Refreshers v Checkendon

Sunday 2 July 2017

The game against Checkendon had the best pre-match practice one could wish for. Samantha Alexander prepared a wonderful lunch comprising coronation chicken and a leg of ham, accompanied by coleslaw and salad and followed by mixed berries and cream, all served from a lovely miniature marquee and washed down with Pimms, wine and beer. And it was so nice that I think a lot of our team were a little disappointed when Richard Saunders told us all that we were fielding and would have to leave all that behind.

So shortly after 2pm a rather weaker-looking Refreshers side than normal took the field in what was to be a 40 over a side contest. Saunders opened the bowling with 16 year old Miles Jackson (a very late replacement for someone who could not make it at the 11th hour). After a marginally expensive start they hauled it back in conjunction with some canny bowling by Ed Faulks such that after 20 overs rather to all our surprise we had limited Checkendon to just over 80. And to be honest, after they had finished their overs (with Saunders finishing with 1-49, Miles Jackson with 2-29 and Ed Faulks with 2-21) and the rest of the overs had been delivered by Sacha Sandelson (1-40), Martin Pascoe (1-26) and Andy Gardner (1-38), we were pretty pleased to have limited Checkendon to 218-8.

So came our turn to bat. And we got off to a fine start. The first wicket to go down was Charlie Atkins for a well-made 23. But his opening partner, James Skelton, continued first with Jacob Sandelson and then with Ed Faulks. Skelton and Faulks were out for a well-made 43 and 45 respectively. And Saunders then added a quick 22. At which stage we were needing about 65 from just over 50 deliveries to win. But then the wheels came off. Saunders was dropped (a massive dolly that had him walking off to the pavilion as soon as he played it), but instead of taking advantage of the extra life, he was bowled next ball. Alexander followed a few deliveries later. And the task got ever more daunting for the remaining batsmen. But that did not stop fine shots being played by Miles Jackson, Keith Hornby, Martin Pascoe and Sacha Sandelson albeit in a losing cause. The Refreshers ended up on 183-9 off their 40 overs. But whatever the result it was a beautiful sunny day (actually very hot indeed). Oh – and if this has not been mentioned already, the lunch was incredible.