Dramatis personae:

Captain Nicholas Walker (London)
Andrew Glass
James ‘Puck’ Asplin
A troupe of strolling players
A horde of Kentish peasants

The story so far:

Napoleonic Nick Walker has one last chance to sieze glory before he is exiled forever. Given the power that he has always craved, but realising that it will soon be dashed from his grasp, he hatches an audacious plot. But wait! Who is the mysterious stranger, Andrew Glass? Almost certainly someone’s long-lost twin brother, if the conventions are to be observed. Meanwhile, to provide dramatic complexity, the local villagers engage a group of strolling players to perform a play within a play, to try and discover what’s going on. Whilst, in the deep, a young lad circles the field every forty seconds to a chorus of ‘Yours!’

This play is based on a cricket match that took place, one balmy day, in the village of Shoreham.

Shoreham fielded first, and the visitors quickly found themselves in some trouble at 14 for 3: Messrs. Sims, Dinnis and Trick Snr. each bagging an early wicket. Then the NT staged a recovery, built around a brisk 25 from Kiwi Dooley and a more considered innings from Bloom.

Monty claimed a good catch off Brad to dismiss Dooley when the score was on 46 but then Clarke joined Bloom and the score advanced to 103 without further loss. Quite a high proportion of these latter runs came from James Asplin’s first five and a half overs, and Nick Walker (captain for the day) suggested that James might appreciate a return to his earlier duties of covering the whole of the outfield. James responded by taking two wickets with the last two balls of his sixth over and so was invited to complete his hatrick in a seventh over. The ‘hatrick’ ball disappeared over the boundary at head height, but the fourth ball of the over finally dismissed Bloom for 53, scattering his stumps in a very satisfactory fashion.

From 116 for 7, the NT progressed to 160 before the last three wickets fell in fairly quick succession, leaving Shoreham with 183 to make after tea.

Andrew Glass was sent out to open with veteran Paul Styles. Andrew has lived in Shoreham for three years, but until now he has been an undiscovered talent. His stylish 62 gave us a good platform. Meanwhile Paul perished trying to work out exactly what he wanted to do with a confusing full toss, and was replaced by Montie. The score moved on to 86 before Montie was out for 15, and Nick was called upon to join Andy.

Shoreham’s first team opener of last season was batting with the man who seems destined to replace him, now that Nick has been repatriated to the Republic of Yorkshire. Celebrating the arrival of one and regretting the departure of the other, a lesser writer might have been tempted to speculate whether the Glass was half full or half empty.

Andy was third out with the score on 117 but Nick powered ahead, and his 71 pretty well completed the job. He was denied the Boys-Own finish of hitting the winning runs, falling with just 7 required, but his innings reminded us of what we’ll be missing from him in cricketing terms

Chris Brown and John Dinnis were at the crease when we reached the required total, with 5 wickets and several overs remaining.

After the game one wondered whether Nick was thinking, as the poet had:

Farewell, happy fields,
Where joy forever dwells;

or whether the Tyke was just happy to be going home.

Cheerio then Nick. Great to have had you around. Work hard, and don’t forget to write.

Welcome Andy, and family.

Wyn

Posted on Tuesday, 5th May, 2009 in Friendly Match Reports.