FIRSTS JUSTIFY FIGHT AGAINST WEATHER TO THUMP OLD VIGS
Another tidy half-century from Christian Mulvihill & 4 wickets for Tom Vale saw Martley cruise to a 17-point winning draw before rain finally ended the 1st XI’s dominant game v Old Vigornians.
Despite atrocious weather all week & the forecast looking set to spoil Saturday’s play, Martley managed to get a 45-over game on at King’s School against the bottom-of-the-table side, which finally started about 1.30pm, after some boring bonding in the changing room & Alex Basford taking a nap.
With 4 of 6 games called off, Martley were put into bat with Christian partnered by Alex Taylor. Taylor, fresh off a tournament at Lord’s on Thursday where he had three unbeaten knocks including smashing Daryl Mitchell for 6 & England international Samit Patel for 4, was brought straight back down to earth. Young female Bryony Gilgrass dragged one down to him second ball which he patted back for an easy C&B. What a difference a day (or two) makes!
James Ganderton entered & chipped 3 sixes down the ground on his way to 40 before he missed another straight one, but the platform had the captain thinking about making 250 & declaring. Dom Jones missed one after crafting 27 runs with some neat boundaries before AB holed out for 18. Ben Roberts (quack) managed to let the ball hit his box, bat & then the stumps, before Vale hit 18. Christian’s very patient 73 was finally ended by young Bryony as he mistimed one but Dan Johnson (7no) & Ollie Dunks (18no) slapped it around. Needing 3 off the final ball for the final batting point Dunksy showed his batting capabilities once again, crashing a 4 to take MCC to 226-7 from 45.
In reply, the hosts got off to a good start but the skipper brought himself on to strike first ball, inducing a nick which Olly Saunders took well. Gandy (1-11 in 8, 5 maidens) slowed them down but as rain loomed once again, he turned to his ‘part-timer’ Vale who along with Gand, began to race through the overs as 20 were needed to constitute a result. Despite a good first over, Vale removed the quick-hitting George Francis who sliced a long-hop to Dom at point. A truly ‘burgled’ wicket!
From 23-0 to 40-6, Vale bowled 2 & had another trapped in front as he picked up 4-6 from 6 overs, & past the key 20-over mark as Martley knew the game was now at least going to yield them a winning draw. One wicket shy of a second 5-for, Gand hauled off the part-timer (Vale must have peed in his porridge Saturday morning) to bring on paceman Mark Johnson who struck first over, forcing a waft which was nicked to Olly again behind the sticks (decision vindicated!).
The rain took the teams off before they returned for 2 more balls from Dan Johnson but after another showing of rain, it was decided enough was enough at about 6.20pm as Martley took home 17 points instead of what would’ve been just 5 for an abandoned game.
Up to 7th in the table with another big game at home to Brockhampton 2nd XI on Saturday.
