Wizzy News 8 September 2022

Welcome to our penultimate Wizzy News for the Season . Our final end of of Season Wrap will be coming out in a couple of weeks time so do look out for it.

If you missed last week’s edition of Wizzy News, please click here

End of Season awards

Junior Ball and awards

Senior Dinner and awards

Tickets are selling like hot cakes for our End of Season Dinner and Awards Evening for both the Ladies and Men sections of the club – please see details below. We expect the event to be fully booked so please get in touch with Jonny Farmer to reserve your place

Honours Boards

Congratulations to all the players who made it onto the honours board this week :

Match reports

First X1 vs Findon

It was the final day of the season and the Green headed over to the picturesque ground of Findon.

With Captain Farmer stuck in traffic it was up to deputy tosser, James Newman, to call ‘heads’ – and with luck it landed that way. So Wisborough were batting, with the intention of laying down a platform for the bowlers to defend.

It was yet another new opening partnership of SCS (Steve Calder Smith) & Alan Law who were sent in to build the platform. Even with a few phone calls and grumblings along the way, the Captain had his plans lined up. They both started well, blocking the straight ones, and driving the full balls down the ground. The score raced to 21 before Alan left a straight one, and his off-stump rocked back.

Ashley Clark strode to the crease, but sadly fell for 9 – an impressive first season for the Green however, amassing 618 runs at an average of 61.80. Steve also fell for 29, and the Green found themselves on 69/4.

James Newman was in at his new position of number 5 as the Captain had gone with a new plan for this game. Funnily enough it paid off, and Richard and James started to hit the ball fluently around Findon’s fields. The score rushed on to 117 before Richard was tempted to hit the young spinner into the local holiday park, only to miss it and be bowled.

Next, superstar junior Will Dixon was in with James, and they too continued to score well. Will sadly smoked a half volley down mid-off’s throat, who took it well. With the score on 156/5 Captain Farmer strode to the middle knowing there was still work to do in order to get a good defendable total on the board. A rusty start led to a new tactic of taking on the spin bowling. With a few lusty blows 19 runs were taken from the over, and the young spinner was under pressure. A lapse in concentration with a decent bit of fielding and Farmer was run out for 29.

Jimmer (James Newman) was now on around 60, and decided it was time to put his foot down. Batting at 5, he didn’t think there was enough time to reach three figures, or that the fielders could be spread around. However when in, and seeing the ball well, he was at his destructive best – and with several big blows got himself into the 90s. Jnr (James Rainford) was batting in the supporting roll, giving Jimmer the strike as much as possible and was dismissed for 9 and the score was on 244, Jimmer on 96. He then hit a lovely 4 to reach his first hundred of the season (at number 5). A fine innings, and one the team were very pleased with. Dan Vickery and Jimmer were both running in treacle by this point (Dan only in for 2 balls) and were both run out by a good five yards in comical fashion. The chat went into the evening of who was slowest over 12 yards, and the Green finished on 249.

News had reached us that Barns Green had bowled out Chichester for 119, and that promotion was not looking likely at all. So the Green tucked into a lovely tea – a delightful spread from the Findon tea crew.

It was the normal pair of Jnr and Hugo who opened the bowling, and it didn’t take long before Hugo made the breakthrough: with a very aggressive field (8/1 to be precise) he found the opener’s edge and Rich Wilson took a good catch: 5/1.

Out strode our old foe Toby Kingsbury, who the previous season only played in one Seconds match which was against the Green, and took DJ apart to win the game for Findon. So the Green knew how important that wicket was. It was however the Findon Captain who started to attack the Green. Jnr bowled very well again for no rewards and many edges flew low through the slips; he had the danger man plum in front only for it to be turned down! Jimmer also could only find the batman’s back instead of Vickery’s large hands for an easy run out.

Willbo (Will Dixon) was brought into the attack for Hugo, and the young man didn’t take long to strike – the danger man had gone and Findon were 60/2. This soon became 70/3 as Will got the skipper out, and yet again was the one to remove the key batsmen.

Joey Calder Smith was also back into the line-up, after gallivanting around Europe and trying to injure himself in two countries. He didn’t miss a beat though and was bang on the money. Last fixture’s top run scorer Cox was removed for 11, 99/4.

A slight ripple of applause was heard when Findon got to the 100 mark and it was confirmed that they would be staying up and East Preston were to be relegated (what a real shame, poor old Tom Reeves – see East Preston away Match Report for why this amused a few).

Will had yet again bowled his allotted overs and Captain Farmer fresh from 18 holes and a bat, thought that life would be easy, but bowled utter tripe and was soon punished – yet another first over going for 10+ runs. A warm up and nets are key, and this was shown yet again. But one good ball did remove Glover for 29, LBW – Peter Mattock’s final LBW of the season: 152/5.

Drinks were taken, and at this point news started to filter through that Barns Green were 60/6 – surely not! Ash Clarke was pumped, the Green were pumped and Barns Green were doing an Arsenal at 4-0 up against Newcastle, or in Cricket terms, the English Middle Order of the 97 Ashes.

The impossible was becoming possible. Farmer called on his reliable tail-end bowler, Elmer Thudd, the bunny hunter AKA James Newman. And with pressure building at one end, Hugo came back on to claim his second. It was then left for James to take out the number 9, 10 and 11, which he obliged: 14 of his 24 wickets this season are of batsmen 8 and below, a man for the occasion, and a well-deserved MOM performance.

Special mentions to Will and Joey in the field, young whippets who saved many runs. A real team performance, even with certain people playing in new roles, but performing for the TEAM.

That was that – the Green return to Division 4 for the first time since 2015. This one feels all the sweeter with young talent coming through and no presence of an overseas or coach. Just a great team ethic and never-say-die attitude.

I will not report on any activities in the Curry House or Kings Head, but will let these stories roll on to the End of season do!

Captain Farmer standing down for the foreseeable…. Its been a pleasure.

Jonny Farmer

Click here for the scorecard

Second X1 vs Middleton

WGCC 2nd XI lose a tough match against Middleton CC’s 3rds XI.

Wisborough Green lost a crucial toss and were asked to bat first.

Jack Dixon and Hugh Ragg opened up against a strong bowling attack. After seeing out the first couple of overs, Jack got caught out by a yorker, given out LBW and left the field with five overs gone. Hughie and Ran Dawson then moved the scoreboard on to build an impressive 50 partnership against some challenging bowling to place WG in a good position. Moments later, Ran missed a straight delivery, leaving Wisborough 2 wickets down with roughly 21 overs to go.

Matt Watts played positively and quickly extended the WG total. Meanwhile, Hughie remained composed, showcasing some incredible sixes at the other end. Both Hugh and Matt contributed to a quick 50 partnership, and Hugh reached a sublime 50, with Wisborough Green’s score looking very promising. However, after a swing at a straight ball, Matt was bowled out for 32. Wisborough Green 163-2 off 31 overs.

Unfortunately, the lower-order batsman failed to continue scoring as Oscar Warmington got swiftly caught for two runs. Meanwhile, Hugh played some eloquent attacking shots at the other end, accelerating towards a 100. After the fall of the third wicket, a batting collapse ensued, with all remaining WGCC players failing to add to the total. After 7 wickets had fallen, Hugh top-edged a good delivery, not helped by an unpredictable bounce. Wisborough 178-8. Two more wickets quickly fell before WG ended the innings with four balls to go. 178 – all out.

Ran and Oscar opened the second innings with consistent swing bowling, causing the opening batsman some problems at the crease. However, the openers were patient and managed to score frequently, exceeding the required run rate. After roughly 11 overs, Ran’s good bowling was rewarded with an edge behind. Middleton 73-1.

The game was stopped a couple of times after Middleton’s opening batter fainted while at the crease , but he thankfully recovered immediately and the game continued without further incident. Seven more overs went by before Matt’s excellent swing bowling was rewarded with an LBW. Middleton 130-2.

With Middleton needing 50 runs off 21 overs, a win looked out of reach for the Green.

Despite some notable bowling from Frank Vickery, Wisborough failed to limit Middleton’s run rate. Matt managed to sling another peach of a delivery, bowling out at Middleton’s number three. However, unfortunately, it was not enough to secure a W for Wisborough, who finished the season against a difficult opposition with plenty of squad depth.

A promising start in the first innings (well battered Hugh, excellent performance), unfortunately, was met by an emphatic collapse by WG 2nds, while the quality of Middleton’s top order gradually led them to victory in the second innings.

Thanks to all who played for the Second X1 this season. We hope to see everyone again next year and build on what was a strong finish to the WG 2nd XI season.

Jack Dixon

Pictured at the game – Second Team scorer with his assistant