The BCC Club T20 marked their debut appearance with a win at Nomansland to mark ‘The Longest Day’.
This was our club sides first outing in the Cheriton Fitzpaine Big Bash Competition; one in which each of five teams plays the other once and the top four teams go to Cheriton for Finals Day in September.
After losing the toss, skipper Will Birley was charged with sending his merry men out to bat – and what a bunch of merry men he had!
The BCC Club XI was quite an eclectic mix and included some of the XI pulling on the T20 kit and, indeed, holding a cricket bat for the very first time!
Tyler ‘Big T’ Long and Ryan Shrewsberry were tasked with launching the innings and they had put on 22 when ‘Shrew’ was caught at mid-off having scored eight.
Big T was joined by Vinny Clark and, shortly after ‘asking’ if it would be ‘cricketing etiquette’ if he could retire with his wicket intact – he was run out and ‘staggered’ his way back to the Nomansland Pavilion having scored seven to leave Ninch 22-2. It was soon 26-3 with the loss of Vinny Clark, bowled having scored four.
There was then a 19-run partnership between Sheri Viler and skipper Will Birley, but, having scored two boundaries on his nine, the skipper followed a ball down the leg side and slapped it straight into the grateful arms of a fielder at fly slip to leave his team 45-5.
Josh Luxon was next man in – and out – bowled for one and Ninch were now a ‘troubled’ 47-5 at the halfway stage of their innings!
Liam Reed joined number four bat Vile and the pair all but doubled the score and turned what had looked a desperate situation into one that gave hope of a post 100 score.
It was Reed who became the seventh wicket to fall, but not before he had scored a fine 16. It all meant Ninch were 86-6 with six overs remaining.
Nathan Hodge was next man in and, as he marched out to the middle, Vile went the opposite way, but not because he had been dismissed – no, far from it – he had reached the 30 run mark that meant he had to retire with his wicket gracefully intact.
Chad Classen was next man in – and out – the South African holing out at long-on without troubling the scorers to leave Ninch 95-7 and, when Jovi Jenkins became the ninth wicket to fall – in his case caught having scored four – Ninch were one run shy of a three figure total on 99-8 and that soon became 100-8 with the loss of Nathan Hodge, but not before the footballer-turned-cricketer had hit a splendid boundary in his contribution of five.
This left last man Darren Paul being joined at the wicket by the returning Sheri Vile. Paul put bat to ball with great effect, hitting a six and three fours, but, when he was on 23 he played a shot that went into the deep and the shout of ‘two’ saw he and Vile set off, but a splendid throw to the non-strikers end saw Vile run out and the Ninch innings ended with one ball still to be bowled.
Paul was not out 24 and Vile finally out for a superb 34 with NInch on 130 all out in 19.5 overs. Greg Cole took the bowling honours with figures of 3-22 and there was a wicket for each of his brothers – all three of the Cole boys played in the game.
When Nomansland began their reply they got off to a ‘flyer’ with the score board showing 22 after the first over which was sent down by Josh Luxon – it was 13 ball over to begin with! Darren Paul was tasked with delivering the second over and he struck with his fourth delivery to clean bowl one of the openers to leave the home side 24-1 after two overs.
Chad Classen then bowled an over of off-spin and sent down the first maiden of the contest and, after nine runs came from the third – a second from Paul – Nomansland were 34-1 and already inside the 100 runs required mark!
Classen bowled the fifth which yielded just three runs and the skipper Birley gave the ball to leg-spinner Jovi Jenkins who, once he had settled, got some turn out of the flat pitch. Just six runs came from the Jenkins over while, from the other end, Liam Reed began what would prove to be a ‘match-winning’ spell with the ball.
‘Fridge’ claimed a wicket with his second ball with Sheri Vile – his partner-in-crime earlier in the contest with that marvellous batting partnership, holding a fine catch as wicket-keeper!
At the end of eight overs, the home side were 48-2, but still ‘on the front foot’ and looking the more likely to take the match honours.
Jenkins then bowled an excellent over that yielded just three runs before Reed claimed a double of wickets in his second over and, suddenly, Nomansland were 75-5 after 11 overs.
That became 83-6 after 14 overs with Ryan Shrewsberry claiming a deserved wicket. Reed got a fourth wicket in his third over to end his spell (the maximum was three overs per bowler) with figures of 4-4!
Vinny Clark also got in on the wicket taking act following his first over which was a maiden, he wrapped up victory by clean bowling the final home batsmen.
Nomansland were all out for 83 leaving Bradninch winners by a margin of 47 runs.
As for those bowling returns, the stand-out was the Liam Reed return of 4-4, but Darren Paul’s figures were an impressive 2-12 from three overs. Chad Classen’s return was 0-3 from two, Vinny Clark’s 1-2 from two and Ryan Shrewsberry’s were 1-2 from two.
So, a deserved win for the Club T20 XI to mark the Longest Day of 2022!
*It must also be reported that Nomansland were FABULOUS hosts and helped make the whole contest/occasion a special evening for all, one that ended with pizza and chips at the Mount Pleasant Inn, Nomansland – a fabulous hostelry