Stanton by Dale
Sunday September 1 at Stanton Strollers won by 68 runs Strollers 261-3
(40 overs; Travis 100no, Oliver 81, Salvesen 27no, Skinner 19no)
Stanton 193
(34.6 overs; Macaulay 3-35, Hodgson 2-17, Broster-Turley 2-22, Salvesen 1-27, Rogers 1-39, Love 1-31) Sunday morning saw the usual shuffling into breakfast at
the Riverside Hotel, Branston. Richard Skinner, George Love and Freddie
Broster-Turley were first up as they had planned a trip to a local driving
range with Steve Rogers.
Love ordered smoked salmon and poached eggs on toast, that
proved such a popular order it was renamed The George. Jo and Jim took their
traditional walk along the banks of the River Trent, right behind the hotel,
and were blessed with the sight of an otter, a first for both on British soil.
Thankfully there were none of the travel dramas of Saturday
and everyone arrived on time. This is one of our longest standing fixtures,
going way back to 1977, although the sporting activity in that first match
mostly involved Trivial Pursuit as rain stopped play.
But this was a sad day for the club. Derek Gregory had very
recently passed away. In addition to playing against us many times, he was
Stanton by Dale Treasurer for 65 years and President from 2013 until his
passing. Family members - including son
Phil (Stroller # 536), whom we have played against for years - were in
attendance. Prior to the start, both sides lined up on opposite sides of the
wicket, joined by Brian Taylor and another Stanton stalwart, Ben Turner, for a
minute of silence.
Following those poignant proceedings the game commenced. A
negotiated toss saw the Strollers bat first in a 40-over game. Does that mean
skipper Glen Oliver gets a much-needed tick in the positive column?
Blair Travis and Love were sent out to open and faced the
lively Charlie Hampton and Will Mellor. 17 were on the board when George missed
a thigh-high full toss and was bowled for seven. Rowan Smith, due to bat at No 3
on Saturday, but foiled by the public transport gods, entered. Four dot balls
later he was back in the hutch: 21-2. Glen ‘I might have drunk a bit too much
red wine last night’ Oliver, joined Blair.
There followed a prolonged high calibre jousting match. Travis
and Oliver batted extremely well, apart
from a brief spell when they tried to run each other out. Blair hit the tiring
Hampton for four off the first five balls of one over. A record?
Change bowlers Oliver Morley, Lee Bradley and leg-spinner
Abhishek Thakar gave few loose balls but our trusty lads were delivering runs.
Blair brought his 50 up from 49 balls; Glen was a little slower bringing his up
from 65 balls. Sadly Glen departed for an excellent 81, part of a wonderful 186
partnership against a quality attack.
Richard Skinner entered in the 37th over, full of intent.
He accompanied Blair to another fine century. Blair retired and Tom Salvesen
arrived. The opening bowlers had returned, but opted to bowl spin, which
Richard and Tom enjoyed, finishing not out on 19 and 27 respectively, and the
total on 261-3.
The Strollers had been perturbed to learn the tea skipper,
Tricia Taylor, was away on family business, but they soon relaxed seeing the
wonderful spread Steph and her helpers had produced, with several hot options,
and a wide variety of homemade sandwiches and cakes. Delicious!
In a ceremonial start to the Stanton innings, Phil Gregory,
wearing his father’s cap and using his father’s bat, both of a fine vintage,
took a left-handed stance, as his father had done on many occasions when
opening the batting for Stanton, and prepared to face Simon Brodbeck.
It had been agreed before the game that Phil would score a
run or two to retire his father’s bat with a not out. Jo Perrin and Steph
Oliver were positioned at silly mid-off and silly mid-on to capture the event
on mobile phones. Not being left-handed, Phil missed a couple, then pushed one
through point for two, and retired to the pavilion to prolonged applause.
Maggie Patston, at the scorer’s table, could be forgiven for looking very
bemused by the opening few balls, as no one had told her what the plan was! Of
course Maggie dovetailed these events into the scorebook and, yes, the two runs
did count.
Jonathan Kempster joined John Fitzpatrick while Salvesen
and Broster-Turley took over from Simon. Tom quickly took a sharp caught and
bowled chance from Kempster, and Freddie, bowling with real venom, demonstrated
the perfect ‘top of off stump’ delivery to dismiss Fitzpatrick.
So Bradly and Dylan Duke then accelerated the scoring, especially
Bradly, who liked to deal in boundaries. Freddie got involved again and bowled
Duke, bringing Morley to the wicket.
He had bowled a decent spell and we knew from previous
years he was a destructive batsman, so the prospect of having him and Bradly
together was a worry After an over or two Oliver weighed up the options and
called for Love from the orchard end. Glen might be hopeless at the coin toss,
but this was inspired. Morley nicked the fourth ball into the safe hands of Travis,
to trigger a joyous celebration from George.
Thakar was the next man in. He is a medical student and
Nottingham High School old boy, as are our own Simon and Brian (and while we are
at it, my father and uncle too, though from rather more distant times).
Thaker supported the aggressive Bradly well and the
partnership was building. Love and Rogers bore the brunt of it, and the ball
was regularly picked out of the adjoining fields. Steve was hit clean over a
hedge 20 metres past the boundary, but revenge was sweet as Bradly was bowled
by his next ball for a very good 80. He and Thakar had put on 50 in five overs,
but we felt this was a key wicket.
Gregory returned to the crease. He’s a proper bat and has
scored several 100s against us over the years. Batting in his normal right-handed
stance he looked comfortable as ever, picking off runs and boundaries. Jim
Hodgson replaced Love from the orchard end. He has sparred many times with Phil
over the years, but today was his turn as Blair pouched another catch, his 16th
of the season, and Gregory departed for 22.
Mckenzie Lewis arrived, but was quickly back in the pavilion,
courtesy of an over the shoulder catch from Hodgson off Alastair Macaulay. Thakar
then missed a straight one from Jim and was lbw for 25. Skipper Mellor was not able to rally the
troops, although he did finish on 31 not out. Macaulay took the final two
wickets, a stumping from Rowan and bowling John Webb. Stanton finished some way
short on 193.
The David Tranter Cup was handed back to the Strollers by
Brian Taylor, and gratefully accepted by Simon and Glen. Not satisfied with
providing a lovely tea, Steph and her team produced burgers, hot dogs and other
delicacies, washed down with a beer or two. As the teams and supporters chatted
amiably into the evening, I’m sure Derek Gregory would have recognised and
appreciated the spirit in which this game has been played for 47 years…
Capt: Glen Oliver. Wkt: Rowan Smith.
Match report: Jim Hodgson.
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