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.
A big thanks to all who attended, supported & most importantly, volunteered, to make the day what it was. #UTM
