“Quintessentially Wadhurst” conditions greeted the Vale army in Match #3, as a damp and tacky wicket proved to be a very difficult pitch to bat on throughout the duration of the game.
After being inserted by Wadhurst, likely with the hope that the pitch would dry out over the day and fare better for batting (it didn’t), a new-look opening pair of Liam Quinlan-Stamp & Mark Potter stepped over the rope and set to work against some (very) slow opening bowlers. The plan from the Wadhurst attack was evident from the outset, with Vale batsmen having to force the ball to the rope due to the lack of pace. An opening stand of 40 ensued, before Potter ran out of magic and was sent back to the shed.
In came Steve Brook, who played an array of attacking shots including scintillating drives through the covers and over mid-off. Looking a serious threat to eclipsing Quinlan-Stamp, who had himself made 50 at a slower, more subdued pace than usual, Brook unfortunately fell playing-on for a very good 43, striking at over 170. Quinlan-Stamp fell soon after, having top-scored with 62.
The attacking strokeplay didn’t stop, with Callum Preece (53 of 32) coming to the wicket and contributing a typical “P-man” knock with some huge hits down the ground, depositing the Wadhurst bowlers into the trees and the school playground on multiple occasions. Carl Brook showed his high cricketing IQ, manipulating the field which gave Preece license and opportunity down the ground to great effect.
Brook eventually fell for a busy, selfless 39 off 36, having pushed for a 2 that probably wasn’t there – with the team’s interest in the last over solely at the forefront of his ideals. Vale posted a daunting total of 236-6 off their 35, asking Wadhurst to go at 6.74 per over from the outset, which would ultimately prove too tall an order.
Vale took to the field, with Kai Potter (2 for 24 off 6), steaming in first up and beating Iain Bell for pace (not “that” Ian Bell) to bring early joy to the Vale attack. Brandon “the wanderer” Easley (1 for 27 off 6) also chipped-in with a wicket, meaning the opening bowlers had already made decent inroads into the Wadhurst top order before 1st change.
Jaynish Patel (2 for 9 off 6) exercised excellent control, bowling on a pitch that was offering considerable support to his wily, probing line-and-length outside off stump and was probably the pick of the bowlers. Ciaran Potter (1 for 13 off 6) contributed accordingly, ripping a few outside the right handers outside edge and looked a constant threat. Jamhur Khan on his Vale debut also had his first bowl in claret-and-white, sending down 3 overs at 5’s.
Mark Potter (1 for 3 off 1), fresh from the magic sponge which saw his torn hamstring recovery time expedited from 6 weeks to 6 hours, came in off his long run up after having insisted he field first slip for the entirety of the innings – completing the Potter trio being in amongst the wickets.
Dennis Clifford (2 for 4 off 3) bowled a few decent, straight deliveries to clean up the tail, having been supported by some excellent fielding in the deep. Wadhurst succumbed to their fate, bowled-out for 118 in the 35th over.
All-in-all, a very solid performance from the mighty Vale in difficult conditions, and an enjoyable game of cricket had by all.