Mere Cricket Club

Rossi on song for Kilmington but Mere’s young guns restore the Status Quo with new record

We turned up at local rivals Kilmington with in form bat and captain Weir out with a mystery “back complaint”. Having averaged over 80 in the first two games this was a big miss but young Charlie Cassidy was drafted in, possibly not a like for like switch but adding an injection of youthful enthusiasm to the team nonetheless.

Things didn’t start well. Steve Parton…no trousers. Bryan Yeo..filthy trousers, Captain Kev Whitmore..late on parade but thankfully arriving well stocked in the trouser department with a spare pair..Hurrah! After much trying on of various trouserage we appeared fully clothed to field having lost the toss.

Things didn’t get off to the start we would of liked with Kilmington’s young opening pair of Adlem and Cameron Heard getting off to a steady start against some indifferent stuff from our opening bowlers. We put Cameron down twice before he was snaffled by a one handed snatch by Cassidy as he wafted at one of Wood’s slightly less wide ones.

Getting him out was probably not one of our better moves as in came Rossi (Alex not Francis) to bat. We know him well as he’s scored well against us before..a classy left hander who punishes anything with a bit of width or the wrong length..pity that as that seemed to be our bowling plan that afternoon. With a slick outfield dried out by the warm sunshine we were smacked all over the shop…the wicket of Adlem scant solace as we struggled even to keep Rossi off the strike. All bowlers got some tap although it must be said that John Gouldy Gould bowled tidily on his Mere return after 4 years away and young Charlie’s leg spin created a bit of doubt that slowed things down a tad.

The introduction of our only real pace bowler Dave “Wildcat” Rutherford gave us a bit of respite as his raw pace took some getting used to but when accustomed it just meant the ball was racing to the boundary quicker than ever. It wouldn’t of course be a Mere fielding display without the odd chance going down and we afforded Rossi no less than 3 lives as he raced to a century.

We finally got a breakthrough in the 35th when a well hit shot which we all thought was going for another maximum was taken well by Gouldy as he did well to keep inside the rope to take a great catch. With Rossi departing the stage for 137, our aim was to hold Kilmington to below 300 (at one stage 330-350 was on the cards). We held it for the last 6 overs with Kev as tight as Steve’s borrowed trousers, and at 40 overs we retired from the field disappointed but slightly relieved we’d restricted them to a still not inconsiderable total of 288.

So after a chastening time in the field it was time for the Mere reply and with no Weir to open we sent out our openers Cassidy (17) and Batty-Smith (just 18) to begin the chase. Both boys products of our youth system and represented the club from under 11 upwards. George with his maiden century last year and our leading run scorer for 2016, Will Batty Smith a classy batsman yet to convert to a big score but with all the shots it would surely be only a matter of time before his name would be on the board. The boys started steadily pushing into gaps and keeping the scoreboard ticking over, both taking the boundary when offered with some powerful hitting through both sides of the wicket. They brought up their fifties in consecutive balls (a first for the stats book) and at drinks they were still matching each other run for run as they steered us to 129…not quite halfway but still in with a sniff at that stage.

Having negotiated the drinks break and continuing to press the boys had put on another 53 in the next 5 overs before George was run out (by himself) when pushing another quick single to keep the pressure on the fielders. He departed for a well crafted 86 leaving Will on 89 and still looking comfortable. We made the decision to juggle the order with the Wildcat in next followed (if required) by Mark Williams. The idea being that both being capable of scoring quickly (the former with regulation cricket shots, the latter with a keen eye and fast hands) we could still exert pressure as long as Will could carry on scoring freely as he had done.

The best laid plans…..6 runs added and both Rutherford and Williams back in the hutch it was Cassidy senior who took to the field. Although not noted for his explosive run rate he set about his work sensibily..taking singles whenever possible to rotate the strike and helping himself to his favoured leg side boundary when offered. Will, still striking the ball sweetly brought up his well deserved maiden ton with a crisp boundary which was warmly applauded by all…..do we dare to dream??

With the monkey off his back (and his Grandad too) he started to play more extravagantly and hit a number of sixes and fours before he mis-cued and was caught out by Barge….the Kilmington celebrations showed that they believed they’d done what they needed to do with the dangerman finally gone. Will left the field to a standing ovation from teammates and supporters alike, a fantastic effort for the cause.

So we stand at 251 with 5 overs and 5 balls remaining. 38 required off 35, Cassidy senior now the set batsman joined by treasurer, match fixer, part time Jewson’s director, and club legend Bryan Akabussi Yeo. You could tell that Bryan was up for the fight, steely, determined, focussed, eager to prove that his customary number 10 or 11 berth was unjustified..here was his chance to become a hero, go down in the history books..the oldest man to hit the winning runs for Mere versus their local rivals.

Having crossed for Will’s dismissal and realising the importance of momentum, Cassidy set about the bowler Barge and hit 13 off the next 4 balls with a two from Yeo putting the pressure back on Kilmington. They responded by bringing back on the opening quickie Cripps from the top end… a far different proposition from the slow fayre being milked at the other end. With Cassidy on strike and just managing to divert a head height full toss over the keeper for four and a scampered by, it left Bryan to face the final delivery of the over.

The two met in the middle before the delivery…Cassidy explaining to Yeo in no uncertain terms that his job was to keep this ball out at all costs so he could continue his attack on the slow Barge (no-one’s ever heard of a fast barge) at the other end. They retook their positions…they had a plan…they just needed to execute (modern cricketing parlance).

In comes Cripps steaming from the top end…good length ball on off stump..forward comes Yeo and gets a solid bat on it and the ball rolls harmlessly to cover. Later in the pub over copious pints it was mused over just what took over Bryan at that point…was it a rush of blood to the head, a moment where he believed he was indeed 21 again or just as we all suspected at his age an inability to remember something that had just been said to him not 5 seconds before. He took off like a young Kriss Akabussi, “YESSSSSSSS” was his battle cry. Stood nonchalantly on his bat at the other end “executing the plan” and discussing the exciting state of the game with umpire Frank was Cassidy who was making no attempt to enter into the madness that unravelled before him.

Needless to say having got halfway down the track and his efforts not being reciprocated it was a simple task for the fielder to lob the ball back to the bowler who removed the bails with glee.

What happened next was extraordinary and will go down in the annals or at least make it to the after dinner speeches at the end of season dinner. Having realised that his moment of forgetfulness had lead him to commit such folly in the attempt of an impossible run which indeed was at odds with the team plan at that time, Bryan was indeed a disappointed man, cross, miffed, annoyed indeed exasperated at this turn of events. Added to this it was not the first, second, or even third time that these two comrades had been involved in run out scenarios but none at a point so crucial in a game!

Bryan came to a halt so suddenly as he realised Cassidy wasn’t running that his bat wielding hand still carrying much momentum seemed to slip from its’ grip of the now not required willow. The bat now cartwheeled skyward toward the leg side boundary and we assumed the expletive that followed was as a warning to any unsuspecting member of the public walking round Stour head gardens who may now be in danger from Bryans’ errant equipment.

Luckily it only made it to the edge of the square (about the same distance as the previous shot) so Bryan picked up said bat and made his way off purposefully, muttering encouragements all the way to his disbelieving Chairman who remained in the middle. “Something lost in the translation?” was all umpire Frank had to say on the matter as again Kilmington celebrated the sudden Mere implosion.

Out to the middle marches Steve “tight strides” Parton. This season he’s ditched his £10.99 whitewashed Sports Direct bat and traded it in for a wooden one which has seen his game improve tremendously. Did we need Steve to come good here. Still requiring 20 to win from 3 overs it was tight and possibly favoured the home team. Although Mere could still afford to do it singles with a bonus boundary, Steve’s hamstrings are well known for their early season taughtness so too many scampered ones could be fatal. Luckily with his newly borrowed trousers so tight they seemed to act like a surgical support keeping his quadrupeds firmly in place.

Cassidy now realising that it was now or never managed to strike a couple more boundaries before going at one too early and giving an easy catch to mid-off.

282 on the board…10 balls remaining ….game on still.

If there was ever a moment for a man like Kevin Whitmore to take the stage then this was it. A man who brings a spare pair of trousers to the game is one whose preparation leaves nothing to chance. You could tell as he walked out he had it all worked out..9 balls 6 needed …keep calm and the game’s as good as won. His teammates all thought the same as he took guard…”he’ll sneak a four and a single, get up the other end and do it with balls to spare” was the gist of the comments from the boundary.

Having exchanged pleasantries with both umpires, the bowler, the keeper, all the opposition fielders and an old couple walking their dog in the adjacent field (as is his way) Kev was ready to bring it home.

First ball.. a measured dead bat to roll the ball back to the bowler

Next ball.. more of the same….one eyebrow raised on boundary

Next ball.. same tactic….all eyebrows raised on boundary

At that point Steve saunters down the wicket and has a word. With all respect to Mr Parton he services a mean boiler and installs a wonderful AGA and sponsors the juniors (Blackmore Heating Limited) but batting masterclass advice is not likely to appear in his Facebook profile. We’re guessing he may have just pointed out to Kev the blindingly obvious…that unless he hits the ball harder than a 4 year old girl we’re unlikely to achieve this seemingly impossible victory. It seemed to get through however as Kev squirmed a single off the last ball to snatch the strike for the final 6 balls…..No-one on the boundary knew whether this was a good or bad thing..we would see.

Having exchanged pleasantries with both umpires, the bowler, the keeper, all the opposition fielders and an old couple walking their dog in the adjacent field (as is his way) Kev was ready to face the final over.

First ball..slightly down leg..Kev attempts a deft tickle….his wife said once that wasn’t his strong point and so her words were prophetically proven as he managed to be stumped off the keepers pads.

So 5 balls faced 1 run scored … a pretty impressive strike rate from KW.

No pressure…Charlie Cassidy comes out…13 years old, five balls remaining with 5 needed for the impossible. Now Charlie’s no mug and he’s batted many times with Steve at the back end, although Steve has always been wearing his own trousers, but this is pressure. First ball…outside off there for the drive..Charlie has a go but misses.

Second ball…another dot. 4 balls 5 needed.

Third ball….low full toss. Charlie flicks it to fine leg..beats the fielder to the rope.

The tension is palpable..Kev’s on his fourth Hail Mary, Mark Williams on his fourth Thatchers, Bryan still very disappointed with his slippery bat episode.

Charlie and Steve chat…they have a plan…can they execute.

Ball comes in..Charlie taps it to the off side and they go…Steve’s well confined hamstrings pumping like pistons, head down eating up the ground…Charlie’s ok, his young legs already there but it’s Steve running to the danger end. We’re still not sure whether it was a dive or a stumble as Steve disappeared in a cloud of dust but the bails are still on and the boundary has erupted as Mere run on to the field to hail the heroes at the end.

A long report I know but this was a game that had it all and will live long in the memory (although Bryan doesn’t remember playing in it). A record run chase for Mere, record opening partnership, record partnership full stop, our biggest century (we don’t count Duncan’s v Motcombe in a wet field v 8 11 year olds) and the first time that Kevin’s trousers have been involved in a winning run.

To say that the drinks flowed in the Walnut after the game was an understatement..mostly down to our Vice President’s (Will’s Grandad) generous slate which he then declared as having no money to pay for!!