Sunday 28th April 2019
Tour Friendly
Stoke D’Abernon 188 for 8 (40 overs)
Woodbridge & Old Woodbridgians 104 all out (24.1 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon won by 84 runs
Stoke completed a 100% record on tour with a great win against Woodbridge who stepped in for the fixture after hosts Bungay needed resources to fulfil their League fixture. Thanks to Nick Lo for sourcing the opposition, securing use of the ground and arranging teas.
After the 1st XI had their fun the previous day, the Sunday side, made up of many of the Over 40s squad, took their turn; but the pros deserve a lot of credit for helping complete the Stoke XI, for others to field in rotation for the opposition who were missing a couple, and a couple who batted for them at the end.
With the opposition arriving with only nine, (one of whom arrived without kit and waited for his Mum to deliver it some distance to the ground), a negotiated toss saw Stoke bat first in a 40:40.
The Frost brothers were permitted to open the batting together. The O40s took the next spots in the order and the pros provided backup…but actually only faced one ball between them.
Tom played positively and hit some nice shots – some well saved on the circle by the fielders from the tour party – whilst Will batted patiently but still scored at the effective rate off anything loose.
A partnership of 67 ended when Tom F, (45 from 36), pulled one to square leg. Justin Jones dragged the fourth ball he faced on to his stumps, but Mark Christie played nicely, a helping of overthrows saw him reach 14 before he was caught at point with the total on 95.
In 2005 MP Vaughan asked KP Pietersen how he should play in the penultimate session of the Ashes. It’s alleged he was told “your way” – fast forward to 2019 and our KP Morgan asked his captain the same question. Given the brief to block the straight one and smash anything off line he did just that and made one of his highest scores in his ‘young’ Stoke career.
He was the lucky one to be at the crease when Willo reached a maiden half-century off the 68th ball he faced. Willo lost KP with the total on 139, and his captain – who didn’t practice what he preached to KP – on 166. Suddenly the need for Willo to try and go the distance gathered importance – surely he wouldn’t carry his bat, would he?
The dream was ended by his brother of all people who, acting as a substitute fielder, ran him out for 68 with ten fours and a career average now in double figures.
Geoff Vinall and Adrian Mills batted all bar the last ball of the remaining overs. He of pony tail was bowled by Minhas; next ball Handel was bowled behind his legs to halve his tour average. With Ian Hopton not padded up and Shawn Dyson umpiring; Vinall, (12 not out), swapped ends and hit the last ball for two to close the innings on 188 for 8.
Dyson’s willingness to support the Club at all levels saw him offer to keep wicket after another excellent tea.
Mills and Vinall were accurate; the former building pressure as per his tour song; enabling the latter to take two wickets, the first to a good catch by Jones over his shoulder that looked more like Hopton’s when it left the bat, the second saw off stump uprooted and the leg bail still resting on the other two.
Sadly we could only get a side-on shot – courtesy of square leg umpire Nick Lo – but said picture is surely a contender for the feature image of the tour?
Anyway back to the cricket; Woodbridge opener and captain Button had made 33 of the 46 runs before serving up a return catch to Ralph Coleman who only brought himself on as Christie fancied the other end.
Christie made the right call as the O40s continued to show their stuff, Jones taking a nice slip catch off his bowling to account for Sillis for 13. 61 for 4.
Barlow and Baskett kept the board ticking and had one or both gone on it might have made for an interesting finish when news broke that Blackburn and Trower were listed to come in at 10 and 11.
However it was time for some spin. Smart money might have seen Will Frost be the first to have a turn, then Hopton maybe; but it was Handel, with two wickets in two balls in his first over – his first wickets for the Club since September 2014 – who opened the door to a quick finish.
The door ajar, Hopton smashed through it, dispatching the tail with four quick wickets in twelve balls to close the match. Handel took a ridiculous catch on the line; throwing it back to prevent a six, then another more regulation one at cow; Dyson took the simplest of catches followed by a smart stumping of Blackburn who hit another maximum. James Trower was left unbeaten on 2.
Hopton 3.1-0-12-4, Handel 2-1-11-2, the last six wickets fell for just 23 and Woodbridge were all out for 104 in just 25.1 overs.
A great way to end a great weekend. Everyone made it home safely and should all have taken a memory or two – or more – back with them. To think this weekend started with a throwaway comment in the bar after one of the Over 40s training sessions.
There are too many people to thank, particularly the players who came along to make it happen in the first place; but it would be remiss of us not to mention Nick for giving us exclusive use of Barn Owl Glade for the weekend, for sourcing the fixtures, arranging teas and being a constant source of help with logistics.
Scorecard : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/4031247