13/06/2022
Match Summary -
Wild Duck CC 219/6 (30 overs)
Rob Hiscock XI 164/8 (30 overs)
As a cricket loving Englishman, the wait in between Ashes series always seems like an eternity, and we’re all longing for some serious competitive cricket to entertain us on these long summer afternoons. Well, yesterday (Sunday 12th June), on said summer afternoon, with the Wild Duck back at their fortress, Tarbarrow, a match was played that may have left even the Ashes in the shadows.
The match in question, was a charity match, played between The Wild Duck CC and the Rob Hiscock XI. It was raising money for Prostate Cancer UK, and at last count we had raised over £800. I say we, this was all the brainchild of Judith Hiscock, who put on a fantastic day and without her, none of this would have been possible.
The captains where called out into the middle by the two official umpires (not something a village cricket team is used to, and we’re certainly going to feel a little put out when called upon to do the job in between playing going forward) for the toss, the Wild Duck started well by winning this, and decided they were going to have a bat, slightly risqué, given their last efforts at Rodmarton, but they were ever optimistic.
N. Jenner (17) and W. Hewer (31rtrd) walked out and went about setting up a good run rate early on, in the effortless way only opening batsman can. G. Martin (31rtrd) came out at 3 and set about finding every available gap in the outfield, putting us in a very commanding position. C. Huck (1) and A. Wilson (0) were unfortunate not to score more, both having to deal with some rather inconsistent bowling and A. Jackson (10) continued his blistering form, although slightly slowing the run rate down in the process. Still, this was a steady start and at drinks, with 15 overs to go, 200 looked possible. W. Hamond (27) put on a Ben Stokes esc performance, knocking 27 off 16 balls, although there did seem to be some brown paper bag stuff going on after he was dismissed on his second ball. Our newest recruit A. Nicholson (30rtrd) strolled out next, and none of us really knew what to expect, we certainly didn’t expect to see him again 14 balls later having knocked 30 retired. Captain not so fantastic J. Smith (21no) did a slightly better job this match and even managed a couple of straight bat defensive shots whilst closing it out with A. Marriott (4no) who made sure we went the distance, and with a score of 219/6…..that’ll do nicely.
Having all eaten rather too much of the BBQ, with the same being said for cider consumption, it was the Rob Hiscock XI’s turn to swing the willow, and boy didn’t they swing it. With no wickets falling for the first four overs, we all started to get a little twitchy, so, we again turned to the Player of the Match and our newest recruit A. Nicholson, who took a wicket in his second over, and that’s the thing about wickets, they’re a little like buses, because shortly after that, C. Huck took our second. Our form in the field continued from the last match and everyone did a excellent job of stopping boundaries, well, once we had finally gotten their opener out on 29, although not before he hit two sixes over the longest boundary. Having missed out on having a bat, O. Nichols gave the selectors something to think about, bowling a wicket maiden and going for just 3 runs off his 3 overs whilst taking 2 wickets in the process, sensational. Although they went the distance, our tight bowling and work in the field meant we managed to keep them to 164/8, meaning a Duck victory by 55 runs.
So, there we have it, all the excitement and drama of the Ashes, but in one day…….one location……and (after much debating in the pub afterwards) every year.
****DISCLAIMER – The Wild Duck CC fully supports test cricket and doesn’t believe one day is better!
