Another ton for Nick Lo in big win against Hunton Wanderers

Saturday 22nd September 2012
Stoke D’Abernon 298 for 4 (40 overs)
Hunton Wanderers 109 all out (38 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon won by 189 runs

A second century in as many innings for Nick Lo, the first player to hit back to back hundreds for the club since Thiru Madhavan in 2000, (http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/individualPerformanceResults.asp?seasonID=11&userID=10729297), as Stoke registered a big win against new friends from Hunton Wanderers.

Whilst the scorecard is factually correct in terms of how a strong post-League Stoke friendly XI met an opposition missing a number of their own 1st XI regulars, there was much common ground in the way the teams enjoyed their cricket.

Remember that it takes two sides to make a game. On Wednesday the Team & Fixture Secretary, short on replies to requests for availability, posted an ad to say that we only had 7 to 8 available, but if anyone was out there who wanted to play a short-sided game, or lend us some players, then please call. An e-mail came in pretty much straight away with an offer of four players to complete a Stoke XI, and a willingness to travel from Kent. Fixture agreed, friendly banter exchanged during the next 48 hours.

In the end the opposition were down to their last eleven, but Jase Earl and Nick Lo got their phones out and Stoke had eleven of their own players ready to go. Club debuts were given to Damien Martin, (Australian, but not the real one), Matt Lo, Jeremy Ward and Alex Chaize. All were given their chance by Jack Raimondo who surprised the nation by winning the toss.

So to the cricket. Nick Lo’s knock had a similar pattern to last Sunday. An early life as a regulation catch at the wicket went to ground, see off the new ball, then punish anything errant from the change bowlers.

An opening stand of 94 was registered in quick time; Raimondo hitting 36 of them before his boredom threshold was crossed and he was bowled by D.Leppard, (a slow left-armer, not the band.)

Dan Douthwaite entered the arena and again constructed a innings to be proud of. He made sure he got himself in and became more expansive as the bowlers started to tire, playing very straight and judging his acts of aggression correctly.

A partnership of 102 was the result. Lo went through the gears and moved from 49, (a six to bring up his fifty), to 101 off just 25 balls, before he was bowled by the returning Bassam for 114.

Douthwaite then took on the role of senior partner; but still ended up in a hitting competition with debutant Martin. Both fell to good catches by Janagill; Douthwaite for 36, then Martin for 30, the latter’s innings made up entirely of boundaries, (3×6, 3×4)

Martin’s dismissal would be the visitors’ last success with the ball. Nico Spreeth banked more match experience with a chanceless 31 not out, and Matt Lo hit an unbeaten 22 including two fours in the last three balls to close the innings on a formidable 298 for 4.

Jo served up another fantastic tea and the visitors soon forgot their stint in the field.

Chaize took two early wickets when Matthewson chipped a full toss to Ralph Coleman, then Bushell hit to Matt Lo, moments after being positioned on the drive by the brains committee.

Hawkins toughed it out against Earl, but called visiting captain MaGuire through for single, only to see Coleman(!) get to the ball quickly(!) and return an accurate(!) throw to keeper Raimondo. 26 for 3.

Wickets four and five were not long coming; a pair of leg befores for Ward to account for Taylor and Leudette. These wickets owed much to the pressure created by Rowland Prytherch who conceded just three runs in his five overs. 54 for 6.

A period of frustration then ensued as Hawkins and Bassam added 50 for the seventh wicket. The stand was broken as Bassam was bowled by Matt Lo for 16. Matt L then showed good hands to give Spreeth another wicket in his productive debut season.

Thereafter it was a procession. Hawkins had battled through to 30 before Raimondo, (who swapped the gloves with Nick Lo), got one through his defences. Douthwaite roughed up Hunter, who could only dolly up a chance to Earl at mid-off, (not before the batsman celebrated his first of three runs with a ‘Ravanelli’ – or in cricket terms in the same way as Sir Geoff did when he completed his 100th First Class hundred against Australia – we must give him Richie Parrett’s number); then Raimondo gobbled up another cheap tail-end wicket when Leppard missed a full toss and was palpably leg before.

Credit to the visitors who acknowledged on the day they were missing a few first choice players and ran into a post-League Stoke XI that was on the strong side given the time of year. They stayed a long time after the match was completed and made a healthy contribution to the bar.

When sides are on the end of such defeats, it is easy to simply pack up and go home, or lose their heads in the field. Nothing of the sort. If we ever tour in their direction, we’ll be on the phone to them.

Will there be any more cricket next weekend? Get your availabilities in and we’ll see if we can get a pre-Awards Night friendly match on Saturday 29th and/or one last hurrah on Sunday 30th.

Scorecard Link : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=11599197