Rose and Crown CC vs Golden Ball CC - 13 May 2007

Match Report by Whitty Whittingham

In a game played in excellent spirit and in a manner these two teams have been accustomed to playing, the match was drawn after rain stopped play.

After a week of fair weather the forecast was not promising for the opening fixture of the Golden Ball cricket season. However, there was an air of optimism as the team gathered outside the pavilion at Heslington. Rose and Crown won the toss and elected to bat on a damp wicket.

Andy Hellewell opened the bowling from the Wilderness End and went for a modest 14 off the opening over. Tom Fremlin, from the Halifax End equalled these figures with the Rose and Crown opening pair settling into their innings comfortably. Nad Sadiq was fortunate to be dropped by Pete Mitchell after skying a Hellewell delivery to mid-on. Mitchell brought himself on from the Halifax End in a tactical switch which paid off, slowing the run-rate to around 10 runs per over. The weather conspired against the bowlers who were struggling to find rhythm and unable to develop pace due to the slippery creases. Judi Paul was brought on from the Halifax End but struggled to beat the batsmen although his figures were not helped when the big-hitting opener uncharacteristically tickled one towards extra cover where Hellewell dropped him [he absolutely smashed the ball as hard as he could and Andy bravely/stupidly stopped a certain boundary with the tip of his finger, breaking it in doing so].

The weather was closing in after around 10 overs but the score was already in triple figures thanks in part to some gargantuan sixes; one cut past deep fine leg and another hitting the Hubble Telescope before landing somewhere near Fulford Golf Course. Michael Charno was brought on to replace Judi and bamboozled the batsmen with his textbook action, however, rain stopped play just as Whitty Whittingham was about to start bowling from the Wilderness End.

Spirits were high in the Golden Ball dressing room with the players confident that they would be able to knock off the projected score of 1300 runs and be in the pub in time to watch Sheffield United get relegated.

It was agreed that the overs would be reduced to 25 and after a short intermission Whitty resumed with Jack “Rooney” Gabbatiss from the Halifax End. Whitty was slightly more economical, going for just 5 off his first over. In his second over the batsman almost dragged the ball on to his stumps on the first delivery and eventually fell to the superbly pitched ball which he pulled from around his ears to square leg where he was caught by Charno. The crowd went wild. Gabbatiss, at the other end, bowled superbly well in worsening conditions and was rewarded with two wickets; one bowled and one superbly caught by Neil Grady at deep mid-wicket. Whitty finished his spell by dismissing a middle order batsman who top-edged one which was caught by Judi Paul, replacing Gabbatiss behind the stumps. Charno and Fremlin came back on and demolished the middle order; Charno sending Rose skipper Surge's bails flying with a superb yorker, Fremlin ripping the middle stump out and then setting Grady up for the catch of the day.

The Rose and Crown, visibly shaken by this bowling masterclass, managed to see out their overs with few runs taken. The bowlers finished with Hellewell 0-44 off 4, Fremlin 2-14 off 3, Mitchell 0-21 off 2, Judi 0-42 off 4, Charno 1-40 off 4, Whittingham 2-13 off 4, Gabbitas 3-18 off 4.

After a fine tea break, with garlic bread and cake, Mitchell and Judi padded up and walked out of the pavilion into much heavier rain. The fielders changed round as quickly as they could between overs with Judi getting some unconventional warmth by snuggling up to the umpire. Both batsmen hit out but struggled to find boundaries with the outfield being completely flooded with standing water. After some lazy trotting between the wickets [sensible, cautious tip-toeing so as not to injure themselves] the umpires and captains decided to end the farce with Mitchell on 17* and Judi on 14* and continue the innings in the pub.

The rain certainly came to the rescue of the Rose and Crown who were facing a humiliating beating by a Golden Ball team that looked sharp and incisive in the field and intimidating with the bat and ball. All in all a good fun, if not bloody cold and wet, day out was had by all. Best wishes to Andy for a speedy recovery.