey (48) and Michael Green (19) plundering runs all around the ground but an inspired bowling change was Nookie Yaqub gt both batsmen in the space of 4 balls – 72-2. The middle order fell quickly as Will Herrington took 2 wickets in 4 overs conceding no runs at all with Andy Brr chipping in with one as well, as Garston slipped to 98-5. Dan Hawkins however became the main stay of the Garston innings, top scoring with 70 ably supported by Russell Highnett (30) putting on 97 for the 6^th wicket. At 207-8 it looked like Welford might have a small first innings lead by Matty Galbraith had other ideas scoring a quick fire 19 taking the visitors to a 4 run lead, however Garston were bowled out for 232 , a small lead of 8 runs into the second innings. Tea was then taken.

Under the rules of the match a sides top 5 scoring batsmen had to bat in reverse order at the end of the innings so Ian Herrington and Dan Hawkins would be their sides no12’s etc.

Welford were able to keep their same opening pair and again Jurgens was out to the second ball he face so not a very good day for the match organiser. Will Thornton, Manu Chadha and Adrian Bean all got going into double figures but there was a steady fall of wickets with only Nokhaz Yaqub playing attacking shots reaching 32 before being bowled by R Highnett. With Skelton Run out this brought in Will Herrington who hit a quick fire 55 off 28 balls and with last Man Ian Herrington (16) added 46 runs from 21 ball as Welford declared on 188-10 setting Garston a target of 181 from just over an hour and a half play which Welford said they would bowl around 30 overs to win so about 6 runs per over.

Blackmore and Burkitt and then Manoharan got the visitors off and running but lost their wickets so the score was 37-3 off 6 overs. Vince and Will Highnett put together a 38 run stand in the next 10 overs but Garston were slipping behind the rate. When Willoughby was 7^th man out making the score 104-7 from 25 overs Garston’s chance seemed to have gone however Galbraith had other ideas smashing 21 off 10 balls. Garston however lost Green run out and then Galbraith brilliantly caught by Chadha making the score 133-9 from 28 overs. Welford had bowled their overs quicker than expected and there was still time for four more overs. The next two only went for 4 runs leaving Garston needing 42 from the last 2 overs. A fine attempt from Chris Aubrey saw him score 27 off 14 balls but Garston ended up on 167-9. Thus Welford were 2 wickets short of winning and Garston 14 runs.

So 175 overs had been bowled in the day, despite there being a 2 hour rain delay and 24 people left the ground very tired but hopefully satisfied having raised funds for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance. You can still donate by going to https://www.justgiving.com/dawn-to-dusk-2015/ or by contacting Ian Herrington on 01488 648132.

Club Store

We now have our very own club store on our website (Click on Club Store to have a look)

Please note that the white square box behind the club badge will not appear on the finished garments.

A big thanks to James for organsing this.

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