Charlton Down Cricket Club
FRIENDLY VERSUS SUTTONERS
SATURDAY APRIL 28TH
AT DEAN PARK, BOURNEMOUTH
Well there is nothing like getting the season off to a good start, and when Rich Fagence offered us the chance of playing at Dean Park, naturally we jumped at the chance. Dean Park where Hampshire played for many years, a ground therefore steeped in history: Len Hutton once scored 270* for Yorkshire against Hampshire in 1947, so to us this was simply a privilege to be there.
Suttoners turned up in matching shirts, caps, and looked like a real slick unit. They had the regulation overseas Aussie (actually he couldn’t have been an Aussie as he didn’t sledge anyone!). What were we doing here, I thought? Won the toss, chose to bat as the thought of chasing leather on a hot afternoon on an outfield the size of Wales didn’t appeal. Make a game of it lads; if we get 100 we’ll count that as success.
But what a performance! After a 48 runs opening stand between Eric Bradshaw and Chris Coates Dale, I began to feel that maybe 150 was on. I didn’t bargain on an excellent 40 from Ben Colledge (Cattistock exile) and a brilliant 66 from John Butterworth which hoisted our total to 211 off 45 overs, and that was despite Chris Rickard doing his best to run all of his team out.
After an excellent tea (almost to the standard of ours, Jo!) we then had a dose of reality as Adam Gilchrist and Buster Bloodvessel put on about 60 for their opening wicket, but we plugged away and they scraped home with three balls to spare in the last over.
A brilliant game to be involved in, with everyone making a major contribution especially Rudo who happily gave up his anniversary dinner to play.
Andy Cossens