PRESIDENTS DAY 2024 WAS THE MATCH AGAINST JOE LEACH’S ELEVEN, ALSO THE OPENING OF THE NEW PAVILION ON THE CLIUB’S 165TH ANNIVERSARY
REPORT AND PICS BELOW
Well it finally happened. After five years of planning, building, fund raising and worrying the new cricket pavilion in Martley was opened on 26th July . England Ashes hero Ashley Giles did the honorus, Joe Leach’s Worcestershire Eleven provided the opposition for the 165th anniversary game, the sun shone, the burgers were hot and the ale was cold.
Difficult to know how any people came along but someone reckoned close on a thousand, and a massive thank you to those that made it.
All this people who have worked so hard to provide this facility for the village can be very proud of themselves, Steve Hayes and Stu Watt in particular, and it was fitting they held the ribbon for Ashley Giles to cut (see pic)
The club were really pleased that we could dedicate a bench and a tree next to it to a guy called Jack Millward. Known as Nobby. A tree that was planted in his memory some 25 years ago was damaged in the building and the club decided to not only plant a new tree but put something a little more permanent in his memory. Although trees do seem to be somewhat permanent.
It was great to see his family there and his daughter Sylvie did the cutting of the tape.
Club President Bradders said “ When I played my first game of cricket, I was 13, and batting at number 11, with Nobby down at number 10. We neither of us had to bat in a game against Worcestershire Farmers.
“I guess that was his last game of cricket as he was on the team photo from 1935.
“A proper country character was Nobby. He knew every bird, tree, flower, bush and was an exceptional gardener winning loads of prizes each year at the annual show.
We were so pleased that we could leave a lasting to memorial to such a fine man.
The pavilion, the Tap and Run, is open throughout the week and full details are on the Facebook page.
LEACH SHOWS CLASS AT DEATH TO EDGE MARTLEY
A beautiful afternoon at the Jewry Field saw around 900 people visit for the kids coaching & to watch Joe Leach’s Worcestershire XI take on Martley on Friday.
Pete Gardner & Ollie Dunks opened the bowling for Martley as they would on a Saturday, with Pete getting Seth Essenhigh as Tobey Jones took a brilliant catch over his shoulder & Dunksy inducing a nick off Ryan D’Oliveira to Olly Saunders as things looked promising early on. However, Olly Cox blasted 30 to get Worcs on the front foot, till Ben Roberts took a high catch off his own bowling.
Young Jack Williams then had a day to remember as he got the big wicket of Joe Leach (38), plopped to Dunksy at cover for an easy catch. What a moment for the youngster, who bowled from one end as pal Will Rushgrove turned his arm over at the other. Tobey Jones then bowled Toby Cox, while Daniel Lategan smashed 29 before being cleaned up by Ben Waddington & Ben Roberts bowled last year’s guest player Tom Lee. At 124-7 it looked like Martley were in business but Leach’s ‘insurance’ came to the rescue.
Rehaan Edavalath struck 33 till Stu Hayes caught him off Dunksy & despite Dunksy (3-32 in 3) trapping Henry Cullen in front, the in-form Ed Pollock smashed 57 not out from 24 balls to catapult the Rapids to 216-9 from their 20.
In reply, things got off to a horrid start as Edavalath bowled Owen Birchley second ball & D’Oliviera cleaned up James Ganderton for 6. But Alex Basford slammed some short bowling with three sixes & nine fours earning him 59 off just 25 balls to bash Martley back into the contest, including a giant into the gardens by Le Bar.
Christian Mulvihill also made an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls with eight fours & a six before retiring & Tom Vale (45 off 27) continued the onslaught, bashing D’Oliviera into the garden over the road & ensuring Leach saw red mist after being scooped for fours consecutively to both fine leg & third man.
Stu Hayes added 7 before being bowled by Edavalath while Benny Roberts (22no off 17) hit three fours to try & push Martley to victory. But Leach bowled a fine last over leaving Vale needing 3 to win off the final ball, delivered with a perfect yorker to seal the visitors a tense win.
A cracking match for the crowd enjoying the sun and a fantastic day for the club and community. A huge thank you to all who attended & especially those who helped.
Enjoy the new pavilion – the Tap & Run Bar is now open! #UTM
E
Well President’s Day 2023 finally happened after a lot of hard work, and
some not very helpful weather.
To see so many people on the ground on the Friday before the game getting
soaking wet, but carrying on with getting everything ready was amazing.
Attached are some of the pics and details of the day.
Brilliant effort from everyone concerned.
BEN COX SHINES AS WORCESTERSHIRE WIN MARTLEY FRIENDLY
With an estimated 900 people visiting Jewry Field on Sunday, Martley played out a fun friendly with Ben Cox’s Worcestershire XI which the visitors won by just 3 runs.
Despite all the rain in the days prior & at 2pm as most of the fans started rocking up, the club did brilliantly to rally around & put on a great event.
Adam Finch & Ben Gibbon opened for Worcs – the duo who thwarted Yorkshire last week but Ollie Dunks (1-15 in 2) cleaned up Finch for 1 & Olly Cox (19) hit a few before Dan Johnson sent his stumps tumbling. Gibbon made 35 before holing out to Sam Fitch off young Will Rushgrove (2-14 in 2) & the very next ball Taylor Cornall, who smashed centuries in previous weeks for Ombersley in the Birmingham League, was caught by Dan J in the deep. The crowd went wild for young Will!
Young Rushy had a hat-trick chance with the first ball of the next over but new bat Ben Cox showed respect & patted it back. Guest Tom Lea (11) then struggled to get the ball away as Dan J grabbed one in the deep to give Jai Wickham 1-9 in 2. At 87-5 in 12.4 Martley could be very proud of their efforts but Cox started to get going, with his only real chance a reverse sweep grazing the hands of Alex Basford at short-third.
Rehan Edavalath (5) was taken in the deep by Owen Birchley to gift AB a wicket (1-4 in 1), Nottingham-bound Dillon Pennington (
was caught by Tom Vale, & then Jake Libby (11) was well caught by Christian Mulvihill pedalling backwards as Danny J returned 3-18 in 2 with some prize scalps. 148-8 from 19 overs, Martley with a brilliant performance.
But the premeditated bowling line-up meant poor old OJ had the last over at 2 of the best – & Ben Cox (64no from 37) & Jack Haynes (19no from just 4 balls) walloped 4 sixes to finish 175-8 in 20, one of them very nearly grabbed by Mark Johnson on the ropes.
The interval provided lots of entertainment for the youngsters on the pitch, as well as afternoon tea for our VIPs, an auction & a raffle. Martley then went in pursuit of a daunting chase with Christian Mulvihill & Steve Hayes opening, Mungo (4) being caught by Gibbon off Worcestershire Head Coach Alan Richardson, out of retirement.
Next ball a bouncy one caught Dom Jones out as he nicked Richardson behind before Christian’s hard-worked 31 came to an end from a Gibbons straight one. In all honesty, Worcestershire were obviously going to have to make a game of it as everyone bowled but Cox. This allowed Martley a bit of charity as Dan Mayfield (33), Ben Roberts (36) & Dom Colwill (15) capitalised, slapping fours & sixes off some of their heroes. At 103-5 & needing 73 from 27 balls, some comedy was served up to entertain the masses as Stu Hayes blasted 34no from just 16 balls & Alex Basford made 7no from 3 balls.
The last ball left Martley needing 5 to win but Stu could only chip a single as the curtain came down on a fantastic afternoon which was summed up by the lovely sundowner for the presentation.
20 years between the two Worcestershire games, hopefully not that long again next time – & who knows, maybe if we’re lucky there’ll be a wonderful pavilion in place to support the community for the next one.
PRESIDENTS DAY 2023 takes on a somewhat different look with a Worcestershire Eleven heading for the Jewry Field.
Full details below. All members both old and new are very welcome.
THE ANNUAL PRESIDENTS DAY TOOK ON A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT FORMULA IN 2022 WITH THE LORD OF MARTLEY GETTING AN ELEVEN TOGETHER TO TAKE ON THE LOCALS.
Whilst the cricket may not have been of test match standard, there was no doubting the enthusiasm of the participants, some very young and some not so young.
Sadly the Lord, James Heslop, went in the fetlock early on, but managed to bat with a runner who was several decades younger than him.
The game was won by the Lords Eleven by two wickets after Martley scored 179 all out, top marks to the scorers for managing to work out who scored what.
It has to be said some of the umpiring was a shade ‘doubtful’ and Mr. P. Bibby is taking his dismissal to the European Court of Human Rights.
The game was preceded by another splendid win for the Martley Under-10’s against their Droitwich counterparts, and several of those also got to play in the later game, improving the skill level considerably!
As ever it was great to see so many former players on the ground, re-living past games over a beer or two.
Thanks to James for getting his team together, for everyone who turned up to make it another superb Martley CC day, and to James Bromley-Basford who spent much of his birthday flipping burgers.
Lots of families enjoying a sunny afternoon in the Teme Valley.
Another day to prove what village cricket is all about
LAST YEARS EVENT WAS ANOTHER CRACKING MARTLEY DAY
Held on Sunday 29th August Presidents Day 2021 was another excellent day at the Jewry Field.
Lots of former members came along, there was some sort of cricket played, junior aswards presented, lots of youngsters playing quick cricket and having great fun on the bouncy castle and football game.
All in all a cracking day.
Thanks to all those who made it happen, from erecting bouncy castles to carrying chairs,
Particular mention for Jim ‘Barbie’ Basford, the ladies on the bar, and Dave Evans who somehow managed to keep score in the six a side games.
Looking forward to next year already.
2021 PRESIDENTS DAY PICS
Presidents Day is one of the highlights of the Martley Cricket Club summer.
In 2019 we moved away from the traditional game where the President raised a side to play the club, and had an inter-club 25-over as side game, which proved to be great fun.
In between we had our All-Stars playing, and with the bar and barbeque being very well patronised it was a day to remember.
Our presidents in the past Eddie Taylor, Don Taylor and Dave Bradley would get an eleven to play against the club side, and indeed some top players have appeared in those sides, including the legendary Basil D’Oliveira who was persuaded to turn out for one of our games.
He was man of the match and was awarded a decorated toilet seat!.
In 1996 the Presidents Day was probably the most successful ever when Steve Rhodes bought a Worcestershire eleven to the Jewry Field as part of his benefit season.
A big crowd turned out for the game, with several test stars in ‘Bumpys’ team.
In 2000 another big crowd turned out to see a Marley side with an international star in their line up. Glen McGrath was at the time the top rated fast bowler in the world, and he was living in Martley whilst playing for Worcestershire.
As a local he turned out for the village team against Stuart Lampitt’s Eleven.
Worcestershire players of the past such as Laddie Outschoon, Martin Weston, the late David Humphries and the like have also turned out in these games, plus a host of old Martley players who returned for the games.
The Presidents Day this year will take place at the Jewry Field on Sunday 16th July 2023
