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Sun 20th Jul 2014 vs. Appleton (A) @ Appleton

Match report

20 July 2014 will remain an important day to a number of people for a number of reasons. It was the day Rory McIlroy claimed his first British Open and the day Rixton wrestled the number 1 spot in the UK charts from the mighty Will.I.Am. But more importantly, it was the day the newly reformed Iffley Village Cricket Club crossed the boundary rope for the first time. The Village’s hosts were the incredibly hospitable Appleton Cricket Club who worked tirelessly on the morning of the game to get the game on following the monsoon rains of the previous evening.

With strong sun overhead but a, quite literally, sticky wicket under foot, IVCC won the toss and decided to bowl.

Gifford and Troth opened the bowling for IVCC and both bowled with accuracy and aggression, often finding tennis ball bounce from the ball just short of a length. Some say that from the boundary you could have mistaken Appleton Sports Ground for the Kensington Oval, Barbados and the IVCC opening pair for Ambrose and Walsh in their pomp. However, lady luck was not on their side with Appleton’s opening pair of Gilkes and Bennett showing good discipline, and occasionally riding their luck, to see off the new ball.

With Gifford and Troth containing the run rate well, first change saw Bibb, a Tufnell-esque left arm twirler, enter the fold. Bibb found both turn and bounce it wasn’t long before the first wicket tumbled with Gilkes gloving to Meier’s ever-safe mitts behind the timbers. Bennett followed in Bibb’s next over playing on the up through the covers with Smith pouching a sharp chance diving to his right. From a solid start Appleton were starting to wobble.

Gareth “the Rump Shaker” Ellis replaced Troth at the Pavilion end and very quickly found his rhythm. However, it was again Bibb who found himself in the wickets, disturbing Bhulla’s furniture after the compact batsman had delivered some lusty blows. Shortly after, the Rump Shaker found some late movement and bounce to find the stoic Lord’s outside edge. Cable-Alexander did the rest, taking a one handed diving catch at first slip (that Jonty Rhodes would have been proud of) and finding time to pose for the cameras on the way down!

This wicket brought Appleton’s powerful middle order pair of Bungay and Godwin to the crease. After a succession of near misses, Cable-Alexander had Bungay back in the hutch, coaxing him into a pull that went straight down Bibb’s throat at backward square leg off a rank long hop - clever stuff.

Notwithstanding a number of close LBW shouts, IVCC couldn’t remove Godwin who played fluently and aggressively for his 50 and took Appleton to a very competitive 213 from their 40 overs.

After feasting on a fine spread of, amongst other things, tuna and sweetcorn sandwiches and bakewell tarts, IVCC donned the pads and got back out in the middle, with Cable-Alexander and Watkins opening up. After his much talked about (mostly, nee, all, by himself the writer has to note) last knock against the Jam and Marmalade Cricket Club, the crowd anticipate big things from Watkins. However, some extra pace and bounce from Crowe undid Captain Birdseye in the first over with him missing a decent length ball by the width of a fish finger and the ball just clipping the top of off stump.

IVCC number three, Winter, strolled to the crease like a man with a test average of 45 and in the early exchanges look confident in defence on the challenging wicket. He and Cable-Alexander steadied the ship with some delightful stroke play that had the crowd purring with appreciation. Yet, with a big partnership building, Appleton introduced the diminutive figure of Salmon to the bowl attack who had the ball hooping around from the off. Some late movement into the left-handed Winter saw him fall LBW in Salmon’s first over. Taylor and Meier followed shortly after, both falling victim to Alder’s tidy arrows. With the score at 35-5, Smith entered the frame with the Village in need of a captain’s innings. With Cable-Alexander playing with increasing confidence, a brief period of resistance ensued. However, Smith failed to take into account the additional spring in the pitch and dollied a chance back to Bungay for a simple caught and bowled. The Rump Shaker fell shortly after that to a carbon copy dismissal from Lord which left IVCC staring into the abyss on 93-7.

Jonny “I only deal in boundaries” Gifford waltzed to crease with typical superstar swagger and proceeded to dispatch the Appleton bowlers to all parts, including an imperious lofted cover drive for six. With Gifford enforcing with blows like an overhand right from Riddick at one end, Cable-Alexander was dazzling the crowds with a mixture of silky stroke play, deft touches and well placed lusty blows at the other. A trademark sweetly timed straight drive saw Cable-Alexander make his well-deserved 50 in front of the knowledgeable (and, by that time, quite drunk) IVCC supporters.

However, as they say, all good things must come to an end and Cable-Alexander and Gifford fell in quick succession to Bhella and Crowe respectively. Whislt Troth, Bibb and Eynon all fought gallantly to the end, Appleton’s first innings total was a boundary (or three) too far. IVCC ended their innings on 146 all out but can take comfort from a solid first performance of the season.

Finally, thanks go to Appleton for their fine hospitality and sportsmanship throughout. All members of the IVCC look forward to the return fixture next year.

Bill Smith