Wiltshire Queries v Chilmark Sunday 7th July 2024.
A youthful side assembled, in the nick of time, and all raring to go. The forecast was less than bright but Chilmark insisted “definitely game on”. On arrival, rain was falling and continued to do so for a while. MM Geoff Ramsey thought Chilmark were then very worried that it was going to be a total washout but were making noises about getting the covers off and having a look. The wicket was bone dry but one end looked a little suspect for bowlers having any chance of staying on their feet. We had blue skies but forecast pretty iffy.
“Let’s play a T10”! Queries seemed up for it. All overs to be bowled from one (dry) end. Barry engineered the skipper out of any toss scenario but apparently we lost it and were in the field! 2 overs per bowler, 2 runs for wides and no balls and not re-bowled until the last over. Batsmen to retire on 25. Bagnall with the old “new” ball rolling back the years. Then a procession of less senior bowlers with Paul Sullivan getting in to that youngster mix somehow! Seb Woodford 3-13, Ollie Illingworth 2-8 and Paul Sullivan 1-12 off their two overs apiece. One run out with the batsmen stupidly risking a second to Bagnall on the boundary. He of the bullet arm! Sean McClure, behind the timbers, did well standing at the wet end without any dramas.
62 to chase down in our 10.
Debutant Jonty Mitchell (19*) batted through, Tom Beard (5) and Tom Whiting (7) got balls that shot along the deck, Josh Sullivan set about the attack with relish and had to be withdrawn on 26* with the end in sight. Sam Waters eyed up the straight boundary for the grand finish…..but missed! Jonty and Seb got us home early in the 9th over.
And then the tea!
Blue skies after tea, “shall we do it again?” Somehow the skipper engineered out of any kind of recognised toss and apparently we were batting. The heavens opened after a few balls and that was it. Nevertheless it was good to salvage something out of the day and an interesting format. A first for the Queries? Thanks as ever to Chilmark for hosting us and the team and officials, Barry and Jakki, who turned up in conditions which suggested there was unlikely to be any play. Cricket the winner!