Eastbourne College

I am aware that despite match managing three times already this season, I am yet to

write a match report. My apologies to the masses who have missed out on hearing

about our failures and successes at schools around Sussex this Summer.

With a winless June looming large over the Martlets (I was kindly reminded of this by

scorer Alan Newman before the toss), we made our way down to the aptly named Sunshine Coast for our annual battle with Eastbourne College. With the sun beaming down on all at the ground, but with a suspiciously damp wicket underneath my shoes I won the toss and elected to bat, knowing that there was plenty of firepower from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres to take us to a winning total. We started the day with two men from the South at the top of the order, Western Australian Kieran Abrams, and Queenslander Sam Geyer.

Opening together for the second time this week, following their efforts at Hurst on Monday, the Australians eased their way to a 96 partnership, looking reasonably unchallenged by the College’s attack, and leaving the Martlets waiting patiently in the shed to wonder whether they would get a bat or not. Fortunately, Abrams (46) picked out deep mid wicket not long after drinks. And then all hell broke loose.

In the blink of an eye, 96-0 became 128-6, losing our sixth wicket on the stroke of Lunch. Four of our top seven had gone from thinking they wouldn’t bat at all to being out before even taking a bite of their Teriyaki chicken noodles – a collapse for the ages. The College spinners Spies (3/51) and Anderson (2/37) had done the bulk of the damage and we were looking down the barrel at a short day at the proverbial

office whilst munching on our aforementioned Teriyaki chicken noodles. Fortunately

for us, Eastbourne CC pair (who had travelled a far shorter distance than everyone else in the team to be fair), Humphreys (63) and Trubshaw (27) put together a match-saving 97 run partnership before the latter was stumped.

They had pulled us out of a deep, deep hole, managing a very tricky spinning pitch and keeping the scoreboard ticking over in the hour after Lunch. The grand declaration came soon after, with the Martlets sat on 238/9, a score that would have seemed too modest

after an hour of the game, but far far off at Lunch – an odd innings to say the least.

The Martlets took to the field with a renewed hope that with momentum firmly wrestled back in our favour, it would all be one way traffic. To hammer that message home, hero of the first innings, Jared Humphreys took the new ball. Which was then dispatched over long off for six first ball by College opener Ed Nolan. Ah.

This led to a bludgeoning of the Martlets seam attack by Nolan, who smashed a dismissive 49 off 28, including 3 sixes up top, meaning the traffic was no longer one way. Copying the schoolboy’s work, I decided to turn to spin as soon as possible, bringing on Jack Trubshaw, who quickly dealt with the dangerous Nolan, trapping him LBW in his first over. That was the Martlets only wicket of note for the rest of the afternoon session, with fellow Paddy Cooper and Ross Seavill making light work of everything the Martlets had to throw at them on the lead up to Tea.

After the break, at 153/1, the heroics of the first innings had long been forgotten, and

things were yet again not looking particularly positive for the Martlets, with the College closing in on a comfortable victory. But sometimes in cricket and in life, a bit like an only child, you just have to throw the ball to yourself. And fortunately I did, because after being dispatched for six by my BPCC teammate Cooper (56), I managed to sneak one past him as he danced down the wicket, before the ball hit keeper Jacob Watson’s gloves and fell on to the stumps – a classic ‘what does it say in the book?’ job. It was now the schoolboys turn to have a batting collapse, as Spies was caught behind by Watson first ball, this time in a more orthodox fashion.

With Martlets modern-day legend, Ben Whelpton in the ranks, you’re never out of the

game, despite the fact I had placed remarkable pressure on him earlier in the day when saying ‘I’ve never played a game with Ben where he hasn’t scored a 50 or taken at least 3 wickets’ – he’d made 8 runs earlier in the day, so I think you can guess what happens next. With it turning quite literally square, and with a very capable short leg in place, helmet and all, Whelpton bowled 16 overs of off break on the spin, taking a very handy 4/48, bamboozling the Eastbourne College batting order in the process. With helpful spells from fellow spinners, Trubshaw (2/47) and myself (4/47), we managed to collapse the hosts down to 206/9. Not a bad position considering their earlier score of 153/1.

But of course, despite my girlfriend still asking, ‘who’s winning?’ – the match is never won until the last wicket falls. College 10 and 11, Harvey Nolan and Harry Shouksmith took the wind out of our sails, playing very sensibly to get their side ominously close to the 238 they had been set. Trubshaw and Whelpton toiled and toiled but without any luck. But sometimes in cricket and in life, a bit like an only child, you just have to throw the ball to yourself. And fortunately I did, because with the fourth ball of my second spell, I was able to bowl Nolan. Jubilation followed, The Martlets had won a thriller on the Sunshine Coast, and the club’s barren June was not so barren!

A fantastic day with a wonderful group of guys and cricketers. The game was played in great spirits, against a College side who have some excellent players in their ranks. I look forward to next year’s fixture already.

Man of the Match goes to Jared Humphreys for a match saving 63, in very difficult batting conditions and under great pressure knowing he had Jack Trubshaw batting with him.