Cricket vs HAC - 18th August 2021
After a few games falling foul of the weather the WTSC arrived at the Honourable Artillery Company grounds in central London relieved to see a hint of blue sky, a dabble of sunshine and fluffy white clouds. The ground was looking lush and green and the pitch firm and flat, and what a ground it is! For those unaware the HAC is steeped in history being the ground where the middle stump was invented, and the ground where the oldest scorecard anywhere in the world was recorded.
As we enjoyed lunch and some glasses of wine, the clouds rolled in, prompting a decision to bowl first when the toss was won by the WTSC. It turned out to be a strong decision with some fine bowling from Thompson & Wood - not Jeff & Mark but Jim & Felix, backed up by superb ground fielding and energy; the likes of which have not been seen by a Wine Trade team for a long time, if ever. It limited the HAC to 20 without loss off the first 12 overs. Whilst the runs were not flowing, equally the wickets were not falling and the batsmen started to play some shots, and runs started to become a little easier to come by. The bowling remained solid with Greg Andrews, and Ed Hume-Kendall coming in to the attack. Ed bore the look of a classic cricketer in his full buttoned white shirt, and produced 2 fine deliveries to remove the openers; one caught behind, the other a fine caught and bowled taken at the second attempt due to the ferocity of the strike; the score now 52 for 2 off 19 overs.
As we enjoyed lunch & some glasses of wine, the clouds rolled in, prompting a decision to bowl first when the toss was won by the WTSC. It turned out to be a strong decision with some fine bowling from Thompson & Wood - not Jeff & Mark but Jim & Felix, backed up by superb ground fielding and energy; the likes of which have not been seen by a Wine Trade team for a long time, if ever. It limited the HAC to 20 without loss off the first 12 overs. Whilst the runs were not flowing, equally the wickets were not falling and the batsmen started to play some shots, and runs started to become a little easier to come by. The bowling remained solid with Greg Andrews, and Ed Hume-Kendall coming in to the attack.
Ed bore the look of a classic cricketer in his full buttoned white shirt, and produced 2 fine deliveries to remove the openers; one caught behind, the other a fine caught and bowled taken at the second attempt due to the ferocity of the strike; the score now 52 for 2 off 19 overs.
With the fall of the wicket an opportunity arose for drinks, and the wine trade feeling very pleased with their work, tucked in to a glass or two of wine. Post drinks there was a slight drop in intensity, and the new batsmen set about their task with a 57 run partnership, which was broken by a wicket for Andrew Curtis on his debut (108 for 3 of 29 overs). The HAC realised a declaration needed to be set up and so tried to move the game forward by hitting out, which provided some chances which unfortunately were not taken by the Wine Trade. Step forward Jonny Smailes who induced a false shot and their premier batsman was caught in the deep by Curtis for 70. With the HAC paying the price for their earlier slow play they knew they had to keep going and the score moved on to 168 for 4 off 34 overs. They batted on for 10 more overs, losing 4 wickets, 1 more for Curtis and 3 for Thompson who decided to use many of his variations, and get the rewards his opening spell had not delivered. The final wicket fell to an extremely smart diving catch by Ben Mekie, and they promptly declared posting a score of 215 for 8 having batted for 44 overs.
After Tea [and more wine] the Wine Trade set about their task to chase down the total, knowing that they were going to get slightly fewer overs in which to do it. The chase did not get off to the finest starts with Mekie out bowled first ball in the first over with only one on the board. With this Kieran Gandhi joined Sam Stobart in the middle and the chase was off & running again with some fine shots and lusty blows. The progress was checked in the 7th over with the score on 24 when Gandhi was out LBW, followed by Curtis two balls later to a fine one-handed catch by the fieldsman who nonchalantly stuck a hand in the air in hope rather than expectation. In strode Smailes who along with Stobart took the game to the HAC and rattled along in their 79 run partnership with some excellent placement and running. The partnership was broken when Stobart was out, caught by another one handed catch by the same fielder as earlier for 61.
With the score on 103 for 4 off 18 overs, drinks were called.
After drinks, with supplies of wine now thinning, 20 overs remained and the Wine Trade still needed 113 for victory. In strode Tim Schwilk who unfortunately strolled back again all too quickly, having been bowled for 1. With 5 wickets down Captain Nathan Last, who could call on some good memories of innings gone by on this ground, seemed to be batting for the draw, such was his snail like progress. Fortunately Smailes kept the score board ticking along, and having taken a while to play himself in, Last felt the time was right to start expanding his shots, only to be cleaned bowled by a full toss. When Smailes was given out LBW two overs later the Trade were 153 for 7, needing 66 from the last 10 overs.
The feeling of concern (due to the fact that the wine had run out?) from the boundary edge was clearly not felt out in the middle as Hume-Kendall and Wood took the game by the teeth, an example of power hitting ensued completely at odds with how the rest of the game had gone to that point. It seemed that Hume-Kendall had a prior engagement to be at, as he swished and smashed his way to an unbeaten 67 at well over a run a ball, with 5 sixes and 5 fours, to bring it home with 3 overs to spare.
It was a tremendous finish to an a wonderful day, and the finishing touches to a well-earned victory where everyone played their part.
HAC: 215 for 8 (43.5 overs) WTSC: 219 for 7 (35.5 overs)
With thanks to Nathan Last for the excellent match report & Kieran Gandhi for the pictures.