v Sussex C&G @ Horsham 29 May 2006

Scorecard

After the problems of the weekend and Ian Blackwell's departure from the squad due to long term injury, we welcome a new captain to the helm in Cameron White.  Matt Wood hasn't been sidelined but with the present problems with the frontline batting, it has been decided that he should concentrate on getting that right while remaining in the Vice captain spot. A strong Sussex side, with real chances of winning the Southern Conference face us as we work to keep our hopes of getting to Lords alive and Cam needs to work his boys into a frenzy because we need a big win today.

Unfortunately the weather has taken the edge off the first part of the match because the 10:45 start has been delayed for rain but the side chosen is as follows;

M J Wood, C M Gazzard, (wkt), A V Suppiah, J C Hildreth, W J Durston, K A Parsons, P D Trego, C L White, (capt), A R Caddick, D J Cullen, C M Willoughby

Dan Cullen returns to do battle with Mushtaq Ahmed for the spin honours and Richard Johnson makes way after his calf injury during the Championship match.  Wes Durstson returns because of Blackie's absence and Peter Trego gets the nod ahead of Gareth Andrew for the first time in a one dayer this season.  Looking at how they line up, it suggests that Carl Gazzard will continue to 'pinch hit' but the rest of the batting line-up is less obvious.  Caddick and Willoughby will take the new ball with numerous spin and seam options after that from a side with 9 bowlers available.  First test Mr White...please don't blow it! 

Sussex have won the toss and decided to take advantage of any pre-rain conditions by giving us first use of the bat.  "Will the Exile" has identified the weather conditions as showery so a good start is vital just in case we have to resort to Vera Duckworth some time after the 10th over. 

Well Duckworth did for us again it seems.  I ddn't get into much of this game so I'll Leave someone who was there to give you whatever lowdown there is to give you.  Bye Bye C&G - let's hope you come back next year in a more competitive format and we are more competitive in you!!

Over to "Tufnell Parka"

Just back
Firstly, PROFUSE APOLOGIES to those who thought we had won and especially Frome Exile.
I left the ground with hundreds of others at 5.30 after a horrid 5-minute downpour left us well ahead on the duckworth/lewis. convinced we had won as had virtually everyone around me

At that stage I could never foresee anymore cricket considering the sodden conditions all day plus the fact it was just as heavy as the second downpour of the day at 12.00.
I would love to know how the umpires decided to get back out there, I really would. It couldn't have helped us that new bowlers were bowling in damp conditions considering Charl and Caddy had bowled out, but well played Luke Wright.

Secondly, never leave a game early!
Anyway, to the day.   Arrived at Horsham at about 10.00am following a 3.00am finish on a night in Brighton. With a fuzzy head I walked to the ground with a mate when the heavens opened - hailstones, lashing rain the lot. Got to the very pretty horsham ground with the stewards on the gate unoptimistic about much play. The bowlers' run ups were very wet and with no refunds available for the £15 tickets so decided to sit it out until we heard what was happening.  Then, the rain came again at 12.00 - hard and heavy.

Personally I doubted I would see any play but the rain stopped and the sun shone and the umpires announced a 3.00pm start. I was pretty amazed quite frankly but game on.  Despite the wet conditions the boys and coaching staff decided to have a game of footy on the outfield - Gareth Andrew looks a good player! but I was a bit worried to see a few tackles going in and Trego flying through the air despite the coaching staff also playing.
Found a spot in the side-on pavillion, ordered a cider, had a chat with the locals (couldnt see you will) and had a lovely pie and mash.  Anyway, i digress, to the game.

We started off pretty solidly but slowly on a slowish track against some good bowling. We had a bit of luck with the ball being sliced around just evading fielders. then Yardy took an amazing slip catch to get rid of Gazzard but then dropped Matt Wood and off he went, with what looked a pretty serious finger injury.

Cameron hit an enormous straight six off "Mushy" before unfortunately finding the lone fielder on the longon boundary as Matt Wood continued to time the ball beautifully before looking aggrieved to be given out lbw to "Mushy".  Other points of note in our innings were two big sixes from Trego and Suppiah and a lovely leg-glance from Caddy for four first ball which he clearly enjoyed as he waved his bat at his teammates sat crowded around the outfield enjoying the show.

154 seemed a pretty good score.  Couldn't complain but it wasn't going to be easy against a formidable looking Sussex batting order.   Well, Caddy's first over was ropy but then he got in the groove to dismiss Montgomerie with a great ball before an amzing bit of fielding from James Hildreth to get rid of Chris Adams; fielding at mid on, Hildreth firstly dived to stop a powerful drive from the Sussex captain (a brilliant stop) and then, lying almost flat on his back, hit the one stump he had to aim at with deadeye precision. An amazing piece of fielding which had the Sussex members around me in disbelief.

When Goodwin was caught on the boundary and Charl hit the top of Hopkinson's off stump with a beautiful ball it looked in the bag.  At this stage Christopher Martin-Jenkins came and sat next to me to watch his boy Robin - always been a big fan of CMJ but didnt tell him that - seems like a nice bloke though.

Then, after 6 overs, it began to rain, fairly slightly but dark clouds behind the pavilion threatned more and the players and the crowd knew it.  When the tannoy announcer said that 10 overs had to be bowled for a result to go either way both Caddy and Charl cut their run-ups in half as the Sussex players deliberatly went on a go-slow, praying that the rain would get heavier before the 10 overs came up.

Prior at this stage though was unfurling some lusty blows - trying to catch up with the "Vera Duckworth" which Sussex were quite some way behind. Half way through the 10th over the rain got much heavier and now it was Somerset's turn to slowdown proceedings slightly (to the annoyance of the Sussex fans) with the hosts a good way behind the Duckworth, obviously thinking the rain was going to call a halt to proceedings and the game to be called off.

As Trego (replete with much more normal hair than the max wall look he sported at the Oval) started the 11th over the rain lashed down and the players trooped off with, as I said before, most fans leaving. including a few victorious somerset cheers from the departing.  This is when I called "Frome" with the news - convinced the ground would not be fit for play even if it did stop raining - considering the time spent hanging around before the game started.

Got to Horsham station as the rain stopped and then at Gatwick Airport "Frome" texted me the result. what a gutter!  Still cant believe the players got back on but they did and it appears to be an great innings from Luke Wright to win it.  It couldnt have helped that players were bowling on damp run-ups at the beginning of spells with an undoubtably wet ball but there we have it.  It looks like I will be watching Sussex in the final at Lords on Aug 26 (for my stag do) and I will be supporting them - good luck.

I just hope that the nature of this defeat doesnt shatter the players already brittle confidence as they must have thought they had it in the bag.  I will say though that the morale looked good throughout the game and Cameron White, from what play I saw, looked to be firmly in control and directing proceedings.  I also agree that Gazzard should not open for the foreseeable in the 1-day game - Arul would be a much better shout at the top rather than at 8 - and he does have ballstriking ability to go with his stickability.

Over and out, sorry again folks (No problems Dude - better than we could have done from an uninformative scorecard)

Thanks to "Tuffers" for taking the time.  The last bit of the game seems to have hinged on a slightly llower than reasonable total from Vera (well there is a huge surpriose then!!) on a damp wicket with our frontline seamers bowled out and no spinner able to have the effect that Mr Ahmed could manage - class spinners don't need it to take big spin to cause trouble it seems.  When you've only got 6 overs to do anything and they have wickets in hand they can throw the bat and it seems they did.  Rain will have stopped Cullen being any kind of weapon and White, Trego and Parsons all suffered from long handle cricket.  Don't blame the boys, blame Vera and a system that means that we have nothing to play for in the C&G because we can't win it!!

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