Crushing victory on sweltering afternoon

The 3rd XI had an excellent mix of youth and experience assembled for the match against Parkfield and Headstone IIs on the back pitch at Burtonhole Lane on Saturday. Skipper Phil Smith duly lost the toss on a baking hot afternoon and not surprisingly, the visitors chose to bat first. Most of the top 6 for the opposition batted like they had a train to catch and were attacking the bowling from the off. However, the youthful opening combination of Yohance Lewis (1 for 12 in 5 overs) and Ronit Anand on his league debut, (2 for 23 in 7 overs), held their nerve and made vital breakthroughs.

A stunning catch by Sam ‘buckets’ Hare running away from the bat to catch a high one over his shoulder, was as good as it got in the field. Thereafter a succession of drops, mostly tough chances, threatened to undo the good work which had seen the hosts reduce Parkfield to 37-3. Pryank Patel came on with his slow but accurate off breaks and the batsmen’s eyes all lit up once more. Each one in turn was determined to show that he could hit it further than the last. The accuracy of the bowling paid off and although runs were coming, the Village were ‘buying’ the wickets at a very acceptable rate. Pryank ended with 4-50 in his 8 overs and on another day could easily have had more.
Sam Hare went wicketless, despite probably being the pick of all the bowlers with his 0 for 21 from 8 overs. Callum Whitworth, another debutant and Village Colts graduate came on to clean up the tail, returning excellent figures of 3 for 19 in 6 overs in his maiden outing. The opposition tail wagged a little, as the wily old No. 8 bat shepherded the lower order well. He top scored with 27, as the visitors were bowled out for 149 in the 37th over.

149 looked a comfortable total to overhaul on a pitch that was playing well. The track didn’t misbehave at all and was as good as anything seen at the Village. It was somewhat competitive however and probably 20 or 30 more than the Village should have been chasing. Any fears of a nervous chase were swiftly put to bed though, as Skipper Phil Smith and young keeper/batsman Zak Demetriades took toll of the many bad balls that were offered in the opening overs. Together the Club Coach alongside another of his Junior section graduates plundered a 106 run opening stand from the first 15 overs of the innings. The young blade outscored the Skipper before being dismissed for 60, admirably walking off for a feint nick behind, when few had heard it, or even appealed.

The back of the chase was broken and despite a few hot and sweaty batsman giving their wickets away in the following half hour, the job was completed after just 24 overs, for a comfortable 5 wicket victory, with Phil Smith seeing the job to a finish, ending up 51 not out.
With the top scorer, 5 of the wickets, the most accurate bowler and a quality catch, all coming from ex MHVCC Junior cricketers, the future is looking bright. Fingers crossed that the lads continue to play and enjoy their cricket and if so, they could easily be forming the backbone of the 1st XI for the Club in a few short years. It is a big ‘if’ though, as young player retention is a massive challenge for Clubs up and down the country. The drop-out rate between 15 and 25 is considered to be around 90%!

Away at unbeaten Flamstead 2s next week, as the Village 3s attempt to keep the victories rolling.