Match
reports
Cavs in Biggest Ever Victory
Margin
Harpenden Cavaliers 230/3
The Green Bush 40ao
No longer can Tim Firmin be considered merely a stand-in
captain. Such was the brutal nature of the Cavaliers’
annihilation of the Green Bush, such was the aplomb with
which he manoeuvred his fielders and rotated the bowling,
such was the panoply of savoury and sugary treats he had
prepared for teas, Sunday 20 July 2008 was the day when
TJ Firmin stood up and put his name in the ring for the
Cavaliers armband on a permanent basis for 2009 and beyond.
“To be honest, I was just chuffed when Benny asked
me to be his vice-captain – for me, that was a dream
come true.” Commented Firmin “But now, with
a three-and-oh record, I’ve got the taste for it.
I believe that I could take this team to a new level, if
given the chance.”
Few could have imagined, as the Cavaliers convened in Rothamsted
Park for their annual fixture with the Hollybush (or Green
Bush as they are now called, having merged with the Inn
on the Green), how one-sided the match would be. Firmin
called the toin-coss correctly – can this man do no
wrong? – and elected to bat, with regular opening
combination Todd Baines and Ellis Thorpe restored to the
top of the order after an ‘experiment’ with
unavailable Tim Foster at the top of the order. Thorpe fell
quickly, lbw to a ball that was either missing leg stump
by a foot or hitting half way up middle depending on whether
one talks to the batsman or Umpire Bestie. Replacing Thorpe
was Lance Boyd-Clark, who looked ‘in nick’ right
from the off and was to play the defining innings –
thus far – of his Cavaliers career. He and Baines
put on 60 until Baines played round a straight one, bringing
together the partnership that would see the Cavs to a surely
indefatigable total: Boyd-Clark and Jim Handford.
Taking few risks and giving no chances, the Southdown Boys’
partnership eased past 50, 100, 150, until both closed in
on their centuries. With the soon-to-be-former-Australian
Boyd-Clark closest to three figures, and sensing that the
side probably had sufficient runs already, Handford graciously
ceded the strike to his partner, as overs ran out. With
just six balls left, Boyd-Clark made the first and only
error of his innings, sweeping a straight one and being
bowled just ten runs short of his maiden Cavs ton. Debutant
Dave Waters replaced him, and showed no signs of nerves
despite being padded up for 30 overs, clipping his first
ball tidily through midwicket to farm the strike to Handford,
who finished a chanceless 87 not out.
Chasing 213 to win, the Green Bush needed a good start.
To say they didn’t get it would be an understatement.
After a fine tea made by the ubiquitous Firmin, Fraser Tant
opened the bowling with a maiden that could have been a
wicket maiden but for a dropped regulation catch by Nigel
Timms, out in the field rather than in his usual territory
behind the stumps. Firmin, gambling, opened with Jim Burton
from the other end, and he too could have had a wicket maiden
rather than a maiden had not Firmin decided to catch a miscued
drive at mid off rather than bring it down on his instep.
Next over, Tant makes the breakthrough, finding the edge
with an excellent low catch at second slip duly snaffled
by Boyd-Clarke. 0-1. Using the wind to his advantage, Burton
soon claimed his first wicket, with a top edge held by first
slip Handford: 1-2. Another maiden for Tant, then in Burton’s
second over, a lofted drive finds the safe hands of Waters
at short extra cover: 4-3, which soon became 4-4 when some
extra pace beat the batsman all ends up and clips the off
bail. Tant then gets in on the bail action to reduce the
visitors to 7-5; Burton spills a caught and bowled chance
before finding the another edge with Tant taking a dramatic
diving catch at second slip to give Burton his 4th wicket:
8-6. Waters joins the attack and takes a wicket with his
first ball as a Cavalier, finding the shoulder of the bat
with some extra bounce to render the hapless Green Bush
8 for 7. Firmin rang the changes, offering the likes of
Baines, Thorpe and Best the change to get involved, while
Waters claimed two further wickets with balls that rose
off a length and were pouched by the slips. “Dave
looks to be a great find for the Cavs” commented Firmin.
Baines wrapped it up by skittling the last man, with less
than half of the 40 overs bowled.
The Cavs face Bamville next weekend and Theydon Bois a
fortnight later, leaving just two matches for players to
stake their claim for a place in the opening tour fixture
on Friday 15 August.
Man of the Match: Jim Burton.
Mentioned in despatches: Lance Boyd-Clark, Jim Handford,
Dave Waters (Squad No 78)
Champagne Moment (Self-elected): Fraser Tant’s catch
at second slip
Ready
for the Tour?
