Wizzy News 31 August 2023 backup

Memorial Sunday

**When one pair of sunglasses just isnt enough- umpire Darren Hunter**

**Where did that one go ? Frank Vickery**

**Always smiliing on the cricket field – Josh Dixon**

Dan Vickery

Please click here for Jonny Farmer’s video response to his dismissal by Dan Vickery

Friday night training

Just a quick reminder that the under 10 and above age groups will be having their informal training sessions from 6 pm on Friday evening.

Honours Boards

Congratulations to all players who made it onto the Honours Board this week

First X1 vs Three Bridges

On Saturday Wisborough green welcomed Three Bridges 2nd XI to the green. Unwelcome was the showers that were sprinkled through out the day.
Wisborough loss the toss and were put into bat only for a brief shower to liven up the wicket as the openers, Dan Vickery and Chris Douglas strode out.

It was difficult going to start with a wiley bowler from one end and a quicker younger bowler at the other. Dan Vickery was first to go for just 7. Jnr elevated to 3 joined Chris at the crease. Even after the opening bowlers were seen off, scoring remained difficult and Chris was soon dismissed for 27.
Tom Dawson and Jnr would then build a partnership albeit another slow scoring one right up until the rain forced the game to stop. Tea was taken early as the rain hammered down. The new drainage would be put in to good use. As was Ash Perry’s now legendary blowing skills. Having only lost 4 overs per side we were back out.
Just 2 wickets down with quick scorers still to come Wisborough seemed in a solid position and thoughts turned to upping the strike rate.

Wis had finally reached 100 after 30 overs just before Tom was called through for the single only for the stumps at his end to be thrown down. Quick scorer, Ash was out after 2 balls followed by Matt Ritchie which meant the only thing scoring quickly was Rob Knight.

DJ added some impetus and with just 7 overs to go helped junior move through the gears. Both players batting well, running quickly and finding the legside boundary. They would both see it to the end of the innings, Jnr reaching his maiden 1stXI 50 guiding the final ball expertly to the fine third man boundary for 4.

The target was revised to 168 and the players were straight back out to defend what felt like a very respectable score. Hugo March and Ash Perry were given the chance to open the bowling and take advantage of the seaming and spinning conditions. The three Bridges batters had other ideas, batting positively and putting away any bad ball; the pitch now back to the road it has been in past weeks.

The bowling changes were rung but the strike rate couldn’t contrast the first innings more. Both openers reaching 50 smashing the ball to all parts.
Young standout, Matt Ritchie was the one to make the breakthrough trimming the top of the stumps, the score being 142.
Less than 25 runs to get Three Bridges stagnated, barely scoring a run an over and losing 3 more wickets. 2 for Ash, one more for Matt assisted by two smart catches taken by Jnr and one by Hugo.

Unfortunately the damage had been done and Three Bridges reached the total 4 wickets down.

Not the result we wanted, but having the worse of conditions and finding out after the game that 4 of their most effective players normally play in their 1st XI, Wisborough can hold their head high.

Please click here for the full scorecard

James Rainford

Second X1 vs Chippingdale

My suspicion is that there were many things that the 2nd XI would have wanted to do as we arrived in the back parts of Worthing as it hosed it down, grey clouds massed over our little corner of England on Saturday afternoon. Cricket was far from the mind of this correspondent and he didn’t mind telling everyone about it – not setting a great example to the younger members of the XI, or anyone else for that matter. Incredulously the oppo’s captain insisted that play must start, throwing around words such as “league protocol” and other such expressions that inevitably peaked the interest of our very own Peter Klein who had been drafted in as umpire and player for the day.

As we begrudgingly accepted that indeed cricket was to be played, Tarni regrettably lost the toss and we were sent in for a bat on a very wet wicket. It was pretty hard going – three early wickets falling as Calder-Smith, Ran Dawson and Palmer all playing shots that they probably wished they hadn’t. 15-3 in the 7th. Fortunately Tommy Colbran and Skipper Tarni steadied the ship building a solid partnership – both showing resilience in defence and flair in attack. They were made to work hard for their runs on a wet outfield and, what’s the word, “nagging” bowling from both ends. A fabulous 100 partnership ensued before Tarni chipped one to mid off for a agonising 46, and Colbran, controversially given out stumped by a clearly blind umpire (ahem, it may have been me…) for 61. George Nicholls provided the backbone for some late runs by WGCC limped to 159 after the 40, which i think we all felt was a little light at the time.

Tea time. Sun was out. Any lack of enthusiasm felt like weeks ago as we set to to work hard and defend our paltry total. What followed ebbed and flowed like the tide that washed on Worthing’s magnificent beach, merely a few hundred meters from where we were playing. Joshy and Ran opened up and persistent looked threatening, but we couldn’t quite get the breakthrough. Both beat the bat, but their runs flowed pretty regularly and it was starting to look like a disappointing afternoon.

It often takes a bit of magic to inspire a team. After his heroics with the bat, Colbran pounced on a sharp chance over his head and they were one down. A few quick wickets fell and we were back in it. Joshy (2-34) rewarded for his toils with two beauties, both clipped to top of off stump. Colbran into he attack (3-25) – wicket as he lured the batter with a loopy one which beat him ends up. WGCC right back in it at 59-6 at drinks. Our tails were up. Tommy’s Mate Corbin (TMC), unsuspectedly lured into his first ever cricket match having had the misfortune of breakfasting with Tommy that morning, was a terrier in the field all afternoon. George Redgrove extremely solid behind the stumps, we all fielded extremely well. Tarni snaffled a blinder, one handed diving to his left, as wickets fell regularly. Peter Klein also held a magnificent catch much to his relief as his credibility as a coach hung in the balance!

Then it turned again. Their late middle order got going a little. Runs started flowing. The rate became gettable, palms started to moisten. George Nicholls (2-33) pegged them back with a few wickets and the maths for the last 10 was pretty simple. We needed 3 wickets, they needed 55 ish. And who do you call upon in times like this? Yes, obviously, the wise head of Ran Dawson, who closed out his excellent spell with a miserly 1-28, and young Monty Palmer, (age 14) bowling the 31st/ 33rd/ 38th and 40th overs, keeping his nerve, bowling straight and full as his captain had requested, not conceding a boundary and being rewarded with his first senior wicket with the last ball of the match. Chippingdale ended on 148 – a nerve tingling victory, a very sweet reward on an afternoon that has its ups and downs – but more points in the bag for the mighty 2s.

Please click here for the full scorecard

Tarni Dixon

End of Season Dinner

Our End of Season dinner and awards will be held at the Sir Roger Tichborne Country Pub in Alfold on Friday 15th September. Tickets are limited so please book early. The awards evening is as always a great way to finish off the season . Please see details below