Wherwell finally Beaten

Big game nerves seemed to finally got the better of Wherwell as they faced local rivals Longparish in the Quarter finals of the cup. They lost the toss and were asked to bowl first, after last weeks fielding performance Wherwell felt confident but that soon slid away as some sloppy bowling put them on the back foot. Gladwyn took a lovely caught and bowled but it was Nigel Hornes glovework and a fantastic run out that proved the highlight of the innings as Wherwell let Longparish get 140 runs from there 12 overs. Matt Jackman was Longparishs' best batsman playing cute shots into the corner and running well particuarly with Brad Aldridge.

Then Wherwell stepped out to bat, something they've done really well this season, but for once it failed. Aldridge came charging in and was a little wayward in his first over, Gladwyn hit a couple of lovely shots but was soon out after being caught. Brad got control in his second over taking the wicket of Norridge and almost trapping Nathan Young first ball. Whyton soon followed hitting firmly to the back wall but picking out the excellent Jackman, Young tried to rescue his side again but failed with a smart catch at square leg. Wherwell now needed a staggering 15 a over which was always going to be to much. Horne and Cook started knocking of the runs at a slow rate and Cook felt pressured and played one shot to many and was caught. Horne tried in vain to see out the remaining overs to get us close but his stubborn stay soon ended. Wherwell were beaten by the better team on the night.

Young said it had been a pleasure to skipper the side this season and enjoyed every second of the indoor season. The team spirit was awesome and every game was played in the correct manor and he couldn't ask for anymore from his team.

 

 

Easton Rams Humbled by team Wherwell

 

Much is made of team spirit but little sums it up like a 2nd round cup tie between the winners of the top and bottom divisions. With talk of possible upsets more tongue in cheek than in belief Wherwell, unbeaten through the league campaign, played Easton Uncle Rams who lost only once in the top division this year. Having lost the toss Nathan Young was asked to field first and the drama started instantly as Young opened with a straight Yorker that would have sent middle stump cartwheeling had it not been fixed to the metal base! This is after all indoor cricket and with catches allowed to be taken after the ball has hit the wall/net/ceiling anything can happen, and on this night it certainly did.

 

Craig Beckingham, in his first over, also took a wicket. His steady left arm over was given the full treatment by the batsman but given the option of catch it or wear it Craig took the safe option and pouched the catch. What followed was pure magic, with an element of luck thrown in all supported by excellent glove work by Nigel “no byes” Horne. Nathan Young produced some special moments taking 3 catches off various roof beams and the off-side netting reward for Adam Cooks steady bowling, Alex Gladwyn also took a catch that hit so many elements in the roof it was more like a game of pinball. But with still 2 overs remaining Wherwell found themselves bowling at the last man and Young successfully removed him to the teams delight with the score 90.

 

So, 91 to win, a target in the league that would have been seen as academic, this though was after all the league champions, let’s say Man Utd playing Aldershot. Craig and Alex got off to a steady start, the difference in bowling from the league instantly evident as the ball zipped past the bat, however, extras make a big difference indoors, and despite the lack of runs from the bat wides came with regularity. Wherwell meandered along at a run a ball until Beckingham fell in the 6th over trying to push the score. The elder statesman of the team, Paul Whyton, came in to partner Gladwyn and try to increase the run rate, with encouragement and discipline Gladwyn found his timing and started hitting the ball straight he soon reached the 25 run mark and retired, this brought Young to the wicket. A couple of big swings not quite timed meant Wherwell still needed 40 of the last 4 overs. The pressure truly on Whyton and Young rose to the challenge, first they started to take the quick singles, young opened up in over 10 taking 15 runs leaving 13 off the last 2, a quick leg bye with over throws, a booming 4 from young and a scampered 3 meant 2 off the last over and Whyton happily watched as a wide sailed past giving an unlikely win with 5 balls and 5 wickets to spare.

So much to their surprise Wherwells’ season continues into March.

 

 

Season rolls on for Wherwell

 

Wherwell went into the cup competition with no fear after winning the division without defeat and this confidence showed from the start when some tight bowling enabled Wherwell to keep the run rate down. For the first time this year both Whytons were close proximity hovering around the bat stopping quick singles with there athletic sportsman build... Wherwell started to take the foot of the gas and this even resulted in Nathan Young attempting a moonball which troubled the scorers more than the batsman. After 12 overs Wherwell managed to keep the score to 98 which was a good effort. With 4 run outs and a sharp leg side stumping by Nigel Horne.

They kept the usual opening pair, Beckingham went about his business as usual scoring at a rapid rate of 5 a over. Gladwyn had his first failure of the season when caught at mid on first ball, this brought the returning Ian Whyton to the crease 3 balls later he ran himself out. Young then came out to the crease within the second over. He along with Beckingham began slowly but started to up the pace hitting the back wall and getting quick singles, both retired within a over of each other and the game was left to Horne and Paul Whyton to finish off and they did in style!!!! Paul Whyton teed off hitting one over for 18 runs, unfortunately his fun came to an end when he hit the winning runs with 2 overs to spare.

Overall it was a good performance from the team who will now face the winners of division 1, fortune favours the brave...

 

 

Total Class for Top of the table Wherwell

 

Wherewell travelled to Winchester to play the last indoor game of the league, knowing if they came away that night with a win they stood a great chance of winning the division, but this would prove to be difficult against a strong young Longparish side.

 

Nathan Young won the toss and decided to bowl first, which was a normality for the team the whole season. After an average start by the Wherewell bowlers longparish had got off to a good start with both openers seeing the ball well, this was until Ryan Young came in to the attack and started causing problems with his leg break bowling. Wherewell fielded well during this spell. Ryan’s three over’s went for little runs and he managed to pick up four wickets in that time which restricted longparish’s total, there was also tight bowling from Craig Beckingham, Nathan Young and Alex Gladwyn, which restricted Parish’s total to 124 from there twelve over’s, Wherewell were happy with this total as they have chased down higher scores on occasions this year.

 

After a quick drink and the oppositions had swapped places Wherewell’s openers strode out in to the middle. Tight bowling from the start by the Parish bowlers and early nerves the batsmen meant Wherewell got off to an average start. After the score being 16-0 off two over’s Craig Beckingham was run out. This brought Nigel Horne. Horne and Gladwyn batted well together and struck twenty eight of one over which really gave a boost to the run chase. Soon after this Gladwyn was dropped twice and then retired (25).Horne soon followed Gladwyn but he had been caught superbly by the Parish bowler. This brought Nathan young and Adam Cook to the crease Young then struck some lusty blows before charging down the track to the bowler who bowled him leg stump, suddenly Wherewell were looking shaky with Young being the stand out batsman of this years campaign who had just departed. This left the two youngsters Adam Cook and Alex Gladwyn who had come back to bat after retiring.

 

Cook Batted well with a strong defence and strong punches down the ground which got his runs one of which was a controversial six was which given, (Rightly so!!). With Gladwyn at the other end Cook did not take the single of the last ball which was on offer which was a mature and sensible choice, this left Gladwyn and him the target of hitting 19 of two over’s, Gladwyn stepped up to the mark by hitting a 4 4 then a 6 in consecutive balls needing two off the last ball in the penultimate over, Gladwyn left the balled which travelled wide giving Wherewell the Win which was the deservedly outcome.

 

 

The Boys had all put great effort into winning the league unbeaten; everyone deserves credit for the achievement. Well done.

 

Team: Adam Cook, Craig Beckingham, Ryan Young, Nathan Young, Alex Gladwyn, Nigel Horne.

Indoor Double Header

 

Wherwell took on Owlselbury in the first part of a double header. Having managed to bowl first the intent was there in the first over with Nathan Young trapping the opening bat on the crease with a superb yorker. This set the tone as the bowlers found their radar and backed up with some excellent fielding, especially from Craig Beckingham, (never thought i'd say that!) Wherwell restricted the batting side to 91 from 12 overs.

The response was equally impressive, both openers batted with discipline, working the angles and running well, having made good starts both Alex Gladwyn and Craig fell short of the target 25. With the winning target in sight it was Nathan Young who had the pleasure of hitting the winning run with 4 overs to spare.

 

So, off we go to the "dark side".

 

Compton & Chandlers ford found themselves in difficulty with Nathan once again taking a wicket in his first over well caught by Nigel Horne. Again the radr was in tune and the fielders were well up for it. Once again Nathan Young showed his valuewith 2 catches 1 an absolute stunner, but this was a true team preformance once again with good fielding and disciplined bowling. It showed just how disciplined the bowlers had been when the Opening batsman retired on 25 in the 9th over! with some big hitting in the penultimate over C & CF managed to get to 98 from their 12.

Once again the initial overs were palyed well with push and run a suprise favourite tactic, once again though wickets fell with no batsman making the transistion to retirement. Paul Whyton blasted 22 off little more than 2 overs and Nathan once again looked dominant untill a "freaky catch" off the ceiling ended his run of not outs. It was left then to Craig "sensible cricket" Beckingham and Nigel "winning runs" Horne to see the tem home in the 7th over setting up a possible winner takes all title decider next Sunday at 18:30 against Longparish.

 

 

Action at last as the indoor league restarts

 

following the un-expected cancellation 2 weeks previously due to snow! bare in mind we are playing indoors...? Wherwell returned to action and from the forst ball it was apparent that the bowlers didn't receive Radar or Sat Nav for christmas. Not wishing to be un-giving Wherwell dished out a few freebies in the shape of wides and no-balls as they conceeded 128 in the 12 overs taking only 2 wickets.

So it was set for "Business as usual" with the bat, and sure enough Alex Gladwyn went at the opposistion bowlers smearing a quickfire 21, Nathan Young again though underpinned the innings, balsting a quick 25 and then coming back to inflict more pain on the oposistion as he carved the ball to all walls and led Wherwell to a bum twitching 1 wicket win with 2 overs to spare.

 

New Years resolution any one? "must bowl straight..."

 

 

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