July 1st 2001

Priory Ruins CC (195 - 1) drew with St Anne's Allstars Invitational XI (146 - 5) Scorecard

This match begged several questions. How did only six wickets fall on such a treacherous wicket? And how come Mozza doesn't find a better team to play for than us?

It was a game of two individual innings - fabulous knocks by Paul Gower and Tom Morris - on a vipers' nest of a pitch. Green and bouncy, the strip offered increasingly variable bounce. On a length the ball could either shoot through at ankle height or lift towards your mouth. Morris and Bovill's bruises (or were they love bites, exchanged in celebration at a Mozza boundary?) were testament to this peculiar track's unpredictability.

In such conditions, our failure to take more than one wicket was hugely disappointing. The new ball pair of Tristan Haddow-Allen and Adam Clements obtained movement in the air and off the pitch. But few nicks were induced, and those that were failed to go to hand. And batsmen Gower and Nairne rode a tricky spell with great skill.

Both players punished anything short, while length balls were treated with scholarly respect. Nairne's half century was compact and efficient. Gower's hundred was a splendid and powerful affair, replete with effortless on drives, handsome pulls and authoritative cover drives.

The Allstars captain rotated the bowlers in vain. Nick Jones failed to reproduce the accuracy and lift which had served him so well in Newark.

Our sole breakthrough came from Joe Johnson, whose height gave him extra bounce. It was maybe this factor which caused Nairne to spoon one high towards the cover boundary, where Richard Thompson eventually clasped on to an excellent catch.

Nairne departed for 52 to leave Ruins 135 for 1. But though Gower started to play with an increasing lack of caution, the Allstars' outcricket began to disintegrate. Five catches went begging and a run out chance was missed despite both batsmen spending about half an hour at the same end of the pitch.

The declaration came with Gower's century, leaving us 196 to win. With the time available, and the awkwardness of the pitch, this target always looked tricky. But openers Morris and Tristan Haddow-Allen made a solid start as they too despatched the short ball with aplomb. The latter was playing with great confidence before slapping slow-left-armer Salter back to mid off.

This brought in Andy Dyer, who never got the measure of the extremely nippy Andrews, whose pace and movement made him close to unplayable. After four overs his figures were 4-3-1-1. The wicket was Dyer's, who was beaten for pace and nicked one to the keeper.

Joe Johnson batted with his trademark abandon, his unorthodox technique belying an acute ability to hit the ball. There is no forward defensive is his repertoire, just the swipe through mid wicket and cover. But when he connects the ball travels, and he hit four boundaries in his 29 before eventually missing a straight one.

He provided the perfect foil for Morris, who again produced an exemplary blend of attack and defence. There was no way past his broad bat as he waited patiently for the hittable deliveries. His unbeaten and almost chanceless 62 was an innings of genuine class, arguably the finest in the Allstars' history.

Meanwhile the rapid departure of Duncan Amey left us 121-5, with just eight overs left to score 75. The captain hoped his batsmen would play for the draw, especially as this would mean he wouldn't have to bat. But Nick Jones once again batted as if his house was on fire and would get round to calling the fire brigade as soon as the match was over. He swung the bat hugely at every ball, earning him one gorgeous cover drive for four, the stroke of our innings. But the unevenness of bounce meant he never really settled, and soon gave the wicket keeper a second catch.

This brought a nervous Mike Bovill to the crease, with four overs to survive on his batting debut for the Allstars. Studious concentration earned him a creditable 11 ball unbeaten nought.

Thus we achieved a draw and a sensational unbeaten run of two matches. News of this impressive form is sure to concern Higham and Mockbeggar CC, our next opponents on July 28th.

Our hosts deserve warm thanks for the generous hospitality (they gave us lunch and tea) and for inviting us to their attractive ground in the tranquil Sussex countryside.

The weather too, was glorious - intensely warm and sunny all day long, even better than at Newark and a stark contrast to the Rain Men match. The message is clear - when I'm captain, the sun shines.