Match Report: Godalming (A)

Winning Run Over, but Pyestock

Far from Down and Out after Single Run Thriller!

 

Godalming CC Vs Pyestock CC

Sunday 15th July 2012

Weather Conditions: Cloudy and Dry.

Pitch Conditions: Wicket: Green, dry. Outfield: fast.

 

After a week’s weather enforced break, Pyestock looked to extend their winning run to 7 matches against arguably their biggest test of the season in Godalming 1^st XI at Holloway Hill.

Over-awed however by the far larger club in the home dressing room, Pyestock weren’t and produced a stunning fight-back to fall short by the narrowest of margins.

Fielding first once again, Pyestock started unconvincingly, with the Godalming openers looking under little threat from Neil Butler and Chris Heath. Runs however were not easy to come by with Chris McGovern and Jon Ford looking sharp in the field.

Eventually however, and after a clever bowling change, Pyestock struck, with Miller lofted Billy Leader into the leg side only to be snapped up by Jack Bromley.

In the final over of his spell, Chris doubled the visitors wicket Hall by bowling Millers opening partner with the help of a feint inside edge and moving the visitors into the game.

Hayne and Jones steadied the home boat with some confident play, often helped by some poor catching that was sneaking into the Pyestock ranks. The drinks break arrived at 20 overs with the hosts 81 for 2 and the visitors frustrated.

The tables soon turned however, with Neil taking a good caught and bowled chance to remove Jones for 20. This started a small flurry of wickets with Hutchinson and Stow both falling for ducks before Neil removed the dangerous looking Hayne for 46, another caught and bowled that fortunately rebounded of the captains chest and into his grateful hands.

Gana became Pyestocks 7^th victim soon after following a good catch from Vaughan Newcombe, however this only brought the highly impressive Agge to the crease. Hitting a half century in next to no time and with considerable ease, the scoreboard started to rattle along with pace, transforming a mediocre total into one in excess of the visitors expectations.

Regularly taking advantage of Dans leg-spin and the short leg side boundary, Agge really put godalming in a strong position, and a lot of worried expressions were exchanged around the Pyestock side as they watched a true expert at work. No inch was given.

Thankfully however, the one chink in the armour was an apparent leg injury that hampered mobility, especially between the creases, mainly being the reason most of the dealings were conducted in boundaries, and Agge’s innings was concluded with a brisk run out by Colin Butler.

Godalming s innings ended on 217 for 9 the largest total conceded by Pyestock all season.

The response started well with regular pairing of Jon ford and Glenn Taylor playing in usual fashion, Glenn’s lustful blows being ably supported by Jon’s watchful stroke-play. The first 50 coming up in exactly 50 balls as the result looked to be swinging Pyestock’s way.

Glenn continued his dominance, bringing up his half century with a 4 off Agge’s first over, only to fall 2 balls later to leave Neils side in a strong postion of 69 for 1 after only 12.1 overs.

Uncharacteristically for this season, this produced a wobble as Jon and Dan Heath both were caught in quick succession to leave Pyestock 80 for 3 and turn the match on its head.

Suddenly,Billy Leader and Jack Bromley were needed to rebuild, but found the going tough against Agge (that man again) persistently excellent leg-spin and Stow’s demanding pace.

McKenzie and Allen were introduced to the Godalming attack in a bid to force a breakthrough, but the two youngsters held firm at the crease, but found it tough to lift the run rate that seemingly climbed faster and faster. The score moved to 118 for 3, one hundred from victory, but would need to considerably improve with only 14 overs remaining.

A double change in the bowling attack seemed to pay dividends for both teams, with Pyestock suddenly able to play the ball around more freely but within the space of 4 overs Godalming had Jack Bromley adjudged LBW and Billy Leader and danger-man, captain Neil Butler caught and back in the hutch.

Vaughan newcombe and Chris McGovern were now charged with keeping the game alive, a tough ask 69 runs needed with 10 overs remaining. The pair however took the bowling attack to the sword and produced great displays to drag the fading visitors right back into the fight.

Needing 29 from 30 balls, disaster struck with Vaughan holing out at mid-on to leave a run-a-ball chase for Chris McGovern and new bat Taylor Newcombe, a formula that became even more tense as the former was stumped to leave the last pairing of Taylor and Chris Heath needing 19 runs from the final 2 overs.

Most money was now being bet on the home side, even more so when only 5 were taken from the 39^th over, leaving 14 needed from the final 6 deliveries.

Taylor reduced this by 3 first ball of the final over with an edge over the vacant slip area, a shot duplicated by Chris for 2 the next ball to frustrate McKenzie at the bowling end. With 9 runs needed from 4 balls things were getting tense. A lofted drive yielded another 2 for Chris before a mis-field at mid on made the maths even simpler. 5 runs, 2 balls. Taylor and Chris were running brilliantly between the wickets and the result was very much in the balance. Chris didn’t get hold of the penultimate ball that resulted in yet another mis-timed drive for 2, to leave 3 runs needed for victory.

Guttingly for the hosts, only a leg bye could be obtained from a faster, shorter ball and the margin of defeat became clear, 1 run! Crushingly 6 hours of sweat and pure effort for the narrowest defeat possible. A brilliant game however, and played in an excellent spirit. Pyestock will aim to start again next week, away to Badshot Lea.

Godalming CC 217 for 9 (Agge 56)

Pyestock CC 216 for 9 (G.Taylor 52)

Godalming CC win by 1 run (Limited overs match)