A nice overcast day at a lovely ground. The wicket already looked like a road, with Joe Davis; Totham a prime tosser, ready to set the tone for the Sunday. Unbeaten in toss’s this season, Davis continued the streak to 3 from 3. Bat first for a youthful totham side.
Normal proceedings would dictate a Davis brother opening pair; however a post football and 12:50 KFC for George Davis saw him drop down to 4. Jacob Slater and the Skipper to open. A few streaky 4s and some good running saw the Sunday side motoring on to a good start. The first wicket falling for Slater unluckily nicking through to the keeper off Great Waltham 1’s opening bowler.
In comes Strobe Lightning, a man with good recent form and a point to prove having not scored much this weekend. After a good start unfortunately wafting after a short one the bot would top edge one, an easy catch for Waltham finding Totham needing strong runs from the top order.
In walks George Davis; not playing since August, an early football kick off and a boneless banquet before. The Sunday side would need something special from the lanky man to succeed.
Facing a bowler whose run up was nearing the boundary the younger Davis looked strong. A flurry of runs, George hitting the bowler back over his head for 6 runs twice would see the mighty Sunday’s motoring on for a defendable total. A brother partnership of 69 seemed like a serious mouthful for the Div one packed Great Waltham side.
After a quick drop of 2 wickets, both Davis out; the senior scoring a captain's innings of 74 and the younger a very quick 42. Totham were looking for runs; the answer laid in experience - the two oldest players; Rob Mutton (born 1993) and George Barron (born 1994).
Mutton, described as a village Jos Buttler by The vicar himself, was looking to build a strong innings. A flurry of boundaries from the boys saw totham motoring on. “No batting” they said, “too young” they said, Totham were looking to prove them wrong.
Baron looking in strong form drives one straight to mid off; a call of “no” a call of “yes”, a further “no” and eventually a yes; it would require some quick pace from the 2 senior players in the side.
It would appear age would catch up with the batsmen as mutton fell a yard from his crease, 95 runs of his predicted quick fire 100. Diggers at square leg giving the unfortunate decision.
As history would show, Totham would fall victim to their own classic collapse. In comes no byes Logue, a great looking 3 ball duck, The vicar out for 0, Archie; a further duck. The tail would call on a brother partnership from the Wheelers; the older James pulling Great Waltham 1’s opening bowler for 4. An incredible shot for a man with limited vision.
Some good running and extras saw totham get to 190 All Out.
Bring your own tea as always; a double meal deal from the skipper, some leftover dominoes for T Slice, 2 baguettes and a whole tub of coleslaw for the returning totham cult hero; Archie.
Having fallen shy of their dream total of 200, it would require some clever bowling and tight fielding to take the wickets of a Great Waltham Sunday side filled with div one batsmen.
An opening attack of George’s; Le Frog and the Runner Bean would see some good nip and venom from the Totham side. Davis bowling a bumper at Great Waltham’s premier bat Harris.
An early wicket from Gok would see his worst ball of the afternoon get spooned up and straight down the throat of the vicar, his holiness proving a safe pair of hands.
Needing to limit the runs, captain Davis opted for youthful tenacity; bringing the answer to the question “who’s 13 and can make Division One batsmen tremble with fear?” Of course; enter Tommy Wheeler. Wheeler to Harris; last season averaging 56 for GW 1st XI, this season; completely beaten by the Wheels of Steel, middle stump, thanks for coming.
Some great further bowling would see Tom take 2 wickets, 2 for the older wheeler and 1 from Baron would see Waltham’s side motoring on closer to Tothams total.
The day of the week was a Sunday so naturally there were no byes from Timbo behind the stumps, a catch for him off Hot Wheels bowling, making up for costing most of the club points in fantasy.
With Great Waltham’s depth in 1’s players, they ground down the totham attack, captain Easter island not wanting to embarrass any of our bowlers, brings himself on the bowl spin. Game down, Totham lose by 4 wickets, back to the bull.
A lovely day out, result not what we wanted but a great time had by all.
POTM - Tommy Wheeler - our hero.
Timbo (No byes and Sunday match report specialist)
