GCC vs Stoke D'Abernon Match Report

The arrival of Stoke D’Abernon CC to Holloway Hill couldn’t halt leader Harold’s prolific form at the toss; four on the bounce for the ginger wizard. Despite a distinctly emerald hue to the pitch, GCC opted to bat first as they went in search of a third league win in as many games.

However, D’Abernon’s Fowler, Tarrant and Mills set about strangling the innings from the off. The latter in particular bowled with monastic discipline, bustling through an unbroken ten over stint to record figures of 0-18. With the bowlers rattling through the overs, leader Harold looked to up the ante, only to depart for 24 courtesy of a stunning caught and bowled from Tarrant. The bowler followed this up with a jagging delivery to remove no.3 Shepherd for a duck, leaving GCC wallowing at 47-2 off 20 overs. In truth, the innings could have been even worse for the home side had D’Abernon not shelled several catches. The chief beneficiary of such fortune, veteran John Milner, eventually perished in the 30th over for a grizzly 38.

Globetrotting Steve Horne’s return to the side injected some impetus to the innings with a spritely 35, alongside Dale Bryant who exhibited greater fluency than most of his teammates. The big Queenslander - who bears an uncanny resemblance to The Muppets’ very own Dr Beaker - looked in good touch, piercing the cover region with some eye-catching shots. However, after Horne fell to top edged pull and the returning Fowler yorked O’Day, Bryant was denied a deserved half century when he nicked-off for 49. Some lower order contributions ensured GCC batted the full 50, and while the slightly two-paced pitch stifled stroke making to a degree, it was the visitor’s disciplined bowling performance that meant GCC could only muster 194-9.

With both sides aware of the significance of early wickets, a cagey start to the D’Abernon innings ensued. Needles O’Day produced his finest spell of the season, extracting some steepling bounce from the Bowling Green End. However, there was great concern from all quarters when fellow opener Elgar announced that he was without his prize 70’s knitwear. Unperturbed, the languid seamer unveiled a similarly retro polo shirt, and reassured all that his powers were unaffected when he found Newman’s edge in the eighth over.

Having held a superb catch in the deep to remove Douthwaite, only to carry the ball over the line, O’Day then had his revenge when he pinned the opener in front for 31. Skipper Gudgeon bludgeoned some momentum into his side’s innings with a quick fire 30, before falling to Steve Horne. With the balance of the game shifting all the time, GCC looked to apply the squeeze through Churaman and Agge in the 18th. The left armer once again produced a shrewd spell, conceding just 13 runs off his ten overs.

Although the required rate crept up, D’Abernon’s Raimondo and Lo built steadily, setting up a tense finish. The home side’s moment came when Hickey removed both set batsmen in his first over; 129-5 at the 27th and the door well and truly ajar.

However, upon his arrival Folwer set about immediately slamming it shut. The big right-hander’s calculated assault of 44 from 37 balls was ultimately the difference between the two sides, blasting the home attack to all corners in measured fashion. Although Morley holed-out with six overs to go, Fowler and Gudeon no.2 saw the visitors home to a well-deserved victory with nine balls to spare. Despite the host’s heartening effort in the field, an equally strong display from D’Abernon with the ball meant GCC were always 20-30 runs light, with Fowler’s decisive innings condemning Harold’s team to their first defeat of the season.