A surprisingly unsummery English summer’s day – bright sunshine, high temperatures, not a cloud in the sky- greeted the first tour match. Glynde fielded a scratch side of 3rd teamers and colts but given that the hosts boasted five sides, two pitches, an electronic scoreboard and a previous National Village Cricket title, even a lowly XI was expected to be a test for the tourists.
Blades batted first on the artificial track, Farmer and Hamer pushing the score to 11-0 from the first two overs but the two opening bowlers – promising products of the youth set up – replied with a maiden and a catch to dismiss Farmer. Humphrey joined Hamer in the middle to embark on a partnership which included an array of four and even a five (thanks to overthrows). Both batsmen settled well and when Humphrey was bowled for 41 in the 18th the pair had shared a partnership of 79. Galpin headed to the crease to join Hamer and looked at home. Hamer was bowled for 43 a few overs later, and Terry’s innings didn’t survive to the end of the same over. Chamberlain became the next victim as the Glynde attack made inroads into the Blades middle-order but at the other end, a confident Galpin was scattering boundaries on his way to a marvellous 32 when caught and bowled in the 29th.
With Blades short on players, Terry returned to the crease and a boundary from his second ball ensured he avoided a historic pair in a single innings! His cameo brought 10, after which Farmer rejoined Lowe to see out the remaining two overs and bring the Blades to a respectable 188 for 7.
On a scorching afternoon, 35 overs is in the field a long and arduous task. And when numbers are short it can only mean a longer and arduouser task awaits. But Galpin and Humphrey launched an early attack that reduced Glynde to 22-2 from 6 overs, only creeping to 28-2 by the first change – Humphrey bowling one and having another caught behind by Farmer in a 2 for 7 spell. Terry and Farmer continued the pressure, a sub fielder catching from Terry and Farmer catching from his own delivery, and the score stood at 45-4 after 12. Blades, chasing everything in the scorching, pacey field, were keeping the hosts below the rate. A brief flurry of runs was quickly snuffed out by a Terry maiden and Farmer catching again, this time from Chamberlain, dismissing the number 6 who had been the main source of the hosts’ runs. The hosts stood at 76-5 when Blades offered the ball to Howard – one of the Glynde youngsters who had been assisting in the field. He and Chamberlain kept the screw tightened, Galpin taking a catch off the young colt, and at the next change after 28 overs, Glynde needed another 67 to win from 7 overs. Galpin and Terry stepped up to keep the lower order under the cosh but that lower order had different ideas. An enormous six and a pair of fours in the 31st announced that they had been keeping their best till last and the run rate accelerated like Usain Bolt. Blades fought bravely to defend their increasingly vulnerable-looking target but with four balls to spare, the hosts’ chase was complete. The final boundary took them to victory with 192 for 7.
RESULT: Glynde WIN by 3 wickets
Champagne moment contenders:
Farmer C&B
Galpin’s majestic 32
Hamer’s steady 43
Terry’s four to avoid a pair
The Blades CC 