Mells - 2nd July 2006

Babington, still smarting from a last-over defeat by the Tappers the previous week, more than made amends by bulldozing Mells with a powerful all-round performance. The day saw a possibly record-breaking partnership of 158, the welcome return of Simon Potter and the birth of The Ragman.

Mells put us into bat, which was a mistake on two counts. First, it meant they had to field in the searing heat of the afternoon before the rains came. Secondly, it gave Jonathan Boulton time to arrive from work - or the golf course, as it’s also known in medical circles. The Chairman opened with Tom McClellan, a classy 1st XI ringer from Downside who’d already shown his prowess in the sixes against Café de Paris. The two made a steady start against some tight and accurate bowling from Mells and Tom was driving handsomely until he mistimed one and skied a catch.

Skipper Andrew Pinnell strode to the crease, determined to make up for last week, when he was bowled by a jaffa without troubling the scorers. It wasn’t to be: he managed one boundary before lofting drive to mid-off and returned to take it out on his coffin. Next in was 16-year-old Jeremy Player, also making his debut in a proper match after impressing in the sixes, and he settled down for a sensible innings.

Mike Nicholson started to hit boundaries at the other end but was out shortly afterwards, bowled for 28.Nick Sinfield took his place and soon made his intentions clear with a towering six. However, we were only scoring at three an over and it was beginning to cause concern. Mutterings could be heard and there was much restive flapping of Sunday papers. Jeremy was finally out caught, having made a valuable 15, and made way for JB.Storm clouds were beginning to gather, in more ways than one. Jonathan was dropped early and it proved a costly mistake.

From then on, he and Nick tore into the bowling and the run rate took off like a shuttle launch. Having come together with 87 on the board, they doubled the total within ten overs. Needless to say, this was no slogfest: both are textbook players, technically correct and natural timers of the ball who play with that easy elegance which makes batting look irritatingly easy. It was a pleasure to watch and breathtaking at times. Nick moved from 50 to 80 in eight shots and for a while it looked like he might make his maiden hundred for the club. Even a cloudburst during the last six overs failed to dampen proceedings and we ended on 245, with Nick and Jonathan unbeaten on 89 and 74 respectively.

Set such a formidable target, the opposition had to score at six an over and our skipper decided to give everyone a bowl to help make more of a game of it. Mells had a nightmare start: their opener played across the line to a straight one from Nick Wigzell and was bowled; their number three was run out thanks to some quick thinking and a direct hit by wicket keeper Simon Potter; and Andrew Gilfillan, switching to seam with the rain still coming down, produced the ball of the day to remove their best batsman, skipper Julian Seviour, for nought. His brother Chris had a good eye and started to score freely through the midwicket area but lost his partners in a steady stream.

Bowling wasn’t easy in the wet but Sinfield elected to help keep the ball dry with the help of a towel and henceforth will be known as The Ragman. Ed Weale bagged his first two wickets for the club thanks to catches by Sinfield and Pinnell. Jeremy bowled an immaculate line and hit the stumps three times, one of his victims being his brother Chris, who had kindly agreed to make up the Mells numbers. McClellan got the wicket he deserved thanks to another catch by Sinfield and JB wrapped things up in style by bowling the last man with his first ball. Mells had subsided to 94 all out, leaving Chris Seviour unbeaten on 59 and the only man to reach double figures.

Champagne moments? It’s a tough call between JB’s first-baller, Simon’s direct hit and the sight of Jeremy Player tirelessly sprinting round the leg-side boundary during the overs when he wasn’t bowling and securing the best figures of the day – 3 for 9 off 4. Either way, it was great to see Potter back, bouncing around behind the stumps like a spring lamb and diving selflessly onto his bad arm to save byes we could easily afford.Thanks to Lord Jolliffe for persuading the vassals to turn up, and special thanks to the Player family – Nicola, Mark, Jeremy and Chris - for providing two players and most of the home spectators. It’s great to have such active and supportive new members in the club.