Spending a week’s autumn break in the picturesque village of Chipping Camden.  I managed to persuade my host to come along to the cricket. Her late husband was a Gloucestershire member, but she had not been to a match for quite a few years. We loaded up her car, as per Mr Mark Newton’s (Worcs. Sec.) request, with seats. food and a few drinks. First part of the day’s entertainment came as we set off. I had seen that, according to Google, the journey to Kiddy would take just over an hour. Jenny said “ I know a short cut, we will get there much quicker than that”  That should have warned me, off we went down all these country lanes at, what seemed, breakneck speed arriving just about in one piece at the Chester Road ground 40 mins later.

 We took up a position approx.Widish long leg, at the old Pavilion end, and settled down. A very decent sized crowd had gathered to celebrate the home team’s promotion, just eight points needed plus, of course in the hope of seeing Graham Hick in his last CC match.  The two teams were announced, to everyone’s great disappointment, Hick was not fit enough to play. Simon Jones and Kadeer Ali were also out, to my great relief.Moeen Ali came in while Chris Whelan, Andy Harris (released this week by Notts) and Sri Lankan Fernando were named. As we knew, no Joyce or Kartick for us. London named 12^th man. Worcs won the toss and decided to bat. 

MORNING SESSION  

 Moore and Mitchell opened the bowling, Murtagh and Richardson the bowling. After a steady start, suddenly, as once used in a Sixties film (any idea which one?) “All hell don’ broke loose” with Dial M picking up three quick wickets. First Mitchell played a loose shot and was caught by Morgan. That brought in Vic Solanki, first ball up and  Dial M got one to nip off the seam as the batsmen came forward and Strauss took a smart catch at slip and it was 22-2. Ben Smith didn’t last too long either having his off stump pinged back by Tim for 3 and it was 36-3! Slight stunned disbelieve amongst the home supporters while joy from your reporter. That brought Moeen to the middle. Once the opening bowlers went off, the runs began to flow, Dirk Nannes being harshly treated by Moore, so much so that his four overs cost 31 runs. The runs continue to come at a great knot, Moore looking particularly impressive. No wonder  Worcs are delighted to extend his contract. In a display of big hitting he went to Lunch, 78* including 12x4s and 2x6s. Shaggy giving Malan the last over before the interval, meaning six bowlers had been used. At Lunch Worcs were 115-3 with Moeen 25 not out.

During the morning Graham Hick had been wandering around the boundary, chatting to people and doing interviews, and I was pleased to be able to shake his hand and tell him that although a Middlesex man I greatly admired him as a cricketer. He very kindly chatted for a few minutes before moving off to shake more hands. 

AFTERNOON SESSION 

The sun tried to come out during the afternoon, in and out like a “jack-in-the-box! (Oooh Clodagh Rogers again).  On the field it was a cracking couple of hours or so of play. Moeen didn’t add to his lunch score trapped plum in front by Richardson (116-4) Davies came out and he and Moore continue to play their shots.   He has done well this season with bat and gloves (much to my delight, as I have him in my fantasy team). Richo and Dial M bowled quite long spells, both beating the bat on occasions but Stephen Moore went on his sublime way through to a very well deserved 100 (16x4s, 3x6s). Nannes was brought back into the attack and is so often the way after being thumped all around the ground in the morning proceeded to pick up two wickets in his first over back. Davies, chased a wide one and edged to Strauss at slip and a couple of balls later Batty also edged and Ace took a sharp catch. 177-6 became 177-7 in the next over when Moore having gone onto Nelson (111) touched an out swinger from Murtagh and Scott did the rest. It was the end of a very fine knock by Moore, I was impressed with his timing and fluency of strokes, particularly through the on side.

 Home fans then started worrying whether they were going to get any batting bonus points at all when Andrew lasting only six balls became Dial M’s fifth victim driving loosely and being caught by Malan. Fernando came in and the 200 was passed to a big cheer from the crowd, but three runs later he went caught behind, and it was six of the best for Murtagh! At this point I made the error of saying to Jenny “you watch us struggle to take this last wicket” But come on chaps, 203-9 and then Chris Whelan and Andy Harris put on  57. Whelan, whose top score before today was 12, looked in no bother at all and Nannes figures took another battering. Eventually Shaggy brought himself and Finn on, a fair bit too late I thought, perhaps showing his inexperience as a skipper. By then the two were well in. Please don’t tell me Whelan was going to do a “Wright” on us. Sure enough late afternoon he breezed to his fifty and home supporters were thinking two points in the bag, six to go, any more to come from these two? 

At this point I notice that some of the body language from our fielders was poor. There was that “here we go again” look about it all, what little encouragement came from the younger players, a few shouts of “come on lads keep working” came from the outfield.  “Golden Arm” Malan was brought back into the attack and with his first ball trapped Chris Whelan in front for 56, 265 all out.

 EVENING SESSION 

With the sun now shining, we watched an excellent opening partnership between Andy and The Kid.  Fernando looking very rusty conceded 37 from 6 overs, including 3 no balls. However, the introduction of Gareth Batty did the track for the home side, when Billy drove straight to Moore, who couldn’t keep out of the limelight. 86-1. Strauss kept the scoring at over five an over and Chris Whelan after his efforts with the bat was taken out the attack after conceding 20 from two overs. At the close they had added another forty. All in all a very good day closing at 126-1, 139 behind with nine wickets standing. With Essex closing on 338-8, it would seem to me that Worcs will need 5 more points to go up. It was nice to be there to see us basically outplay (on day one, at least) one of the best teams in the Division. I accept they are not at full strength but we have a few missing as well. Well done chaps.

 Back to the country lanes for us now, and hopefully I shall be back on Friday for day three.   

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