It began with a simple but ambitious goal: get the 2's out of County 3 South. Little did we realize just how massive of a squad effort this journey would demand. Our cricket season of triumph, frustration, and camaraderie unfolded like a gripping story, filled with ups and downs, twists and turns.
Verwood: A Soggy Start
The season kicked off on a wet, soft wicket, a testament to the unpredictable British weather. We fought hard, posted a defendable score, and chipped away at wickets. However, it was a dogged 9th wicket partnership that saw Verwood home, thanks in part to those pesky wides. And just like that, our first hat-wearer of the season emerged.
Cadnam: Finding Our Stride
Our first win came against eventual 2nd place finishers, Cadnam. Despite an injury-strewn start, Chris Mottola's gritty century and Matt Reeves' swinging 5-wicket haul secured us a comfortable victory. But we couldn't keep the momentum at Locks Heath, even with Tom Mills' flawless century.
Mudeford: A Partnership to Remember
We roared back to life against Mudeford with an incredible partnership between Chris Sanders and Jed Bradley, amassing a massive 294-5. Sanders' blistering 144 marked our highest individual score of the season, and Jedi's 52 helped us recover from a shaky start at 93-5.
Waterlooville: A Reality Check
The feel-good factor was high when we faced Waterlooville, boasting what some claimed was the strongest 2's team to date. However, a weak performance left our skipper in a right strop. Three wins and three defeats left our hopes of promotion hanging by a thread.
Hambledon and Bournemouth: Back on Track
A reset and some hard work were needed, and we found our groove again. Sanders' unbeaten 90 saw us home against Hambledon, and we posted a season-high 348-6 against Bournemouth, with Jack Lovett's 125 and Simon Orr's 98. It took eight bowlers to try and get that final wicket, but we fell just short.
July: The Make or Break Month
We had set a challenge: get out of July unbeaten, and we were in the mix. Sway came to the hollow, setting a daunting target of 242. An excellent partnership between Chris Mottola and Si gave us a fighting chance, and Kieran Whitt's unbeaten 58 held it all together. Mike Poyner became the hero, smashing a winning six with an over to spare.
Gosport followed, and Jon Floyd's left-arm darts took 6-16 in another big win. A trip to P&S saw us post 284, with Si's well-deserved ton and Poyner's crucial four wickets. Rain denied us a showdown with leaders Totton, but we remained undefeated by beating Langley Manor in the last game of July.
Shanklin and Ellingham: Sealing the Deal
Shanklin brought an awkward challenge, but Ricky Rawlins, Will Bolton, and Dave Banks piled on the runs, securing an 80-run win. Then came Ellingham, where we sat atop the table. It was a wet week with no covers, but we chose to bat, trusting our powerful lineup. Pete's tough 40 laid the foundation, and Sanders' second ton beautifully supported by Kieran got us to 249 on a damp and difficult surface. Chairman Tom Kitcher grabbed himself four wickets, giving us a crucial 66-run win.
A Squad Effort for the Ages
The last game wasn’t what we wanted, we all wanted to win out on the field. Sadly, it didn’t happen. Rain prevented the start, a shortened game got started, 2 overs in….thunder and lightning. Off we came. More thunder meant we wouldn’t have enough time to get the amount of overs in to constitute a game. Title won! Bleugh!!
The Bleugh went, Motts reminding everyone that the league wasn’t won on one day, but across the season, so a few beers early evening perked us up. And he was right, we won 8 games on the bounce, scoring more than 240 in 7 of them, the only one we didn’t, was a run chase. Our bowlers bowled to plans, we strangled teams, our fielding was excellent, some match turning catches.
So I remember sitting down on week 1 and saying it’ll take a massive squad effort to achieve what we wanted, and 33 players later, 7 100’s, 12 50’s, 2 5fers, 3 4fers and 166 wides, goal achieved! Promotion and title winners, it doesn’t happen a lot. Floydy has been playing cricket for over 50 years, it’s his first title. Enjoyed it with all you Champions!
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