The Valley Of Peace Cricket Club Inc.

With the inability of the real Honest Trundlers XI  to tour from Australia, a team of local players with less than honest affiliations was invited to play at the Valley ground on Sunday 31 October. The shady dealings commenced well before game day with the Trundlers captain Lance Ryan contriving to gain every advantage he could for himself and his team. Firstly he appointed Derek Banks as the manager of the Trundlers side establishing a clear conflict of interest for the Valley’s patron. Then he suggested that rather than having retired batsmen recycled if the innings was completed before 40 overs were bowled, the worst performing batsmen should be allowed a second chance. Clearly foreseeing himself staggering down the wicket and being stumped.

The day started with Lance attempting to subvert the honest result of the toss in order to gain what he envisaged would be an advantage in fielding first. However, with the pitch and the outfield in magnificent condition for so early in the season, the home side was able to make a solid start with Hamish Anderson (the Older) and Tim Fulton putting on a solid opening stand. After some middle-order jitters, there were outstanding contributions from Rusty Drake and Mark Hume (both retired) which allowed the Valley to achieve the challenging total of 179.

For the Trundlers, Geoff Olsen bowled economically and Graham Inglis pulled things back after the Valley’s solid start with a couple of wickets. They were ably supported with tidy spells by Bob Masefield and Trevor Thornton and by very sharp wicket keeping by Steve Fraser. Lance Ryan had a very short and unsuccessful spell at the bowling crease which was costly enough to sway the game result. His usual confidence had been dented when his teammates lived up to the team’s name and recalled a batsman who was given out lbw after getting a very fine edge.

The Trundlers also had a solid albeit slow start at the crease with Graham Inglis and Phil Harris digging in against a torrid opening attack from Ben Larter well supported by Mark Hume. Ben was extremely unlucky not to get an early wicket as he moved the ball away from the batsmen and jagged the occasional ball back in. Again the middle order faltered before Jono Davidson (retired) and Bob Masefield got the innings rollicking along and looking likely to set up a winning chance for the Trundlers.

However, the match came down to a close finish after tight bowling by Stan Wooliscroft and Rusty Drake supported by useful contributions from Graham Aveyard and Hamish Anderson (the Younger) who stepped in for Tony Gray after he, unfortunately, pulled a hamstring while batting. With Ben Larter and Mark Hume coming back for the final four overs and getting deserved wickets, the Valley managed to keep the Trundlers to 169 to win by 10 runs.

Contrary to Lance Ryan’s suggestion that the captains should select each other for the respective player of the day awards, Graham Inglis was the Trundlers award winner with a very good all-round performance. Tim Fulton won the award as the Valley’s player of the day primarily for two of the most remarkable strokes ever seen at the ground. The first was a square cut where not only was the bat perfectly horizontal but so was his body as he connected with the ball shortly before ending prostrate on the ground. The second shot was almost more incredible as on this occasion he was already lying on the ground as the bat despatched the ball to the boundary again.

Many thanks to the umpires Peter Williams and Dave Stutheridge; and as always to Scott Cartwright and his team behind the bar; and not least to the ground “staff” for having the ground in amazing condition.

After the match and the usual proceedings at the ground, the players and partners adjourned to The China Kitchen restaurant for more lies and a game song especially transmitted in from the Honest Trundlers poet laureate in Australia … and so the game went trundling on.

Tony Penny, Captain for the day