KIDDERMINSTER VERSUS STOURPORT SM 17/8/2021 AT CHESTER ROAD
An overcast Tuesday evening offering a three-sweater chill. The sky a riot of colour, grey. Every shade of grey with the hidden glance of blue. Light being the dominant factor and would the teams heed to warning of an early start or opt for the official imposed guillotine?
As always, the ground at Chester Road offered a perfect back drop, supported by an illuminated functioning score board and live feed. Our thanks to the committee and their ground staff of one who was ever present protesting his dedication and poor financial rewards.
Anticipation, let the contest begin. Gone are the days of the communal bag of odd pads and aging bats. Welcome the new breed, resembling turtle, bent men carrying overwhelming shells of kit trying to negotiate narrow doors like dogs carrying overlarge sticks. Metamorphosis complete, the casual shell-like creature emerged as “persil” white specimens.
The toss took place at 5.50. bat or bowl? The decision was not one of ground or light but simply how many players had arrived? Kidderminster won the toss and decided to bat and in so doing elected to field in the dark! Stourport waiting for their 10th man to arrive before taking the field at 6.08.
Sitting on the George Anton, duly wrapped up I began my observations.
This was a close encounter with the outcome dependent on inches, seconds, and fortune. Both teams completing their individual overs within one hour. Both teams’ totals were similar in wides and dot balls. Both teams relied upon a second wicket partnership, one of 56 and the other of 118. Both teams had the same run rate, amassing identical number of runs at the end of nine overs.
There was some excellent fielding, boundary returns and wicket keepers impersonating the Tom Daly Olympic experience. However, it was the accuracy or good fortune of a direct throw runout, or the difference between the bravery to chance the catch or guarantee saving the certain four, or the inspirational field placing against the batsman’s perfect placement. Such small margins yet ones that count.
The result was decided by the scoring squeeze place on Kidderminster in the last three overs, contributed by loss of wickets, whilst Stourport accelerated during this period.
The result Kidderminster 127 for 5 innings closed, Stourport SM 130 for 1 after 11 overs
Man of the match Guy Davies. An all-round performance, batting, at the death bowling and excellent fielding.
Our thanks to the umpires Mark and Pat, both teams and the 20 or so spectators.
Nic Harvey
