Reepham Tour 2013
This year Reepham CC again headed down south to face former Reepham player Richard Perry's team Damerham, as well as also challenging another nearby side, Fonthill Park. Despite the road closure confusion surrounding the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, most of the players managed to make it down in time for a curry on the Friday night!
On Saturday we headed to Fonthill Bishop to face the local side, whose outfield is known for having what can only be described as having the start of a hill on one side of it; never have I seen the Reepham players so keen to choose their own fielding positions! Despite the temptation to lay around sun bathing in the blazing afternoon heat the match did start on time, with Fonthill winning the toss and deciding to bat first. A solid opening partnership between R Murray and N Burton suggested this was a good decision, but wickets gradually started to fall, and had it not been for a fine half century for T Wilson (56) and a late 15 for A Bazen, Fonthill's score of 141 all out could have been much lower. Pick of the bowlers was Andy Housam (4-0-20-3), particularly as he removed well set batsmen T Wilson and N Burton. Martin Straw (8-0-40-3) also took three important wickets, and the miserly Jamie Pinkney (7-3-11-2) took his two wickets for very few runs.
Reepham came out of the blocks faster than their opponents, but as a consequence Fonthill starting ebbing away at the wickets. Opener Richard Straw managed to keep the momentum going depite the setbacks, until his resistance finally gave way just short of a half century on 46, one of only four players to reach double figures in the innings. At this point Reepham were looking in serious trouble, but contributions from the lower order including Jamie Pinkney (11), and duck champion Mark Edlington (17), gave the visitors hope when the last pair were at the crease. Number ten batsmen Ben Housam (13*) managed to hold his nerve and Reepham claimed a tight victory with just one wicket to spare. An honourable mention also goes out to Andy Stafford, who claimed the team pants with his fine contribution of 0.
On Sunday Reepham won the toss and elected to bat on another fine day, and they piled the runs on straight away with a fantastic opening partnership from centurion Richard Straw, who retired on 103, and Sam Housam (74). Between them, the pair hit 17 fours and 6 sixes. Andy Housam (19), Andy Stafford (12), and Mark Edlington (11) also chipped in with double figure scores to help Reepham set an imposing target of 246-9 from their 40 overs. Had it not been for D French's (7-0-34-4) excellent return, the score could have been even higher.
Damerham responded well as a team though, with stong contributions from several of their players, including A Pardy (52), H Gilbert (40), D French (30), and J Vincent (28*), but despite an excellent effort Reepham were not to be denied and eventually bowled Damerham out for 224 to win by 22 runs, with the wickets being shared between 5 different bowlers, with Martin Straw (3-0-12-2), Jamie Pinkney (6.3-1-26-2), and Sam Housam (4-0-28-2) all taking two apiece. Today's team pants award went to John Mackinder for this duck.
All in all we had a cracking tour with two close matches and some gorgeous weather, which is just about all you can ask for really!
