Sunday 12^th September 2004

Tomlins Cup Final

Mansfield Hosiery Mills 98 all out

Thoresby Colliery 101-5

I shall commence this final match report with the prophetic words of the brilliant West-Indian writer and thinker - CLR James. In his autobiographical masterpiece, “Beyond a Boundary”, James states:

“Cricket is first and foremost a dramatic spectacle. It belongs with theatre, ballet, opera and the dance.”

Those who were fortunate enough to witness Sunday’s final would find it difficult to argue such a proposition. The match had everything – drama, suspense, wickets, classic catches, celebrations of joy and sorrowful looks of utter defeat. This short piece hopes to convey a sense of what the performance was actually like. Please relax, unwind and enjoy.

Sunday was not sunny. For the duration of the match the sky was filled with menacing clouds accompanied by an icy breeze. The preceding evening had produced a constant downpour. Hence the pitch was not ‘ideal’(whatever that means) and the outfield noticeably slow. Despite these trying conditions, supporters from both sides flocked to the ground. The officials were perched comfortably on the square leg boundary, while other spectators ambled around the perimeter of the field, nursing a pint of lager whilst engaged in deep conversation about the course of the match.

Thoresby won the toss and politely invited Mansfield to bat first. Their innings began patiently and continued at a steady and tempered pace. Hill and Patel bowled a tight first spell. Both these bowlers instantly found their rhythm and had the ball on a length, making it extremely difficult to score.

The highlight of the first ten overs was a cut shot by the Sri Lankan - Jayasingha. To a ball that Patel had pitched, marginally short and fractionally outside the off stump, Jayasingha rocked back and slashed the ball behind point for four. It was not a violent stroke. It was not a slog. It was a gentle swaft of the bat that entailed an urgent ‘click’ of the wrist. It was a true delight to watch. In one sense it was poetry.

Such a shot must be celebrated because, if the truth must be told, there were barely any similar scoring shots for the duration of the Mansfield innings. More on this ‘lack of intent’ later on, for now we shall continue with Thoresby’s bowling.

Patel bowled his 8 overs straight through and achieved figures of 2/18. His first wicket was a regulation caught behind. His second was a stumping. It was certainly a brilliant piece of work behind the stumps by the experienced Birkett. Noticing that Milns was comfortably out of his crease, Birkett, with the cheekiness of an eight-year-old, slung the ball and hit the stumps. It was a well-crafted piece of cricket. Revealing the limitless possibilities of this great game.

Ahmed followed Patel and he too was on song from ball one. Whilst he remained wicketless, he still contributed greatly. His 5 overs only costing 10 runs.

‘Birthday Boy’ Lippeat did not want anyone to spoil his party. And so after replacing Hill, he continued to apply the necessary pressure. He got the crucial wicket of Jayasingha – LBW, and Appleton – caught marvellously by the exubert Paul Hughes, on the mid-on boundary. “Twinkle Toes” Lippeat, as he has also come to be known, danced gracefully to the crease time and time again. Surely his fancy footwork is the key to his rhythm. His 8 overs reaped due reward with figures of 2/16.

Willis came on for Ahmed and bowled with the ferocity and aggression of an untamed stallion. His smooth approach to the wicket can be deceiving, for when he arrives at the crease he unleashes the ball with serious intent. He picks and chooses his balls carefully. It was his subtle and skilful change of pace that fooled the Mansfield batsmen. His 6 overs cost only 18 runs. He took 3 wickets. Two were clean bowled while the other was caught in a spectacular fashion by Callum Flinton.

Callum’s catch was without doubt the feature of the first innings. His catch was more than a mere catch. It was an action that embodied Thoresby’s hunger, determination and willingness to perform. Cal was fielding at deep mid-wicket. The ball was hit high, ridiculously high. He made steady ground to it and positioned himself right underneath. As the ball came within reach, a mighty gust of wind threw it slightly off course. Cal did not panic. With steady hands, akin to that of a dentist or heart surgeon, he lunged to his side and held the ball. This final movement left him sprawled out on the ground, but the ball was safe. He had made the catch of the innings!

Dave “Rainbow” Evans finished off the tail. What a character this guy is! He wears a steely competitor’s face and never ceases to encourage each team-mate and his team. His 4 overs saw him take 3/15. Two were clean bowled whilst the other was safely caught by the in form Flinton. Evan’s was up for this contest. Boy did he want to win. His short spell injected a huge amount of enthusiasm into his side. His wicket celebrations were a performance in themselves!! He mercilessly turned the ball from off to leg. The batsmen couldn’t play him. Alas they had dug themselves into a hole that was far too deep to escape. But pressure, consistent pressure, will do that to a team.

The mastermind behind Thoreby’s strategy in the field was skipper – Martin Cheshire. He captained with skill and care. Efficiently changing the bowlers at the right time and studiously altering the field, when a change, even a slight change, was needed.

Thoresby stumbled upon the right formula and they picked the right day to find it. It was the best they had fielded all year. Particular attention must be drawn to young Benny Marson. He fielded anything within his reach. He did it with enormous enthusiasm and supple yet lightning speed. Imagine the reflexes of a baby panther and you are almost there.

Mansfield were dismissed for under a hundred.

Before we proceed to the run chase, mention has to be made of the time frame between overs 25 to 35 in Mansfield’s innings. Why? Because this is where they lost the game. This ten over period was the turning point in the match. Throughout these overs the Mansfield batsmen had no intent to score. It is perplexing and utterly confusing as to why this was so. There were gaps in the field. There are always gaps in the field. The batsmen did not try to place the ball in these gaps, rather they patted and patted the ball back. In no way am I taking anything away from the Thoresby bowlers. However the point must be made that to win a cricket match you need runs. You have to look for runs. You have to take them when they are on offer. Especially when batting first.

98 was never going to be enough runs. By the time the second innings commenced the pitch had dried out slightly and obviously it was a little easier to bat. Still though, strange and mysterious things always seem to occur in this peculiar game. Earlier in the season Thoresby had been skittled for 34 runs at this same ground. At numerous other times in the season they had failed to achieve small totals. With this in mind the Mansfield team knew that they had a shot.

And Mansfield started well. Gorman had Cheshire lbw and bowled Ahmed shortly after. Milns tricked Hughes into hitting a catch to short cover. And Johnson had Birkett trapped plum in front. Thoresby were on the ropes at 4/34 and Mansfield were fired up for yet another Cup Title. Mansfield’s concentrated intent can be seen in the way they huddled together after each wicket they took. They lock arms and discuss their attitude and their plan of attack. It is great to admire their tireless focus and unending belief in themselves. However today, was not to be their day. They have two men to blame.

Hill and Patel compiled a match winning 50 run partnership. Their approach to scoring compliments each other. They are so comfortable between the wickets that at times no call is needed – just a glimmer of eye contact and they are off.

Hill remained at the crease for the entire innings. His 28 not out took 118 minutes and 94 balls. He anchored the Thoresby run chase.

Patel’s innings was the complete opposite. His 37 came from only 32 balls. Without any sign of fear he smashed the bowling to all parts of the ground. To anything pitched remotely short, he was back and across, murdering the ball well in front of the square leg boundary. The more the Mansfield team blabbered in his ear, in a futile attempt to distract this mastermind, he would focus with more intensity and always find the gaps. He played an off drive that must be commended. Jayasingha pitched the ball up. Patel saw it early. He quickly yet delicately got his foot to the pitch of the ball and rhythmically swung through the line, completing the shot with a checked follow through. Hill was eager to set off for the run, but when he got to the other end Patel smiled and said – “No need mate…..that’s four.” It certainly was! The ball raced along the ground and crashed over the boundary rope. Mid off was left to stand there looking useless and insignificant. All he could do was jog to the rope and fetch the ball.

In an attempt to finish the match well before the intended close, Patel attempted an ambitious sweep shot. Alas Loveridge bowled him. But the damage had been done. Willis sauntered to the crease and promptly finished the job. Despatching three spectacular, bordering on arrogant, fours. The total was achieved with 8 overs to spare. It was a comfortable win for the Thoresby side. As was expected Patel was announced Man of the Match.

The presentation ceremony was a hive of different activity. Cameras were clicking and spectators were smiling, whilst congratulations and condolences were also being exchanged. Martin Cheshire received the Tomlins Cup in a distinguished manner. Once it was in his hands he raised it high to the heavens. He and many other members of the Thoresby club have waited many years for this day. It has finally come and it is a performance that must be savoured.

Of course this memory will live long in the minds of all who were at the ground – participants and spectators alike. As we brace ourselves for winter the thought of such a compelling contest will no doubt warm our hearts. Somewhere up above I envisage the honourable W.G. Grace, most likely accompanied by other past greats, sitting and smiling after having watched Sunday’s game. They are satisfied because they know the game of cricket is doing well. Hopefully it will continue to do well – existing as a medium through which all involved can passionately express their true self.

jchill

	HOSIERY MILLS
BATSMAN	HOW OUT	SCORE		BOWLING	O	M	R	W
LOVERIDGE	C BIRKETT B PATEL	14		S PATEL	8	2	18	2
JAYASINGHA	LBW B LIPPEATT	21		J HILL	6.2	1	15	0
MILNS	ST BIRKETT B PATEL	0		N AHMED	5	1	10	0
APPLETON	C HUGHES B LIPPEATT	8		W LIPPEATT	8	1	16	2
GORMAN	B EVANS	10		D EVANS	4.2	0	15	3
LANGFORD	C FLINTON B EVANS	17		S WILLIS	6	0	18	3
BUTLER	B WILLIS	5
JOHNSON	B WILLIS	1
M NEW	C FLINTON B WILLIS	10
BACON	B EVANS	2
KILVINGTON	NOT OUT	0
	EXTRAS	10
	TOTAL	98	10	WKTS
	THORESBY COLLIERY
BATSMAN	HOW OUT	SCORE		BOWLING	O	M	R	W
M CHESHIRE	LBW B GORMAN	1		MILNS	5.3	1	21	1
J HILL	NOT OUT	28		GORMAN	8	4	8	2
P HUGHES	C NEW B MILNS	0		JAYASINGHA	6	1	16	0
N AHMED	B GORMAN	6		LOVERIDGE	8	2	32	1
N BIRKETT	LBW B JOHNSON	3		JOHNSON	2	0	13	1
S PATEL	B LOVERIDGE	37		M NEW	3	2	6	0
S WILLIS	NOT OUT	15
B MARSON
C FLINTON
D EVANS
W LIPPEATT
	EXTRAS	11
	TOTAL	101	5	WKTS

Here’s Paul Barker’s report for Outlawed ……………………

Trimphant Thoresby thwart Hosiery Mills double bid
by Paul Barker, 13th September 2004

The dream that the brilliant Mansfield Hosiery Mills side had of completing a league and cup double was well and truly put to rest as they crashed to defeat at the hands of Thoresby Colliery on Sunday at Central Avenue .

The game was a real low scoring encounter with Thoresby bowling the Hosiery Mills out for just 98 which took an eternity to reach. The duration of the innings lasted an amazing 37.4 overs and the full force of this shows what a difficult surface the game was played on when one looks at the stroke players in the both sides armoury.

Sri-Lankan Asela Jayasinghe top scored with a meagre 21, and the only other players to make any impression at all were skipper Mark Langford with 17 and Dave Loveridge with 14. This should in no way detract from the Thoresby bowling attack who used the conditions brilliantly and all reaped a rich reward for their wonderful efforts.

Shailesh Patel (2 for 18), Bill Lippeatt (2 for 16), Steve Willis (3 for 18) and David Evans (3 for 15) all bowled superbly and once they tightened their grip, Hosiery Mills couldn’t loosen or break it in any way.