Haverhill travelled to Brockley knowing that the league and promotion to div 2. were at stake. Haverhill won the toss and decided to bat. With the absence of both openers Neil Winter and Simon Youngs the side needed to get off to a good start. Sam Powell (17) and skipper Rob Sullivan (37) took up the challenge to open the innings. Finding it difficult to keep the ball on the ground both batsmen played through the line and took the aerial route with most scoring shots before the opening partnership was broken at 47 when Sam Powell hauled out to opposition skipper Fisher – 1 for 47.

Adam Dellars fine form continued with piercing backfoot drives through covers off of leg spinner J Reid. Adam played the ball late off of the wicket with precise foot work to score a rapid 70 off of 76 balls. Experienced campaigner Phil Jones scored his runs in boundaries 16 off of 24 deliveries and the run rate was escalating nicely before the talented Mr Greg Street arrived and drove, pulled and slashed his way to a fiery 55 0ff of 48 balls.

Further experience arrived at the wicket in the form of Mick Rinaldi (14) off of 10 balls with a superbly timed six to one of the longest boundaries in the dying overs off of Joe Reed. Before falling victim to one of three run outs.

Run Outs were a plenty with Haverhill striving to get real value for each delivery, Greg Street being the non-striker on each occasion. Architect or mere contributor was difficult to assess. Greg Streets innings had however done the damage.

9 for 237

Rob Sullivan (11.2 – 2-41-2) and Martin Wilkins (8-0-25-1) started the defence with good pace, variation in line and length and even with the old ball some movement. Wilkins took the prize wicket of Joe Reid before he could get started. Rob Sullivan likewise with a slower delivery removing number three Crouch. With good fielding support from all Adam Dellars (11-0-77-3) off spin, Jow Woodleys superb spell (2-0-38-2) systematically removed batsmen before they could get into rhythm.

Other than the superb bowling in the closing stages to Adam Dellar and Smokin Joe Woodley the other highlight was a brilliant catch taken by Dan Poole. Positioned on the Long On boundary with (immobile) Sullivan bowling the ill fated ball was struck hard and high into the vacant fielding position of Mid-On. As the ball took off from the bat hurtling into the stratosphere at a rapid rate of accent Dan Poole called loudly from the boundary “Dan Poole’s”. He accelerated to break neck speed leaving the rest of the team thinking he had called a catch he couldn’t possibly get to. Sullivan hadn’t even left the popping crease when Poole took the catch at full stretch at about thigh height with one grab. Crisp and clean at full tilt. Superb, one of the best outfielding / infielding catches you would have ever seen.

All Out for 215

Captain Says:

Batting partnerships, bowling to the field, holding catches : a simple recipe for success isn’t it. When the jobs done however often the hard work is forgotten about and the book (the scorebook) never tells the true story. Cricket is scored like no other game, it captures so much of the game in terms of statistics but also misses the real important stuff. Un-captured efforts: dives in the field, support for one another, the player who ran forty meters to back up an awkward throw, the team pulling together as a unit, the value of a certain wicket, the batsmen who repeatedly gets hit by a quick bowler, the list goes on and on. Those instances aren’t in the book.

I sit hearing looking at the scorecard and all though some players I have met in the past live by the old adage “its in the book” It doesn’t mean a thing to me. What’s important to me are the intangibles. The work, the effort, the sacrifices, the attitude that can’t be captured in a book. What we may be seeing in this club is the building of the foundations of a superb strong, “we will keep coming at you” style of cricket club. An attitude that is growing. If your interested in the times we lost by a wicket or a run I am sure you will find them in the book. The club on the other hand is located at Manor Road. Just follow the sound of the bellowing, full of hot Aussie who is sure to be in fine form when we play off against rivals Kelvedon this weekend for the League pennant. Sid Dellar will be sure to have a beer or soft drink chilled. Fire up lads, lets finish off the year with a bang.

Scorecard

Batting Hverhill

Bowlers Haverhill

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