2's CLUB RECORD 30 GAME RUN COMES TO AN END :(

Looking back on the last 30 games with pride! Written by Michael Bond - 02/07/2025

Just over 2 years ago, I had a sense of humour failure away at Waterlooville. The ‘best’ second team the club had ever put out on paper, lost so poorly, giving catching practice to cover over and over again, culminating with me getting bowled attempting to put the ball in the tennis courts - then being locked out of the changing room and having to work out which one of the 100 keys on the bunch unlocked it. We were played 5, lost 3…already staring another season in County 3.

What followed was relentless. A strong batting unit backed up by bowlers that always found ways to restrict/bowl teams out. We were very adaptable depending on what we came up against.

Chris Sanders (90*) inspired a run chase against Hambledon got us going, before a Jack Lovett hundred (125) and Simon Orr (98) saw us to our first big score at Bournemouth (348 off 45 overs). 4 Matt Reeves wickets almost saw us to max points. I said to Sanders - ‘if we make it through July unbeaten, we’ll win the league’. Some big games. A big run chase against Sway, Mike Poyner hitting the last ball for 6 in the 44th over, the feisty Gosport rain affected game, with Jon Floyd (6-16) inspiring, a Si ton and Poyner 4 saw off P&S and finally Sam Floyds 100 vs Langley Manor saw us unbeaten in July!

Dave Banks’ sweeping masterclass done for Shanklin leaving us top with 2 to go. Sanders (107) and Tom Kitcher (4-36) at noisy Ellingham, with the best winning beers, in the setting sun with a view of the New Forest. Driving back with just me in the truck, a private fist pump - I felt we’d done it. Thunder and lightning cut Bashley short, title won in the bar. I was down, but Motts said ‘it’s not just today you’ve won the league, but the whole season’. Great wisdom from him!

2024 and County 2 - I was optimistic as the 2 promoted teams from the previous year had competed at the top. A comfortable run chase vs St Cross saw a theme start. Tom Mills and Si setting a foundation for us to build on. The funfair attraction at Winton saw some real smart batting on a tricky wicket, before Josh Hill bruted himself to a ton (103 off 38 balls) vs Redlynch had us unbeaten in May.

June started with Petersfields 200 chased 1 down, massive sixes from Keegan Holzmann at Bishops Waltham, a rapid Millsy ton (101) gave us another 300+ total vs Steep, 15 year old Zane Ward continuing his development (4-43). Millsy led the side to a low chase at Fair Oak - Sanders bagging a hattrick (4-19) - before another big total against Langley (Lovett 97) with Banksy seeing us home taking 4 wickets. Unbeaten in June!

A high scoring win vs Rowledge, Lovett getting his 100 (112) got July going. The great player ‘extras’ (65) gave us a way over the top score of 225 at Lymington, where Jordan Wright joined the hattrick club (4-33). A rained off match against Hursley saw us score 400 off 45 overs - Si (178 and Josh (146) doing the bulk off the work. Andover away gave us our best chase, Jord and Ķèegs shared in unbeaten 9th wicket partnership of 57. Still unbeaten!

Longparish away, where 6 people affected the game to give us a 3pm finish, Jord picked up 5 wickets (5-41) was followed by bowling out bottom side Purbrook for 48 - another Jord 5fer (5-16)…14 wickets in 4 games. Millsy led the side to Cadnam, where a very green pitch greeted us. 88-7 became 196-9, Ķèegs (56) and Reevesy sharing a 94 run partnership before Reevesy on the green top, bowled them out for 102 (4-19). The title decider was sadly washed out vs 2nd place Easton - title won in the bar again. The season was rounded out, winning at Twyford following a stern word from the skipper. Season 2024 - unbeaten along with an excellent 3rd team. What a season for the club!

A league restructure, County 1…and the first of a 10 team league for 2025.

Some big clubs 2nd teams in here, and a former divisional winner.

Shrewton were first up, without former England cricketer Rikki Clarke sadly. 300 scored, Millsy getting us off to a flyer. New to the club Claude Hettiarachchi getting a debut 6 wickets (6-25) and a maiden wicket on debut for 15 year old Ollie Ashton. To the Rugby camp to play Kerala, another 300 scored, Sanders 100 (112) and Will Bolton so close to a maiden ton (96) doing most of the work. Nip and tuck with Kerala always in the game, but Floydy (4-63) helped see us home. Just falling short of 300 at South Wilts, built on 2 x 100 run partnerships from Millsy and Si, then Jord and the skipper. A debut 2 wickets for 14 year old George Bater gave us a 39 run win. A superb 142 from Si vs Basingstoke followed up by Connor Clark taking 5 (5-37) saw us to a big win. More platform building from Millsy (53) and Si (81) with wickets shared around saw off Hayling Island in the sun. New season, plug and play. Unbeaten in May.

We travelled to Ferndown, 2 years to the weekend since Waterlooville. Ferndown had won the league 2 season ago but unfortunately were unable to go up. A superb run a ball 100 from Sanders, saw us to 253. Ferndown alway felt ahead in the chase, but 4 massive wickets from Jord got us to the 2 years unbeaten. Bashley were seen off, Connor bagging 4 (4-29) and then a brutal 100 from Dom Sampson (101 off 72). Bournemouth away, one of those big clubs. Asked to field, we conceded 268, a debut wicket from 14 year old James Cox. We all felt we could chase it - amazing what confidence does. Sadly we fell short, lots of starts but no one kicking on.

So it’s done. The winning streak ends at 30 games, over 2 years long, spread across 3 seasons. When you’re on a role you don’t think about it too much, but 30 games won consecutively is phenomenal - no matter what the level. The Red Arrows even made an appearance to commemorate the run. We were a strong batting unit, Floydy will say we bat til 11! But we also bowled teams out. Our fielding is mixed, few aging bodies makes us Sarisbury Unathletic at times.

We have managed to blood 4 players still in junior cricket, enjoy each others success with no ‘wish that was me’ and everyone felt backed, young or old. Hopefully everyone that has played a part, has felt they had a role in the side. No matter how small it seemed. A record run, one I have a feeling will be beaten, the club is on an upward curve I’ve never seen before! What a blast it’s been, pleasure to captain the 44 players who appeared - helps when you have good players! Finally, thanks to all that supported off the field, support, scoring, umpiring, the ground staff - it all counts.

Cheers, Bondy!

Some stats for you to read….

Games played:

Simon Orr 30

Michael Bond 28

Chris Sanders 27

Jon Floyd 24

Tom Mills 21

Runs scored:

Simon Orr 1200

Chris Sanders 1057

Tom Mills 869

Jack Lovett 758

Wickets taken:

Jon Floyd 39

Jordan Wright 35

Matt Reeves 34

Chris Sanders 29

The team scored 7557 runs at an average of 251.9 per game. This included passing 270 15 times. 34 individual 50’s, 13 100’s and 19 100+ Partnerships.

271 wickets at an average of 9.03 wickets per game. Bowling teams out 18 times, with 16 4+ wickets for individuals including 2 hattricks.