Welcome to this week’s Wizzy News – our weekly roundup of news and events at Wisborough Green Cricket Club. If you missed last week’s edition of Wizzy News, please click here
Joshie Dixon in action for Sussex at Sussex main ground
Congratulations to Josh Dixon who has been selected to play for the Sussex Disability team against Surrey at the Sussex main ground in Hove on Sunday 19th June. Please do go down and support Josh if you can.
Good luck Josh – we wish you all the best for the game #GoJoshie #NumberOneDixon
The game of cricket
This week we are covering off L B W – the most misunderstood form of dismissal in the game. Please click on the link below for another informative video by Stephen Fry.
Honours Boards
Congratulations to all those who made it onto our Honours boards this week
Match reports
First X1 vs Stirlands
The Green continued their promotion push hosting Stirlands at home bar Farmer and arguably one of the strongest team of the season.
After the successful defeat of Barns Green the previous week the leadership team decided to introduce a harsher penalty to penalise late arrivals (buying a jug of beer). Post match analysts drawing strong correlations between arriving early and winning, who would have thunk it!? More on what impact said penalty had on behaviour later.
Prior to toss several important tasks were completed such as clearing patches of dog turd, filling odd grooves in the outfield and sourcing any sharp object to trim down long grass and encourage value for shots.
Stand in captain Newman successfully completed the first job of the day by calling heads, winning and swiftly deciding to bat on a warm day. Early grumbles by the Stirlands team heard in the clubhouse post toss.
Out strode Newman and Steve Calder-Smith ( SCS ) fresh from selection for the Sussex over 60’s team. They survived the first 8-10 overs with some tight opening bowling from Mugford and Championship referee Tim Robinson, who interestingly used to work with our very own Peter Mattock and taught Joey Calder-Smith. SCS and Newman capitalised on some looser bowling as the two openers tired and the score started to accelerate, both starting to get more familiar with the off stump location. Once again after getting in Newman missed a straight one and was sent packing by Robinson after a well constructed 47 and a solid opening partnership of 93. He was replaced with another in form man Ash Clark and SCS and him combined well to build the makings of another strong partnership, both passing the 50 mark. With the outfield unnaturally slow both elder statesman began to tire after a slew of singles and doubles and whilst the score was ticking over nicely there was a sense we needed to accelerate, cue Nick ‘Biltong’ Klein.
SCS again fell short of the century milestone with a solid 78 and with that Nick bounded to the crease with strong purpose. It was the shot in the arm Wizzy needed. Calvin dispatched the ball to every part, Charles was disturbed, cars accelerated away and children were ushered far to safety as the ball flew dangerously through the air. Nick took particular liking to Clowes whose economy rate skyrocketed after posting figures of 61 off 3 overs. Nick finally fell for a quick fire 40 along with Clark with an excellently crafted 64. Hughie Ragg and Junior made cameos showing promise off the back of some good form and the Green ended up with a very defendable total of 266……or was it, no wait 256, as Rob got ahead of himself and miscounted post a particularly destructive over from Klein. Stirlands noticeable bruised and battered limped off the pitch (literally the keeper needed a fireman’s lift to the clubhouse).
The Green strode out quietly confident but not complacent after an excellently produced Farmer and Vickery tea, although questions were raised at how hard is was to add some onion to the tuna sandwiches.
Clearly the Stirlands captain had invigorated his team at the halfway point and Tim ‘my bat, my ball’ Robinson came out swinging. Murphy didn’t last long caught Vickery bowled Rainford after one that nipped sharply away from the right hander. Fecher joined Robinson and a partnership started to form. Junior continued to bowl a good line and build pressure but Robinson took a particular liking to Calder-Smith and it felt like the pendulum was starting to swing. Cue however ex colleague Mattock and ex pupil Calder Smith who teamed up to remove Robinson for a quick fire 25. Calder-Smith junior holding his nerve and replying strongly with a peach of a delivery followed by several sighs of relief from the Green fielders. Joey buoyant from his recently scored win immediately removed dangerman Mugford and Stirlands were reeling at 42-3, the Green smelt blood in the water.
Sizzy-Carter, seen hurtling towards the Green earlier to make the start time, entered the fray replacing Joey up the hill. Sizzy-Carter immediately found his line and the Stirlands batters struggled to get anything away. He frustrated Clowes and McKitterick both unable to keep out full well targeted deliveries. In the meantime Fecher was the only Stirlands batsman showing some resistance, increasingly becoming a thorn in the Green side. Klein, seemingly 2 foot taller after his earlier antics, replaced Junior down the hill with pace to offer up some chin music but it was the part time off spin off Newman that finally removed Fecher for a well made 60. Sizzy-Carter finished with figures of 7 – 2 – 24 and Kilford fresh from a dislocated knee bounded up the hill seemingly unaffected ?! Leon proceeded to bowl a variety of line and length to keep the batters second guessing but when he did get it right he was unplayable, picking up 2 quick wickets including the Stirlands captain.
Final mention to Callum Price for some excellent fielding and credit for his attitude throughout.
Celebrations proceeded, multiple jugs purchased and beer flowed. Clearly the threat of having to buy beer didn’t elicit the reaction leadership wanted! #upthegreen #topoftheleague
James Newman
Click here for the full scorecard
Second X1 vs Rustington
WGCC 2nd XI victorious away at Rustington
• On a beautifully clear and hot Saturday afternoon the WGCC 2nd XI turned up in good time for a pre-match warm-up which set the tone for the rest of the afternoon
• On losing the toss Wisborough were invited to field on what looked like a flat and dry track
• The opening bowlers of DJ and Mark Brown quickly got into their stride and started to ask some searching questions of the opening pair.
• Mark was the first to strike by clean bowling the No. 2 batsmen. DJ was soon to follow by knocking over Nos 3 & 4 in quick succession.
• At this time Rustington were struggling with the quality of the bowling attack at 34 for 3 off 8 overs.
• This is when their No. 1 and No 4. batsmen dug in and risked to hit only the very short or wide deliveries. The score slowly crept to 48 for 3 off 16 overs after great spells from both DJ (9 overs, I maiden, 2 wickets for 18 runs) and Mark (9 overs, 1 maiden, 1 for 31)
• Chris Marshall then broke the partnership and caught their captain LBW after scoring a rather scratchy 23 runs
• Their No. 1 batsmen, having been given ample time to see the ball, then started to open his shoulders up with some success. The score was creeping up to 92 for 4 off 25.
• Harry Hunter then comes on to bowl and puts the pressure back on by bowling No. 6 and then spoiling the day for their No. 1 by clipping his bail whilst he was on 92 – he was convinced that there was no way the ball could have hit the wickets although all the evidence pointed against him! A great spell from Harry at the end of the innings.
• Josh Dixon sustained some damage at the end from some useful swinging and hitting from their No. 8 and Rustington end up with 185 for 6 after 40.
• Credit should also go to Jack Dixon who only gave away 1 bye during his debut as wicket keeper in the face of the odd erratic delivery. From the size of the tea he subsequently ate I am not sure he would have been quite so successful if we had batted first!
• After a delicious tea suppied by Rustington, DJ and Jack strode out diligently to the middle with purpose and determination. They both got off to a flyer sending the bad balls quickly to the boundary and WGCC are 59 for 0 off 8 overs.
• Jack goes back and is unlucky that the ball dies hitting him low on the pad directly in front and our umpire has no option but to send him packing. Chris Francis comes to the crease and DJ takes control with some beautiful stroke play including on/off/cover drives, pull shots, square/late cuts and sweeps. The scoreboard continues to move forwards to 85 for 1 off 15 overs. DJ gets his 50.
• Chris, after striking some fine blows, gets a good ball with the score on 113 after 20 overs. Tarni Dixon then joins DJ at he crease and enjoys the spectacle as DJ takes apart the bowling sending anything that looks close to a bad ball to the boundary with aplomb.
• DJ scores his maiden century for WGCC – an excellent achievement with a faultless innings (no chances given). Very well played DJ.
• WGCC 2nd XI win the match with 189 for 2 after 29.4 overs – DJ with the match winning innings (114 runs not out).
Tarnie Dixon
Click here for the full scorecard
Pics from the game (thanks Chris Marshall)
Under 12’s vs Slinfold
The U12’s arrived in Slinfold on a warm Saturday morning needing a win.
Slinfold won the toss and elected to field first. Buddy and Joe opened the batting and despite a damp outfield hit some early boundaries to get the innings off to a good start. Jackson and Harry R were in next and built a substantial partnership with powerful stroke play, both reaching the 20’s with Jackson retiring on a well struck 26. The Slinfold players bowled very few extras but a steady flow of runs off the bat allowed Wisborough Green to post a competitive total of 108.
Harry R and Jackson opened the bowling, each of them striking in their first over to remove both Slinfold openers. By now the outfield was dry and fast and Slinfold re-grouped with a good partnership as their numbers 3 and 4 both retired having reached 25. At the halfway point of the innings Slinfold were on 69 and needing only 40 from the final 10 overs were on course for a win. The drinks break allowed Wisborough to re-group knowing that wickets were the only route to victory. The momentum of the Slinfold innings changed in the next over with Harry M taking two wickets. Sensing that a victory was on the cards the fielding tightened. Accurate bowling by Joe, Jackson, Hector and the two Harrys created pressure on the Slinfold batters and as the runs dried up three run-outs ensued. Harry R took the final wicket and Slinfold were out for 97.
Well captained by Jackson, this was an outstanding and vocal display in the field by the entire team with a good deal of encouragement and cricketing nous shown. This was also the fewest number of extras the team have conceded in a match this season. Each member of the team played their part in an impressive fielding comeback.
Click here for the full scorecard
Under 9 vs Horsham Trinity
A cracking warm evening on the green saw Wisborough captained by William win its first game of the season against Horsham Trinity.
Wisborough won the toss and put Trinity in to bat.
Our bowling is improving week by week helping reduce our extras tally and restricting Trinity’s batters ability to score runs, plenty of dot balls on the score sheet and only one of their batters able to hit boundaries.
Bowler of the match went to Freddie F. Great focus in the field from all the team stopping boundaries and getting the ball back quickly to stumps helped stifle the Trinity batters, both Matilda and Bobby A made notable blocks.
Wisborough’s batting won the day with boundaries shared round the team notably Roddy with a great 4 on his first game for the U9’s, we conceded only 1 wicket and scored consistently through the pairs. The score board was really tight going into the final pair leading by two runs. Both Harry and Bobby P batted with great confidence forming a good partnership calling well for runs between the wickets and hitting boundaries at the right times but most importantly did not lose their wickets. Batter of the match goes to Harry.
I am nominating the full team this week for honours board given it is our first win of the season – well done U9’s !!!
Darren Hunter
Senior Team selections
Please click here to view the senior team selections for thie T20 against Loxwood on Thurday evening and the First X1 game on Saturday
….and finally – spotted out and about
That’s it for this week
If there is anything we need to know – you know where to find us !
Have a great cricketing week
#UptheGreen
Cheers
Wizzy