Match
reports
Well I never.
WELL. I. NEVER.
There can be few more impressive performances than that
witnessed at Woollams on Sunday - nor can as much time have
been spent rummaging in the bushes looking for balls.
The Cavaliers hosted Ivanhoe CC, a fixture normally played
at Ivanhoe and invariably culminating in a bore draw with
Ivanhoe 150 runs behind and 8 wickets down in a timed game.
However, played on his own turf, acting skipper Ellis Thorpe
could set the ground rules, and 40 over game ensued.
Thorpe 'won' the toss (although it was more of an agreement
than a decision) and put his side in to bat, marching out
alongside Paul Wise to set the innings rolling. However,
both were soon back in the hutch after four overs, after
some accurate and penetrating bowling. Both batsmen had
cause to question their dismissals, both falling LBW to
some rather generous LBW decisions by Cav umpires.
At 13 for 2, the Cavaliers were in trouble. At 220 for
2, 25 overs later, history had been made.
Live-in lovers John Gregory and Todd Baines were at the
centre of the action, breaking records left right and centre
(off, leg and middle?) in a display of brutal batting. Gregory
's hitting was something to behold, with 9 sixes resulting
in 6 lost balls and some rather demoralised bowlers. He'll
be the first to admit the he rode his luck a little, with
a few chances going down, but that's the way he plays -
and it sure is great to watch! He reached his 50 in just
22 balls, with Baines just behind him, playing a chanceless
innings. The two batsmen were rarely more than 5 runs apart,
charging along at ten an over, and not long after the 20
over mark, Gregory pulled through midwicket to reach his
maiden century - to a cheer from the crowd and a bear-hug
from his batting partner.
Minutes later, Baines joined him on three figures, his
second ton for the Cavaliers and a change in fortune after
what has been a disappointing season for such a talent.
Baines was batting like a man with a point to prove - his
first season in the OAs first XI has been hugely frustrating,
rarely batting above 8 in the order and not being given
the chance to show what he is made of.
Just one run short of the Cavs' highest ever score (Baines'
previous best of 121*), Gregory had one heave too many and
was castled, but strode off to a tremendous reception and
a well-deserved ciggy (although please note: The Cavaliers
do not condone smoking, which can seriously damage ones
health, if not ones ability to clobber a cricket ball miles.)
Baines, meanwhile, really began to open his shoulders, passing
the 150 mark with aplomb, then 175 as he began to take a
few risks with a double-century on the horizon with time
running out. He eventually fell in the last over for a majestic
180, with a team total of 338/6 smashing the Cavaliers previous
record.
Ivanhoe were never going to make 339 - and once Fraser
Tant had dismissed both openers in double-quick time and
Tim Foster also claimed an early wicket, it was just a question
of whether the Cavaliers could dismiss their opposition.
Disappointingly, Ivanhoe decided not to go out blazing,
but instead try and bat out their 40 overs. It is to their
credit that they managed to do so, although had Ivanhoe
been as generous with the LBWs as the Cavaliers, perhaps
it would have been different, Tant and Gareth Lloyd the
main victims. Lloyd finished with three wickets and Ben
Rankin picked up another, as Ivanhoe finished 174/7, 165
short of their mammoth target.
"I enjoyed that" commented skipper Thorpe. "It's
my first win as acting skipper - and what a win it was!
Greggsy and Bainesy were a joy to behold, it was a privilege
to watch it first hand. I can almost just about forgive
Greggsy for triggering me for a duck", he said, ruefully.
The Cavaliers host Redbourn next week, keen to avenge a
disappointing defeat in the return fixture earlier in the
season.
