PRESIDENT’S MATCH A FITTING END TO A SUPERB SEASON
Great Melton's best-ever season ended on a high note with two club teams competing for the Robert Phoenix Trophy at the annual President's Match. A brief rain-shower threatened to disrupt proceedings initially but, having drawn cards to decide the batting order and with an agreement that every player would bowl at least one over and batsmen would retire at 25, the 30-over-per-side match actually got underway on time.
The new President's team batted first and Martin Cook and Sam Davey got them off to the best possible start, both retiring with 28 and 27 respectively. An first-ball duck for Aidan Brand and an unfortunate run out for Matt Rushton (4) proved minor setbacks as Patron Nick Evans-Lombe (28 ret), Ben Mann (25 ret) and Nick Aston (28 ret) took the score past 150 with plenty of overs left. Woody Loines and Frankie LeGrange both added 8 and it was left to the President, Steve Phoenix, with 26 not out, in partnership with Martin Alcock (22 not out) to take the score past 200. In fact 236-4 looked quite a tall order to chase in 30 overs. There was little joy for the bowlers with 7 batsmen undefeated and 2 run outs but Ian Nicholls (1-16 from 4 overs) was the most successful and economical. The other wicket went to George Bunn (1-24).
Chairman Simon Woods opened the batting for his ‘Club XI' but was bowled by Frankie LeGrange for 9 followed by fellow-opener, Tim Hales being run out by Nick Aston for 18. Corey Rushton (24) and Steve Cadge (26 ret) got the innings back on track and the score had moved on to 91-3 when Corey was dismissed by his dad, stumped by Sam Davey. Wickets then fell at fairly regular intervals as Ryan Hayward (8), Harry Ryan (9), Iain Nicholls (12) and Duncan Greenslade (2) and, when Ben Mann managed to bowl is brother Sam, first ball, the game was virtually over. Ben narrowly missed a hat-trick when Lohit Kannan slapped a delivery straight at Martin who took the full force on his chest. Having survived that Lohit remained unbeaten on 27 and George on 35 but the ‘draw' had been a little unkind on the club team with those two at 10 and 11 and their late flourish was not enough as the President's Team ran out winners by 39 runs. Ben's 2-11 and Matt Rushton's 2-20 made them the afternoon's most successful bowlers but Frankie (4-0-15-1) and Aidan (4-1-21-0) bowled well and there were wickets for Woody and the President.
With everybody getting a bat and a bowl, 4 wicketkeepers used and plenty of banter it was an enjoyable afternoon and even the weather brightened up. A few beers and a barbecue, kindly provided by our regular chefs, Graham and Mary Tuddenham, completed a good day.
It was an enjoyable end to a season in which the first team finished champions of Alliance Division 2, the A's runners-up in Division 4 and the Cs runners-up in Norfolk League Division 4SE while, at junior level Great Melton won the Alliance competitions in the U17, U15 and U9 age groups. The U19s and U13s were runners up in the ECB competitions and, back in March, the Indoor Team won the NCB Indoor League. Phew! And we've also been trying to complete our pavilion project and cope with an early-season change of Chairman. It's been hectic and a real team effort! A huge thank you to all of you who have contributed to this.
The only slight fly in the ointment was the President's match teams photo (see below). Unfortunately three of the team were still in the changing room when it was taken! Apologies to Martin Alcock, Sam Davey and Woody Loines. We should have checked but try to be bit quicker in the change-around in future guys! However we did manage to include our fantastic groundsmen.
Back Row: Matt Rushton, Iain Nicholls, Frankie LeGrange, Aidan Brand, Mike Phoenix, Duncan Greenslade, Grenville Ireland, Tim Hales, Nick Aston, Sam Mann, Lohit Kannan Front Row: George Bunn, Harry Ryan, Martin Cook, Simon Woods, Nick Evans-Lombe, Steve Phoenix, Ben Mann, Steve Cadge, Corey Rushton, Ryan Hayward.
