A warm, but initially blustery, day greeted the Christchurch Police XI and Valley of Peace Cricket Club as they converged on the Valley for the first match of 2024. As it always is, the ground was a picture and Scott had once again tirelessly worked to ensure everything was ready for another great day of cricket at the Valley. It was agreed between the respective Captains that the match would be 40 overs, with a maximum of eight overs per bowler. Additionally Crash, the Police skipper, graciously offered the Valley their choice of commencement options, and we opted to take to the field first – a potentially dangerous selection given the sizeable tallies the Police had previously recorded, but offering us a chance to exploit the grass cover present on the pitch.
Charlie Porter and Hugo Davison got the Valley attack underway and both looked likely, regularly beating the bat, however Keyes and Collins, the Police openers successfully made their way through the initial overs, and then began to score heavily. They had advanced the total to 75 before Steve van Grunsven secured our first wicket in the 14th over. This initial dismissal failed to significantly slow the runs, and while further strikes by van Grunsven in the 18th and 20th overs helped put the brakes on, the Police looked poised for a large total with 96 for 3 at the halfway mark. After the break though, continued tight bowling, particularly by van Grunsven and young Falls-Anderson Jr, and an improved catching effort, saw the Valley claw their way back into the game to the extent that the Police were dismissed with three overs to spare, Tom Byrne getting one over his colleagues to claim the final wicket. Van Grunsven’s two second-half dismissals saw him claim a deserved five-wicket haul to end with an impressive five for 30 from eight overs. Falls-Anderson finished with the very tidy figures of three for 31 from his eight. Davison proved equally adept with seam and spin, claiming the other wicket to fall with the latter. Porter sent eight threatening overs and was unlucky to go unrewarded.
The final Christchurch Police XI total of 169 did not put them out of sight but was nevertheless a very solid score and one that would require a concerted batting effort against the impressive Police bowling unit. Unfortunately, from a Valley perspective, we did not get the start we were seeking – three of our key batsmen were back in the hut after eight overs with only 18 on the board. A partnership developed between Irving and Summerfield, the former unleashing some strong counter-attacking cuts and drives. The pair moved the Valley to 57 before Irving was dismissed for a valuable 25 in the 18th over. From that point, the relentless pressure from the Police attack saw wickets fall regularly, including Summerfield who also recorded 25, as the Valley slumped to 83 for 9. A gritty last-wicket partnership between Falls-Anderson Jnr and van Grunsven got us within sight of triple figures, but we were eventually dismissed for 99, the Christchurch Police recording a 70-run victory.
Ultimately a comfortable victory for a strong Christchurch Police XI side, but the Valley had its moments with both bat and ball and another great day out at the Valley regardless of the result. With thanks to Scott and Cameron for their work on the day and Speedo for pulling things together, including answering a call to don the playing whites.
Kent Summerfield
