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GARDNER DIGS DEEP TO SET UP PARISH WIN OVER COMPTON

31/7/2020

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Armed with his trout fishing tackle in one hand and notebook in the other, feature writer and self confessed cricket nerd Hector Cappelletti ventured deep into the Test Valley to sample some village cricket in the form of Longparish v Compton & Chandler's Ford, ironically the opening match in a successful Winchester Clubs Championship, which the visitors eventually won in mid-September.

Half a dozen miles to the east of Andover in north Hampshire is Longparish, a collection of four hamlets located in the western hinterlands of the River Test. In every sense of the description, Longparish is an archetypal English village. Hence, part of the fabric is the eponymous cricket club with its idyllic setting; bijoux scorebox and thatched pavilion all told. Indeed, there is a cricketing history in the village and the club. Esteemed erstwhile cricket correspondent for the Times and former editor of Wisden, John Woodcock was born in the village and has lived there all of his life whilst the club itself has reached the final of the National Village Cup on two occasions, winning once.
The delayed first day of the 2020 season witnesses a contest against Compton and Chandler’s Ford; a club that incorporates the suburbia of the latter but is based in the village locale of the former to the south of Winchester. Both clubs play in Division One of the Hampshire League, one promotion away from the local Southern Premier League. Both clubs could be described as village, albeit not in the pejorative sense judging by their respective First XI’s considerable standard.
The afternoon’s contest (a curtain raiser in the Covid-created Winchester District Clubs Championship) will provide an opportunity to discover if village cricket proffers play a little more sumptuous than the recent incarnation of the expression suggests.
The hosts bat first on a gloriously warm and sunny afternoon but, almost inevitably, a waste high no-ball is delivered first up; prompting much chuckling and guffawing from fielders, batsmen and umpires. It is to be expected really. Nevertheless, the standard of fielding is notably sharp during the early exchanges; fielders chase the ball to the boundary with zeal and complete smart slides, flicking the ball back to their partner in a sinuous movement whilst Compton opening bowler Ash Lovell arrows in a bullet throw from near the mid-wicket boundary that wouldn’t be amiss on a county ground.
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Ben Gardner, key half-century for Parish [Chris de Cani]
Longparish begin slowly in their innings and lose a couple of early wickets but accelerate once Compton introduce their spin bowlers; Adrian Maxwell producing a sumptuous lofted drive over mid-off that defies the lack of match practice. Opener Ben Gardner follows suit soon after, clouting leg spinner Greg Littlehales over wide long on for a four and six off of successive deliveries as Longparish attempt to increase the scoring rate. They reach 89 at the drinks break but four wickets have fallen. Gardner reaches his half century seven overs after the resumption but top edges an attempted pull shot off of the next delivery as Compton’s spin bowlers exert control and stem the flow of runs.
Longparish’s lower order fare better though and add useful late runs courtesy of a handful of inside edges and some attacking bravado, including three sixes in the last over, as the hosts conclude their forty overs on 204-8, Harry Martin finishing unbeaten just five runs shy of a half century. One of the highlights of the final few overs is the slip catch taken by Andy Gorty to claim the sixth Longparish wicket; instinctively diving low to his right to grab the ball after it had deflected from the bat of Jonny Maxwell from a Greg Littlehales leg spin delivery that leapt off of the wicket. An effort that certainly would not have looked out of place at a cricket contest of a higher level.
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Quite whether the cricket on offer thus far would be described as village, in any of its constituent meanings, is a matter for opinion and conjecture but one cannot doubt that Longparish itself is very much a quintessential English village. One undertakes a bimble up the main street during the hiatus between innings, discovering a fine, eclectic mix of houses and properties, some with stereotypical thatched roofs, in a fine cross section of what one envisages to be contained in a village. Further along, there is a country pub, called The Cricketers (naturally), opposite a small general stores. One fancied a drink and a snack but the shop had closed at before midday. This is the countryside after all. The road itself is peaceful, traffic is light and the ether is filled with the sounds of baa-ing sheep, grass being cut and the crunch of feet on stone driveways. All in all, not a bad spot to live. Or play cricket.
In response, Compton’s openers are watchful in the face of probing bowling from Longparish’s opening duo. The bald headed Chris Clarke charges in from the far end, all effort and arms pumping with an action possessing a hint of Peter Siddle. At the end of each over he takes shelter in the shade of the ground’s giant oak tree, supping occasionally from a considerable bottle of orange juice. One safely concludes that there is nothing ‘village’ about this particular passage of play.
                                                                                         Dismissed
The visitors are restricted to just 27 runs from their first ten overs and Clarke is rewarded for his efforts in his penultimate over with his first wicket. Nevertheless, Compton’s third wicket pairing of Andy Gorty and Liam Palmer attack the first change bowlers and reach the drinks break well placed at 78-2.
Momentum has very much shifted in favour of Compton and Gorty soon reaches his half century as runs are scored off of almost every delivery. Nevertheless, Gorty matches Ben Gardner from the Longparish innings and is dismissed soon after courtesy of a brilliant diving catch from the advancing Jack Levy, scampering in from long-off. Liam Palmer takes over the role as senior batsman though and soon reaches his half century but the visitors’ chase stalls; Palmer’s dismissal for 54 dictating that the visitors require thirty-eight runs from the final five overs. One tight over increases the required rate even further as Longparish claim a couple of late wickets to stymie Compton’s efforts; the hosts eventually prevailing at the end of a hugely enjoyable contest by half a dozen runs.
Recreational cricket’s return on the second weekend of July witnessed plenty of social media clips highlighting moments from matches that were deemed as ‘village.’ Such occurrences were almost inevitable, particularly during the first weekend of matches for almost ten months. Indeed, the contest between Longparish and Compton and Chandler’s Ford witnessed moments of hilarity, mistakes, dropped catches, inside edges, miss-fields and a sense of rustiness that would similarly be described as ‘village.’ Even matches at international levels still feature the occasional unbelievable moment; a dropped sitter, a batter leaving a straight delivery, a bowler proffering a rank long-hop. But the broad oeuvre of village cricket dictates that there is plenty that would certainly not match the modern, pejorative term. Village cricket: more often than not it is rather good.
Follow Hector Cappelletti on Twitter: @YahoooverCC View all posts by yahooovercowcorner
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SHANKLIN REEL AFTER VENTNOR TRIPLE BLOW .. THEN IT RAINS

26/7/2020

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Ventnor's George Willis bowls the first ball of the All-Wight League to Mark Ringer, dismissing the experienced Shanklin opener for a third ball duck. Dave Reynolds picture.
Shanklin & Godshill were reeling at 18-3 when heavy rain caused the eagerly awaited All Wight League curtain raiser against Ventnor at Westhill to be abandoned. It was the first time in 25 years the one-time arch rivals had met in a competitive fixture.
George Willis struck with the third ball of the match to dismiss the experienced Mark Ringer. Then Zeph Wells bowled Mark Woodhouse and Rory Taylor, both for ducks.  It made for a desperately disappointing Shanklin debut for Woodhouse, who had climbed Island cricket's equivalent of the Berlin Wall to join the town club after many years with Ventnor.
Teenage left-hander Corey Sanderson (pictured below) played two handsome boundary shots and had scored 14 (the other four were byes) when play was abandoned.   Rain also washed out the other AWL matches between Ryde and Newport and Northwood v St Helen's.
Next Saturday's fixtures: Newport v Shanklin & Godshill, St Helen's v Ryde, Ventnor v Northwood.
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Corey Sanderson plays a sweet shot off his legs for four - and put Shanklin & Godshill's first runs on the board. Dave Reynolds photo.
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IT'S WHITE v WHYTE ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT - IF IT DOESN'T RAIN

24/7/2020

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Ventnor captain Ross Whyte (left) and wicket-keeping father Mark, right.
It's White v Whyte on the Isle of Wight on Saturday - that's if the weather doesn't lend an unlikely hand and wash out the first round of matches in the All-Wight League.
Shanklin v Ventnor at Westhill (1.30) is undoubtedly the stand-out fixture - the first time the arch rivals have met in an Old Firm derby for more than a decade.   But the weather forecast is grim ...
Ben White and Ross Whyte will captain Shanklin and Ventnor, respectively - just as their fathers Andrew and Mark did years ago.
The clubs regard themselves as the leading pair in IOW cricket - something Newport and Northwood will surely have something to say about - so the next five or six weeks on Vectis isle will have a real competitive feel.
One ex-Ventnor player certain to feel the Westhill heat is Mark Woodhouse, whose recent 'defection' from Steephill to Shanklin brings back memories of the Cold War and the Berlin Wall. Nothing so sinister here. It's just that Shanklin has more barber's shops than sleepy Ventnor ... no wonder Mark's favourite Tom Hanks movie is Bridge of Spies !
Shanklin's team is: B White, J Lucy, M Ringer, J Powell, M Woodhouse, R Taylor, C Sanderson, C Wright, J Newnham, D Attrill, N Moore.
Ventnor have kept their starting 11 firmly under wraps as too is their squad for Sunday's Village Cup trip to Overton in the heart of the Test Valley. 
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SHANKLIN'S WESTHILL PAVILION PROJECT GETS 5-STAR RATING

23/7/2020

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Shanklin's pavilion and clubhouse at Westhill has undergone a summer-long refurbishment, the work being carried out as a lasting memorial to the late Dave Porter, who died suddenly while on holiday in January 2019.   
Due to covid-19 restrictions, Shanklin and their opponents weren't able to use the spruced-up  dressing room, shower and toilet facilities this summer, but hopefully will be able to do so when Hampshire League cricket resumes next May.

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Shanklin pavilion at Westhill. Below the new dressing rooms and shower area.
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NO COMPETITIVE CRICKET FOR DORSET OR WILTSHIRE IN 2020

21/7/2020

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Dorset and Wiltshire cricketers will be able to concentrate their minds on club matches for the remainder of the summer following an announcement today by the The National Counties Cricket Association that there will be no competitive cricket played in 2020.
This season was scheduled to be the first under the auspices of the NCCA, who succeeded the Minor Counties Cricket Association during the winter, but complications caused by the Coronavirus have made it difficult for officials to produce a revised fixture list that would be meaningful and competitive.
Although the three-day National Counties Championship was cancelled last month, NCCA officials had hoped that it might be possible to find slots for either the 50 overs Trophy or T20 competition, which were both postponed earlier in the season, towards the end of the summer.
But the 20 National Counties voted 11-9 to cancel all competitive cricket this season at an online meeting on Monday, a decision that was endorsed by the NCCA Board and approved by the ECB’s Cricket Committee. 
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ALL HANDS TO THE PUMP IN TWFORD TIE THRILLER

21/7/2020

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Michael Heffernan half-century for Alton [Howard Gadsby]
St Cross Symondians all-rounder Ed Hands took a wicket with the third ball of the final over to secure a thrilling tie against visiting Twyford in the opening Winchester Club Championship weekend.
Alex Reidy looked to have set up a victory for Twford but was out for 82 at 198-6 when the visitors required only 13 more runs to win.
Schoolboy debutant Jacob Jablonski, with 35 not out, also looked a potential match winner for Twyford, but was marooned at the non-striker’s end when Hands clean bowled last man Tom Ducker.
Michael Heffernan, pictured above, hit a half-century as Alton II eased to a six-wicket win over Sparsholt, while Will (66 not out) and Tom (49) Flynn did their gallant best for Hursley Park, who lost by 78 runs at Longparish, where newcomer Adriaan Maxwell top scored with 70.
Results -
Division 1
Compton & Chandler’s Ford 247-8 (Khan 45, Spearing 38, Rathod 33, Kidd 3-41) beat Easton & Martyr Worthy 188 (Poole 40, Kidd 36, Gray 3-31, Rathod 3-31) by 59 runs.
Longparish 272 (A Maxwell 70, Gardner 42, Giles 41, Tennent 4-49, Burns 3-42) beat Hursley Park 194-4 (W Flynn 66*, T Flynn 49) by 78 runs.
Fair Oak 186-7 (Todd 51, Kemp 44) beat IBM Hursley 138 (Cowdrill 33, Smith 3-22) by 48 runs.
RAM 236 (Bharat 60) beat St Cross Symondians III 225-8 (Preston 42, Merluck 37, Figden 31, Fryer 25, Hussain 4-25) by 11 runs.
Alton 166-4 (M Heffernan 54, Postles 43) beat Sparsholt 162 (Berrill 45, Renton 40, Salmon 3-11, J Ballinger 4-15) by six wickets.
Division 2
Alton III 217-9 (Pearce 65, Mason 49) beat Sparsholt III 158-9 (Matthews 52, Pearce 4-14) by 59 runs.
Compton & Chandler’s Ford III 232-6 (Williams 39*, Scallan 30, Pone 33, Banglree 32) beat Easton & Martyr Worthy 135 (Mitchell 56, Stannard 31, Andom 4-33) by 97 runs.
Fair Oak III 226-5 (Buttle 101*, Reed 37) beat IBM Hursley 171 (Wallis 63, Alam 30, Buttle 4-17) by 55 runs.
Hursley Park 190-3 (Tarr 63, Khurana 38*, Spink 32, Allen 3-30) beat Longparish 189 (J Blackmore 39, P Blackmore 31, O’Connor 3-5, Ellerby 3-53) by seven wickets.
St Cross Symondians IV 210-7 (Appleton 53, Good 33, Crowley 4-23) tied with Twyford 210 (Reidy 82, Jablonski 35*, Hewitt 29).
Saturday’s fixtures –
Division 1
: Alton II v Compton & Chandler’s Ford, Easton & Martyr Worthy v Hursley Park, Fair Oak v St Cross Symondians III, IBM Hursley v Sparsholt, Longparish v RAM. Division 2: Compton & FChandler’s Ford III v Alton II, Hursley Park v Easton & Martyr Worthy, Sparsholt v IBM Hursley, St Cross Symondians v Fair Oak, Twyford v Longparish.e


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TOM TAMES SHREWS WITH DOUBLE CAREER-BEST - BUT LOSES !

20/7/2020

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Tom Lewis career-best figures of 8-25 for South Wilts IIIs v Shrewton [Roy Honeybone]
Tom Lewis produced the best off-spin bowling performance of his career when he took 8 for 25 against Shrewton – only to finish arguably the most bizarre day of his fledgling cricketing life on the losing South Wilts’ thirds side.
The day didn’t begin particularly well when he pitched up at Shrewton – only to find the ground deserted and be told the game had been switched to Tidworth.
When he eventually arrived, Shrewton were steaming along at 130-1, with John Clarke (65) and Mark Gurd (63) going like trains.
But Lewis’s impact was immediate.
“As it was a friendly match, they let me bowl straight away and I began with a wicket maiden,” he laughed.
“It all happened after that as I just went through their batting. I settled into a wonderful rhythm, with the ball coming out a treat. One batsman after another got out and I finished with an amazing 8-25 return.”
                                                                                         Rare
Shrewton collapsed to 192 all out, but then got their own back as only Miles Kantolina (50) put up much of a fight.
That was until Lewis appeared at the crease to make a late 34 not out – the highest score of his career (so far) – and lift South Wilts IIIs to 144-8 by stumps.
“I imagine it’s pretty rare to do two CBs in the same match – and still finish on the losing side,” Lewis chuckled.
“It could have been a lot worse as I had been picked to play as a bowler for South Wilts seconds at Paultons, where Nathan Feltham flogged our attack for 137 off 73 balls. I had to work in the morning, so couldn’t make the 12.30pm start.  That was a let-off !”
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CASH BOOST FOR SHANKLIN ON EVE OF OPENING MATCHES

7/7/2020

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FINANCIAL pressure placed on Shanklin because of the coronavirus pandemic has been eased, thanks to the award of £13,000 in grant funding.
The Westhill club, who were due to play in Hampshire League Division 2 this season, have balanced the books this summer — despite the worry lockdown would have on it — thanks to a £10,000 government payment and a further £3,000 from Sport England.
The money will ensure one of the Isle of Wight’s top cricket venues continues to be well maintained in readiness for a resumption of cricket action this weekend, when Shanklin host St Helen’s (Saturday) and Island Bakeries (Sunday).
Club official, Guy de Belder, said: “These grants will help the club to meet its financial obligations during the pandemic.  We recently paid for new scarifier blades, which will improve the quality of the pitches.
“Our fundraising effort has also been very successful and we have been able to meet all of the expenses associated with our ongoing refurbishment project without dipping into the club reserves.  This has been a wonderful effort by so many people."
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