SPITFIRE D&M NATIONAL 60+ INTERNATATIONALS IN 2009

Four Internationals were played during 2009, two against each of Wales and Australia. The reports and scorecards are given below.

ENGLAND V WALES

at WORCESTER NORTON CC, 25th SEPTEMBER 2009

Wales confounded the betting pundits with a remarkable victory off the penultimate ball in a nail biting Final at Worcester Norton.

England , inserted, found Ron Walton and Colin Davies very accurate indeed and both openers, Peter Eames ( Kent ) and John Stuck ( Essex ) survived some confident appeals. Runs had just started to flow (26 of 6) when Eames departed lbw and Rob Dumelow (Derbyshire) was caught driving for 0 off Ron Walton, the father of ex Norwich City goalkeeper, Mark. Worse was to come when Davies bowled Stuck attempting his trademark pull. 32-3. Newcomer Martin Hall (Hampshire) and Martin Pearse ( Norfolk ) consolidated and with the latter allowing the free-hitting Hall the majority, the pair put on 99 in 13 overs. Hall's aggression saw him dropped at long-on and mid-wicket. With the score on 131-3 with 20 overs left, Pearse, instead of continuing to take runs as and when, decided to attack and paid the price and in the same over Hall (70) went as well. Tuck followed quickly, England 142-6 and three completely avoidable wickets. Chris Lees ( Cheshire ) and Trevor Knowles (Worcestershire) dragged England back into the frame, but the wicket was ultra spinner friendly and just the opposite for seamers, of which England had selected four! Wales had three spinners so they chose wisely! Kevan Pratt of Essex (26*) came in and hit two superb sixes in the last over to boost the total to 218-9.

Wales started strongly with the openers Peter Hall and Mike Staddon attacking the seamers, Chris Lees and Trevor Knowles and the vistors rattled up 45 in 7 overs. Hall departed, caught at cover off the accurate Richard Maharaj ( Sussex ) but newcomer Mal Lewis joined Staddon and the pair, despite some very near misses took the total to 136 before a diving Pearse caught Lewis at short mid-wicket off Lees for a well crafted 32. Williams then had to retire, hurt with a pulled muscle and England started to reassert themselves, so much so that the pendulum swung right back in their favour, with Kevan Pratt's off-spin hauling his team right back into contention.. Evan Tuck ( Norfolk ) bowled Staddon for 69 and then Morris for a duck and with three overs left Wales needed 29. However, a crucial dropped catch on the boundary edge and two very possible chances on the other side, plus a couple of mis-fields under pressure, took the score to 11 needed from the last over. Ron Walton (16*) and Gordon Voke (20*) finished it off with three fours off Trevor Knowles with one ball to spare, even with four fielders on the legside boundary. To be frank some of the fielders hadn't eaten their Weetabix…

Exactly 10 years ago, virtually to the day, Wales 50+ including five of the players playing in this match, won the National ECB 50+ Championship Final in the last over, off the penultimate ball , over Lancashire . So maybe this was feted to happen!

Wales thoroughly deserved their victory for their superior bowling and thanks to Roger Weston and Worcester Norton CC for all their hospitality plus the Umpires, including Essex 's Barry Toombes.

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England 60+ v Wales 60+ at Worcester Norton, 22nd September 2009
Wales 60+ won the toss
Innings of England 60+
Peter Eames			lbw		b Walton		12
John Stuck					b Davies		14
Rob Dumelow			c Lewis		b Walton		0
Martin Hall					b Evans		70
Martin Pearse			c Voke		b Evans		24
Evan Tuck					b Hall		9
Chris Lees			lbw		b Hall		15
Trevor Knowles			c		b Davies		16
Kevan Pratt			not out				16
Jan Brindle					b Davies		3
Richard Maharaj			not out				4
Extras		b 6	lb 9	w 9			24
			Total (9 wkts, 45 overs)				217
Fall of Wickets
1-26	2-26	3-32	4-131	5-132	6-142	7-172	8-187	9-191
Bowling Analysis
			Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
R Walton			9	2	22	2
C Davies			9	3	23	3
G Voke			8	0	55	0
N Evans			9	1	46	2
P Hall			9	0	50	2
R Williams			1	0	6	0
Innings of Wales 60+
P Hall			c		b Maharaj		19
M Staddon					b Tuck		69
M Lewis			c Pearse		b Lees		32
R Williams			ret. not out				5
J Morris			b		b Tuck		0
B Pendelton			run out				10
G Voke			not out				20
C Davies					b Knowles		0
R Walton			not out				16
did not bat: B Jones, N Evans
Extras		b 16	lb 8	w 22	nb 1		47
			Total (6 wkts, 44.5 overs)				218
Fall of Wickets
1-46	2-136
Bowling Analysis
			Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
C Lees			9	0	40	1
R Maharaj			9	0	41	1
T Knowles			8.5	1	43	1
P Tuck			9	0	44	2
K Pratt			9	1	26	0

ENGLAND 60+ V AUSTRALIA 60+

SUNBURY ON THAMES, 25th AUGUST 2009

The ‘Sunbury Ashes Test' took place at Sunbury on Thames Cricket Club, Tuesday 25 th August. A festive occasion with speeches and presentations was enhanced by the Lady Mayor of Spelthorne, who tossed the coin with England winning the toss. Electing to bat, rain immediately intervened with England openers Graham Penny and Bob Phillips on 30-0. However, luck was on our side as this was the only light shower all day. Phillips departed, playing on for 27 in the 13 th over with the score on 65. Penny followed at 97 in the 18 th , for a hard hit 59. The Norfolk pairing of Paul Rice (25) and Martin Pearse (47) put on 85 in 14 overs and quickfire cameos from John Stuck (30), Mike Swain (37*) and 20* from Colin Breed saw England total 274-5 in 45 overs.

A strong wind saw Breed well in control as Australia batted with opener Jones intent on attack at every opportunity. Eventually one chance too many saw his stumps rearranged and the other opener, Dunn also succumbed to the Kent opener. Captain Longmuir was lucky to survive a direct hit in a chance run, but continued before Jim Smallbone induced a smart stumping from Stuck. Left hander McLeish, by far the most prolific batsman on Tour, survived until near the end for 63 but England 's bowling was far too tight. Breed 2-22 and Byford , 2-24, being the pick.

Many thanks to Peter Browne who organised the Sunbury end, Ian the Groundsman, all the Sunbury staff, the Umpires and Scorers and let us look forward to another visit from our southern Hemisphere friends, hopefully in a couple of years time.

Finally, thanks to D&M Marketing and Spitfire Shepherd Neame for the over all Sponsorship.

England 60+ v Australia 60+

Sheffield United's Bawtry Rd Ground, Sunday 16 th August.

The England side, selected from players from the top of the averages this season, had players travelling from Hampshire , Kent , Suffolk and Norfolk to do battle. Unfortunately for them, the Australians picked a bad day to bat first and it was soon obvious that Brian Cole's swing with a stiff breeze, was going to make life very difficult. McLeish (11) the most technically correct batsman, was the first to depart at 25 in the 11 th over and No 3 Fogarty struck a couple of lusty blows into the deep square leg area before being caught and bowled by the lively Cole. No 6 Rob Webb, despite damaging a knee and his back, stayed for 58 balls before being run out for 25, and it was the ‘swinging blue jean' Mike Fernando who finished proceedings off with a spell of 9-2-22-3, following on from economical stints from Ian Battelley 9-2-23-0 and Jim Smallbone 9-3-18-1. Mel Wood took 9-0-40-1 whilst Cole received the bowlers prize (with Fernando) for his figures of 9-3-17-2.

In reply, England started circumspectly and reached 56in the 15 th over before Rice went lbw to Marks for 21. Nick Sharp (59*) and Miles Rawlings 38* showed their class with an unbroken stand of 83 to race England home in 28 overs.

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England 60+ v Australia 60+ at Sheffield, 16th August 2009
Australia 60+ won the toss
Innings of Australia 60+
Warren Dummett			c & b		Cole		11
Alan McLeish			c		b Wood		11
John Fogarty			c & b		Cole		14
Colin Jones					b Smallbone		6
Ian Longmuir			st Smith		b Fernando		14
Rob Webb			run out				25
Ian Marks					b Fernando		7
Wilson			not out				15
Clive Wundersitz			c		b Fernando		2
Johnson			not out				4
Tony Corr
Extras		b 5	w 11				16
			Total (8 wkts, 45 overs)				125
Fall of Wickets
1-25	2-29	3-44	4-45	5-69	6-98	7-108	8-112	9-
Bowling Analysis
			Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Mel Wood			9	0	40	1
Brian Cole			9	3	17	2
Ian Battelley			9	2	23	0
Jim Smallbone			9	3	18	1
Mike Fernando			9	2	22	3
Innings of England 60+
Paul Rice			lbw		b Marks		21
N Sharpe			not out				59
Mike Rawlings			not out				38
Ian Battelley
Rob Dumelow
Martin Hall
Mel Wood
Barry Smith * +
Jim Smallbone
Brian Cole
Mike Fernando
Extras		b 2	lb 3	w 4			9
			Total (1 wkt, 28.1 overs)				127
Fall of Wickets
1-54
Bowling Analysis
			Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Ian Marks			9	1	30	1
David Welford			7	1	26	0
Rob Webb			3	0	16	0
Johnson			4	0	22	0
Ian Longmuir			4	0	25	0
Wilson			1.1	0	4	0

England 60+ v Wales 60+

Liphook, 4th June 2009

Glorious sunshine and a superb location greeted the first ever Home International between England 60 and Wales 60 held at Liphoook and Ripsley Cricket Club in deepest wooded Hampshire. The only downside being, as the ground is miles from anywhere, Wales couldn't find it and arrived somewhat flustered, only fifteen minutes before the start. In their defence, at least half the English team took half an hour driving up and down, including your scribe…….

Wales won the toss and decided to bat. Probably not the best idea, as England bowlers were well warmed up and Trevor Knowles (Worcestershire) gave a superb exhibition of pace variation, all arrow straight, to record figures of 9-5-6-2. Normally in County matches you can bat one bowler out and take runs from some of the others, but as all England's bowlers were hand picked, there were hardly any four balls handed out without severe risk.. Colin Breed (Kent), after conceding eleven in his first over, soon settled down and pegged visitors back 8-2-24-1 and the spinning duo of Jim Smallbone (Hampshire) 8.1-1-22-4 and Mark Sargeant (Suffolk) 9-3-9-2, reduced their innings to tatters. Mike Byford ( Surrey ) 9-2-41-0, backed up the bowlers so Wales were all out for 110 in the 44 th over.

With such an inviting target Wales needed to make early inroads and they managed to remove Martin Pearse (Norfolk) lbw for 3 in the second over. But unfortunately for them, that was their only success as Paul Rice ( Norfolk ) and Andy Barnes ( Sussex ) gave a masterclass in quality batting to knock the runs off in 19 overs. Rice on 47 not out and Barnes on 61 not out. Rice held the Premier Bermuda record of 207 in an individual innings until he was recently beaten and has been ultra prolific for Norfolk in the 50 ECB, averaging 46. Barnes still captaining Sussex in the 50's, found the straight boundary very inviting, peppering it with straight sixes.

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England 60+ v Wales 60+ at Liphook, 4th June 2009
Wales 60+ won the toss
Innings of Wales 60+
G Morgan					b Knowles		8
J Morris					b Sargeant		22
R Williams					b Knowles		4
M Lewis					b Sargeant		12
C Davies					b Smallbone		16
B Jones			c Swain		b Smallbone		8
P Owens			not out				10
G Voke			lbw		b Smallbone		0
R Walton			run out				6
P Betterley			lbw		b Breed		2
P Hardwick					b Smallbone		0
Extras		b 1	lb 7	w 12	nb 2		22
			Total (10 wkts, 43.1 overs)				110
Bowling Analysis
			Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Tony Knowles			9	5	6	2
Colin Breed			8	2	24	1
Mike Byford			9	2	41	0
Mark Sargeant			9	3	9	2
Jim Smallbone			8.1	1	22	4
Innings of England 60+
Martin Pearse			lbw		b Hardwick		3
Paul Rice			not out				47
Andy Barnes			not out				61
Mike Swain
John Stuck
Geoff Ownes
Trevor Knowles
Colin Breed
Mike Byford
Jim Smallbone
Mark Sargeant
Extras		lb 1	w 1	nb 1			3
			Total (1 wkt, 28.1 overs)				114
Bowling Analysis
			Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
P Batterley			3	0	16	0
P Hardwick			4	1	22	1
R Walton			5	1	27	0
G Voke			3	0	17	0
P Owens			2	0	20	0
C Davies			1.3	0	11	0

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