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After Tony Buck had taken two early wickets, Roland Heyman and Robert Jones
added a stratospheric 215 to put the game beyond The Gents. The stand was a
record third-wicket stand in Gents games by 59, though still second to the
unbeaten 1993 first-wicket stand of 239 by Owls Richard Bulmer and Craig Maddock.
As carnage reigned, it could have been an utterly demoralising experience for a
patchwork Gent team lacking late withdrawals Snelling and Wright, but if you
dish it out you have to be able to take it and though absolutely hammered The
Gents never lost their dignity or composure. Perhaps that in itself is a
problem, The Gents having become recently, according to Mr. Buck, too easygoing.
As ever, SP was courteous to his guest debutants, giving Sachin Desai the
gloves, Russell Miller the opener’s slot and South African Rohan Crouse seven
overs and a top order berth.
Village XI all left Hampton GS three years ago, as pupils not teachers, so,
allowing for expulsions, etc. none would have been over 22. Their batting,
running and fielding were supremely powerful and athletic, making a by no means
long in the tooth visiting side look rather old. But not too old to celebrate
two early successes, Lang stunningly caught SP at slip second over and De Metz
following soon after, both courtesy of Buck, who was, unusually, critical of
SP’s decision to bowl first.
No fielder can feel guilty about the Heyman/Jones stand in respect of a dropped
catch; there were none until the final overs. No bowler let his side down,
indeed Dhruv showed again with a sterling 6-0-26-2 that the better the opponent,
the better he bowls. Everyone did his best. You just have to salute the two
youngsters as boundaries rained all over Hampton, 20 fours and a six from Heyman,
nine fours and two sixes from the unbeaten Jones. A catch in the deep for Mr.
Gilkes off the persevering H Bomb ended it, whereupon two more wickets fell
quickly to give the bowlers some tangible reward.
The Gents’ highest winning total batting second is 235 and no new record would
be set here. Dhruv was caught, spooning to cover, in the first over, but Russell
Miller did not disappoint on his long-awaited debut, cover driving for four
first ball and hooking a magnificent six to the longest boundary. He fell
caught, one of eight in the innings and thereafter only Hemin and SP threatened,
though all too briefly. The game all but won, Village used their part-time
bowlers in an atmosphere that was, to quote Andrew Crocker-Harris to his pupil
Taplow in The Browning Version, “rather end of term.” Mind you, grammar school
teams have always been up for boisterous japes – Ashton and his mates trashed
the Eton College changing room after beating them in 1973, though the great man
still distances himself from this outrage, maintaining it was the handiwork of
IA “Tigger” Shiel (Woodland House). Not even a solitary detention from the
Archbeako GS Parker resulted!
Given their simple demolition of NBW in May (71 all out, 72 for 2 off about 12
overs), our circuit may not see too much more of Village XI as, to their credit,
they are seeking tougher opposition. Indeed, after their game arranged for 6
August was cancelled, Village posted an internet advert pleading for a strong
replacement oppo to “knock them off their high horse after an unbeaten season.”
The Lord-Lieutenant of Castle Donington, Jeremy Owen, referred to the corking
totty belonging to them. He was right, too, but having bints in tow who give the
oppo the horn is not a sufficient condition for fixture renewal.
Thanks to Ken who begat Russell, Hemin who begat Sachin and Dhruv who begat
Rohan, three excellent guests whom we hope to see again, in more successful
circumstances. Well played Village XI, a slick outfit.
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