Cassidy and Whitmore come good in Hundred and Hatrick humdinger as Mere dismantle the Shed.

….Harvey makes his long awaited return to the domestic cricket scene and Silky impresses with his investments.

We’ve waited 10 years in Mere’s history to see the names Cassidy and Whitmore up in lights together as the architects of a Mere win, and for those you are acquainted with this pair of creaking quadragenarians you’ll not be surprised to learn that it was their talented offspring who were the reasons that Mere came off the pitch victorious on Sunday.

Having won the toss on a beautiful sunny afternoon Cassidy (jnr) elected to bat first and it was no surprise that the go to opening partnership of himself and WBS (William Batty Smith) took to the field again, their recent demolition of Kilmington still fresh in the memory (B Y excluded).
If the first over was anything to go by with 14 on the board we could be looking at another Mere record. President Traves and Vice President White having been starved of entertainment these past few seasons are in serious danger of over excitement…luckily having attended a recent cricketing first aid course there are now 3 of us able to use the handily placed defibrillator attached to the dentist on site.

Sports Shed found a bit more control and the early over was just a blip as George and Will went studiously about their work, keeping a watchful eye on the sometime variable bounce whilst both making the most of the bad ball and quick outfield. Will was unlucky to be bowled off his pads in the 10th for 15. Having looked like he may be after another good score. George was joined at the crease by young left hander Cameron Heard, a Mere under 15 who also plys his trade at local rivals Kilmington on a Saturday…already a journeyman “have bat will travel” young cricketer.

Cam batted well making the most of anything on the pads as he steered some quality shots behind square. Running between the wickets however wasn’t this pairings strongest suit (remember one’s a Cassidy) and we feared for Cam as he dived in on a suicidal single, sliding in on his back like a young upended turtle…dust and dirt covering his shirt…his Mother looking ruefully on from the boundary. George brought up his half century with a nice boundary off 60 balls.
Cam batted well for his 24 before being trapped in front as he attempted to work another one away off his pads…he’s one to watch and has a big score in him for sure.

Cam’s departure bought a Mere debutant to the crease, one Lance Harwood a jovial fellow who we’ve crossed swords with many times when playing against Dinton and Compton Chamberlayne. Lance either scores big runs or takes amazing catches against us so it would be nice if he could do some of the same whilst playing for Mere. Not one to hang about or stand on ceremony, true to form he started crashing boundaries and some towering sixes with aplomb and raced onto 50 in no time.

George meanwhile in the eighties was getting slightly frustrated at the lack of scoring opportunities he was getting, and was put down by their bowler as he drove a peach back at him with real venom. Cassidy snr umpiring at square leg was able to mouth words of wisdom to becalm his headstrong son, although his only experience of scoring in the eighties consisted of homemade cigarettes, White Lightning and Spandau Ballet. Although his crashing boundary scoring had somewhat dried up by then he was able to steer himself sensibly to his first century of the season with a deft tickle in the vacant gully area. Another good score to his name and making sure that Captain Weir…still out with his mystery coccyx problem would have some catching up in the run race as George and Will have started the season at a good pace.

George’s innings ended soon after with an unfortunate run out but left the field to applause from both camps..101 in the bag.

With only two balls remaining it was time for another of our recent additions Martin “Silky” Silk to make the journey to the middle. Martin has history with the Sports Shed boys having played for their football team until recently and now their coach….in fact he had to turn down their offer of a starting place in this match having already said yes to us. Now Martin began his career with Mere last week in a rain soaked affair at Horningsham and suffered the ultimate ignominy of a first ball career duck for which he was duly castigated and fined.

Now we’re not an unkind bunch at Mere and having mused over the batting line up earlier at Kev’s house we’d decided to keep Silky high up the order as our vote of confidence in his yet unseen potential. Last season batting at 5 for Mere would almost guarantee you at least 30 overs but this year we’re stronger than ever up top so it was unfortunate that Martin arrived….with new gloves and new pads (he described them as an investment earlier) with only two balls to prove his undoubted talent. Although he’d taken the financial commitment to purchase his new pads and gloves he’s still using a borrowed bat….one that the Chairman consigned to the bottom of the kit bag having had consecutive low scores (0 and 1) two years ago….a nice bat just in the wrong hands.

So with the news that their coach was on a “pair” the Sports Shed boys engaged Silky in some gentle, good natured and rather humorous banter as he took guard. First ball and Martin almost swung himself off his feet as he attempted to emulate Lance’s display of powerhouse six hitting. To ribald laughter and another round of ironic jibes the bowler turned round on his mark. Obviously not having learnt a thing from his previous innings ( 0 from 1 ball) and the necessary dissection of his talents at the pub afterwards, Martin with a point to prove now attempts a similar haymaker to a ball on middle stump. Cue tumbling timber, raucous laughter, gloves and pads and bat yet to feel the gentle kiss of leather again.

We think Martin will be batting 11 next time out. Good bat…wrong hands.

We take tea…a Bryan Yeo production. Thank you Bryan, you never disappoint us on the tea front. The club has seen fit however to purchase a full set of unbreakable plastic cups, plates and cutlery should there be any repeat of the Kilmington histrionics. The kitchen sink however has gone missing..presumably Martin’s had it for batting practice.

We take the field…defending 225, still in warm sunshine happy with our total. We opened the attack with a double Whitmore....quick, accurate from the off, some good away swing and asking questions of the opening pair.

From the other end bowled Kevin.

Now there’s always an inherent risk when batting or bowling in tandem with your offspring. When they’re younger, fitter, more gifted and better looking, you always run the risk of the obvious questions in regards to where indeed did they inherit the talent which generally leads to gentle probing of the family lineage over a pint later on. Some would say they can see where George gets his sense of timing, his great hand eye co-ordination and massive forearm strength from…..although his Mother hasn’t played in a long time.
The comparison between Robyn and Kevin is slightly harder to marry together…she’s quick round the field, hits the ball hard, a good laugh, doesn’t take things too seriously and has a seriously good arm in the field. In fact the irony isn’t lost when we tell Kev he throws like a girl….just a shame it’s not like his girl.
Recently Kev has made a return to the league cricket scene on Saturdays for our nearest and dearest rivals at Kilmington. The extra edge required for this cutthroat version of the game has indeed sharpened him up and the length of his follow through hasn’t gone unnoticed by his Sunday teammates….why you need a 21 yard follow through from an 8 yard run up was baffling us until we realised that with Kev’s eyesight he needs to be within a yard of the oppo to deliver his stare down….normally on a Sunday he likes to shake the batsman’s hand after each good shot played so it works now for both formats.

Onto our efforts at defending our score.

Annoyingly it was one of those days when although their batsmen weren’t scoring many boundaries, the scoreboard was ticking over quickly and with help from some easily taken twos and occasional errant fielding, the Shed were progressing nicely in the early stages of the reply.

After 6 overs on 32 without loss we were looking like we could do with some inspiration. It is at times like these it’s good to be able to throw the ball to a wily old pro who can be relied onto tie up an end and dry up the scoring with good flight, well thought out lengths and a good deal of turn both ways.

We have no-one fitting that description so we tossed the ball in Bryan’s direction.

His first over going for 9 wasn’t really part of the masterplan including a couple of his special deliberate “wide ones” hoping to tempt the batsman into a big stretch outside off stump (or leg stump for that matter for variation is Bryan’s watchword). 7 from his next batch but no extras gave us hope for one of his infamous “tidy spells”. At the other end we were giving Silky a go…surely he would redeem his batting display with some magic with the ball! He was steady…nothing flash, just up and down…he could be the Ying to Bryan’s Yang at the other end.

Bryan’s third over was Yeo at his ebullient finest. Hit for 4 from a full toss to leg he followed up with a no-ball a dot and then bowled probably his finest ball…pitching just outside leg, griping firmly and darting between bat and pad to remove the top of middle…class! This was Yeo with the bit between his teeth…a wide a no ball and 2 dots to end a 9 ball over.

Silky up the other end just kept it tight..his 4 overs yielding just 16.

With the dangerous Hansford gone Stone became our priority at the other end. Bryan’s next over was notable in that it only contained one wide but still went for 7 runs. At the other end we gave a bowl to Lance….remember he always did well against us.

Bryan had saved his best back though as his next over produced 2 wickets…both catches taken by Mr Harwood the second one being a cracker over his shoulder running back as the batsman had attempted to smack one of Bryan’s extra wide ones.
Game on…84-3 Bryan on fire…. catches being held!

The scoring slowed up as Shed consolidated and at drinks they were 10 runs ahead of the rate. Another wicket followed soon after as Harwood turned a peach through the gate and it looked like we were favourites. This brought Linley to the crease…one of those annoying bats who doesn’t play often, holds the bat like an axe and leaves all 3 stumps showing…he proceeded to swing and connect with everything and very soon was in his 20’s. At the other end Hewlitt who was obviously a very good bat was milking us for two’s running hard and pushing the score on quickly.

By this time Bryan was bowled out….8 overs, 3 wickets, 60 runs…..”a tidy spell” in his own words. I believe Bryan’s definition of tidy is somewhat akin to that of my 9 year old sons when I ask them what state their bombsite of a bedroom is in.
With the game decidedly in their favour we were left with a choice of who to bowl. Young Charlie had a couple of overs of leg-spin but was getting targeted by Hewlitt so the choice was taken to bring on Jason the “Harvester” Harvey on his return to the Mere fold. As one of the original Friday night founders of the club, Jason’s mountaineering commitments have meant he’s missed the last 4 seasons and he has a job that sees him out of the country on jollies on a weekly basis. Well renowned for his fielding prowess he’s at best an occasional bowler but certainly one of our most “sociable” players. His first over for 4 years went for 9 (just like regular bowler B.Y), so no shame there. His second over was like rolling back the years as he went for 4 first ball, snuck in a defensive wide (a la Yeo) and used the extra ball to snaffle the annoying Linley with one of his special slower ball double bouncers.
Job done Jason….off you come.

Hewlitt upped the anti now, realising that the tail was due in and maybe it didn’t have as much wag as he would have hoped. 176-6 with 12 overs to go meant it was still do-able provided he could farm the strike.
In came the last of Shed’s recognised batsmen, Mead who has batted up the order and scored well before so he was no mug. Will Batty-Smith got the ball from the Fish Farm End and with his third ball took the outside edge at pace..the ball smacking safely into the Chairman’s gloves behind. Game on!
Hewlitt responded by cleverly nursing the strike and moved the Shed onto 196 with 8 overs remaining..30 required….game in the balance.

When that sort of pressure is on, to be able to chuck the ball to Whitmore and know that you’ve got a bowler who’ll give it their all and won’t buckle under the strain is a great feeling. Having seen Kev choke at Bruton and bowl a no ball in the final over to conjure up a tie we knew there was only one Whitmore for this job.

Two dots was a great start. Hewlitt looking to go big as singles wouldn’t do as he needed to keep the new man away from the heat. Robyn runs in, Hewlitt moves across and takes a big stride down looking to launch but misses the ball. Too late as the Chairman whips of the bails and Hewlitt is given out. High fives for Robyn but the job’s not done yet.
New bat…real pressure..no problem as Whitmore junior finds top of off stump and the 9th wicket goes down. Tension mounts as the last Shed bat comes out but doesn’t look up for the fight. Field in tight now as Robyn runs in and delivers a lovely low full toss that hits middle of middle and sends the bails flying….”HATRICK” …Game over!!

As Mere victories go this ranks alongside our run chase at Kilmington three weeks ago and again our youngsters take a starring role.

As Cassidy and Whitmore the elder walk from the pitch Cassidy turns to Whitmore and says “does it get any better than that?”
In the second display of uncontrollable emotion that we’ve seen from grown men in three weeks Whitmore’s slightly tearful response was although far more acceptable in these pc days just as worthy of the fine that was dished out to him later in the pub.

We’ve all shed tears over Whitmore bowling before but for entirely different reasons!

Next game…28th May. Home to The Old Brightonians 1.30pm…..Charge up the de-fib!
Local bookies offering 1-10 on for a Martin Silk treble duck!