Buona sera a tutti!

Greetings from Italy where the weather is far worse than at home!

More of a round up this week than the full match report for two reasons – first, I wasn’t at Sunday’s game and secondly, I’m still on holiday and the Wi-Fi here is about as reliable as my batting!

Mount vs Brentwood Victorians – Match Report

Once again an extraordinary performance from the Mount to beat Brentwood Victorians on Sunday. Whilst I am unable to provide a full match report, the figures for the game speak for themselves.

Brentwood Vic posted 278-3 off their 35 overs. A huge total that included a quite astonishing innings from their No. 4 who made 155 off just 72 balls with 14 sixes and 14 fours! Unsurprisingly, our bowlers took quite a bashing but debutant Paul McKeown and Justin Montellier took a wicket each as did the evergreen Bob Palmer. Bob’s figures of 1/33 proving to be remarkably economical on a day for the batsman.

A target of 279 looked daunting with a required run rate of a whisker under 8 per over, however, this Mount side rose to the task. All those to bat contributed but the star performers were Steve Johnson, batting at 3 who made his maiden century for the club and kept us in the hunt throughout, and Vijay Valayaveettil who made his first 50 for the club (55no) to see us home with 3 balls to spare. Great to see Josh Frankel getting among the runs and a solid performance from Will Green helping Vijay see us home. The youth policy seems to be working! Another amazing day with 557 runs scored in total and the unbeaten run continues. Well done to Captain Dave Summers and all the team for a fantastic result and again, particular congratulations to Steve and Vijay.

President’s XI - Sunday 1st July – 1300 Start

The following have been selected for Sunday’s fixture against President Jackson’s men:

1. W. Foley (c)
2. D. Summers
3. T. Duffin
4. J. Montellier
5. I. Frankel
6. G. Williams
7. R. Green (w)
8. W. Green
9. S. Johnson
10. V. Vayalveettil
11. P. McKeown

Players to meet at the ACG at 1215.

As always family, friends and supporters are most welcome for one of the feature matches of the season.

Availabilities

Following Sunday’s game, we have 2 games before the tour. These are as follows:

• Friday 6th July, 1815 – Great Wakering - Away – T20
• Sunday 15th July 1300 - St Aidan’s – Home 35/40 overs

We are still short of players for both of these, so please let me know if you are available asap.

Tea Request

Finally, for the 15th July fixture we require someone to take care of the tea arrangements – if you are able to do so, please get in touch.

That’s all for now – Hope to see you on Sunday.

Please note that Sunday’s fixture will start at 1pm. Players to meet at ACG at 12.15.

Have a great game and please extend a warm welcome and my best wishes to Brentwood Vic on their first visit to ACG.

The following have been selected:

1. Dave Summers (Capt)
2. Justin Montellier
3. Ilan Frankel
4. Simon Jackson
5. Richard Green (W)
6. Will Green
7. Steve Johnson
8. Vijay Vayalveettil
9. Bob Palmer
10. Paul McKeown
11. Jack Summers

Thank you all for making yourselves available.

Looking ahead to next week, we host Brentwood Victorians at the ACG for the first time. Sadly, I can’t be there as I am away on hols but I will leave you in the capable hands of vice-skipper Dave Summers. We are looking good on numbers and the final selection will be announced later in the week – however, if you are available but have not let me know as yet please do so asap.

Where to start?! Well we won and remain unbeaten this season but that doesn’t tell even half the story of an extraordinary match with a nail biting finish, a great individual batting performance, some excellent bowling figures, and self inflicted injury as a result of a crazy 2 man fielding effort.

It started well, with the toss won and the opposition put in to bat we prepared ourselves for a 1.30 start. Then the phone call all captain’s dread - checking that it WAS 2pm wasn’t it?! Never mind, Canewdon generously lent us 3 fielders – yes 3 because its always the car with the most players in isn’t it? - Anyway, on we go with David Jackson and Paul Southward to open the bowling - and what a start they gave us! A miserly spell of bowling saw DJ take 1 for 15 off his 7 overs and Paul was luckless but similarly tidy at the other end. With 13 overs gone, Canewdon’s score had limped into the 30s.

Vijay Vayalveettil replaced DJ, Paul Cox took over from his namesake and the game burst into life. VJ caused all sorts of trouble with his pace, bounce and variation but did not get the wickets his spell deserved. At the other end however, Cox was on fire! His 7 overs produced 3 wickets for just 24 runs and a further 2 batsman were sent packing as a result of run outs. With 27 of the 35 overs gone Canewdon had still not reached 3 figures although the rate had just started to climb. The innings was bowled out by President Jackson, Vice captain Summers and his son, Jack. As Canewdon swung the willow to try and post a score, all 3 bowled well but took the inevitable punishment that the last few overs often bring. This was not the only punishment however.

A delivery from Jackson was driven firmly at Southward at point, who was unlucky to see it go through his long barrier. He was soon to become more unlucky. As Southward chased back to atone for his error, Toby Duffin sprinted greyhound-like around from deep extra cover, eating up the ground as he sensed danger. How right he was. Duffin gathered the ball athletically as Southward continued his run. The Viking, took aim at his wicketkeepers end before unleashing a powerful throw straight into the startled Southward who was now no more than 3 yards away. Struck amidships but thankfully above the water line, Southward sank to his knees clasping his ribs in pain. The bowler also fell to the ground as did most of the Mount team but their sides were hurting for a very different reason. Eventually, we regained our composure and checked on our wounded team mate. It was decided best that he left the field and, following an examination from Dr David Thomas, was eventually given leave to attend A&E. Thankfully, an x-ray revealed no fractures and we wish him a speedy recovery. Canewdon lent us our 4th fielder of the day and stormed to a better than anticipated, but still seemingly manageable 151 total.

Our reply began well. Duffin and Summers setting a solid foundation before Summers was bowled bringing the President to the crease. Duffin enjoyed his elevation up the batting order and passed 500 runs for the club on his way to 23 before giving the bowler a return catch when in two minds as to how to play a short ball. William Wilcox came next but went surprisingly quickly LBW before Offord and then Vayalveettil each gave themselves a start which they failed to capitalise on.

5 down, run rate climbing, overs running out. The stage was set and the captain came to the wicket. Shortly after he left again following a quite dreadful shot having failed to trouble the scorers for the second day in a row. Paul Cox came and went almost as quickly and the collapse seemed set to lead us to our first defeat of 2018.

However, throughout the chaos, Jackson remained calm and stoic. Building a score by punishing the few bad balls and prizing his wicket far higher than his team mates. Jack Summers gave solid support but it seemed the game had gone. After some great running between the wickets and Jackson adding the odd boundary here and there, we found ourselves requiring 20 runs from 2 overs. The first over gave us the 10 required – more enthusiastic running and solid scoring shots to the fore. A miscalculation by the opposition skipper saw him bowl out his best bowlers an over early however and someone was going to have to bowl the last over “cold”. 6 balls 10 runs required. The field scattered. It mattered not a jot as Jackson feasted on the repast served up to him, finding gaps to strike 3 boundaries and bring us home with a ball to spare. A great knock of 80 not out the cricketing high point of an extraordinary day.

Never in doubts lads, never in doubt!

There is no game on Sunday 10th so we can all enjoy a rest and recover from Sunday’s “run-fest”!

We resume on 17th with a trip to Canewdon, before hosting Brentwood Victorians on 24th June. July 1st sees us take on all the President’s men at the ACG. I’m pleased to say that availability continues to look good but I’m still a little short of numbers (particularly for the first 2 games mentioned) so if you are available and haven’t let me know thus far, please do so.

Looking a little further ahead, we have our first Friday night, T20 fixture at Wakering on 6th July (6.30pm start). Hopefully this gives sufficient time for commuters etc to get home (it is P.O.E.T.S. day after all!) so please put the date in your diary now and let me know if you are available asap. Should be a great night.

What a fantastic day we had yesterday! Great weather, competitive cricket and great food – and probably the right result in the end.

Having won the toss we put the JWTW XI in and had some early success as an unfortunate Charlie Lockhart was out LBW to a ball that stayed very low. A wicket on his return for Dave Hewitt 2.0 and a word with the groundsman for Charlie! Wickets were hard to come by on a day for the batsman but we kept chipping away and were content to go to lunch with the score on 119/3 with a wicket a piece for the skipper and Alex Hatton.

A welcome return to the fray for Bob Palmer was rewarded with a wicket just after lunch but the Wilcox XI stepped up their scoring rate with the arrival of Noel Smith. Nick Lockhart at the other end proved immovable on his way to a very well deserved century. Nick looked set to carry his bat as a declaration loomed before he was out to Hewitt off what turned out to be the last ball of the innings. Smith’s declaration leaving him on 99 not out from a total off 277/5.

The Mount reply began at pace with Ilan Frankel in particular, helping himself to some quick runs as we sought to see out the spell before tea. An excellent return catch from Dunn however, sent Frankel back for refreshments early after a punchy 38. We resumed after tea with the returning Sam Weller joining opener Ged Williams at the crease. These two were going along nicely before a direct hit from Charlie Lockhart left Williams well short of his crease chasing a quick single. Next man in was President Jackson who joined Weller and took the fight to the opposition. A fluent and attacking partnership with a combination of power hitting, astute running and moments of tremendous skill saw this pair put on 112 runs before Jackson was bowled for 45 with the score just shy of 200.

Debutant Vijay Vayalveettil came to the crease next and was unfortunate to miss an early full toss and give the umpire an easy LBW decision. With the run rate required for victory starting to climb, Paul Offord was next man in and soon set about the task in hand. A quick fire 50 partnership with Weller included some great stroke making, placement and powerful hitting and victory became a distinct possibility. During this partnership, Weller reached his century. His innings was a delight and included some audacious “switch hitting” – all of which found the boundary and pleased the crowd greatly – if not the bowlers on the receiving end!

A tremendous piece of fielding finally saw his demise. Another well timed drive seemed set to add another boundary to the total before a diving stop, and accurate throw from Smith J, saw Weller run out on 104 with the score on 256/5. With overs running out and 22 runs still needed for victory, Summers joined Offord at the crease and despite their best efforts, some astute bowling from the opposition managed to limit the number of potential run-scoring deliveries and Mount closed on 270/5 to draw the match. A fitting result for a hugely enjoyable day.

Many thanks to John for hosting and putting on such a lavish lunch and so nice to see so many at the ACG enjoying the day.

A week off next week before we travel to Canewdon on 17th June – I will address the full upcoming fixture list in a separate mail. Have a great week everybody.