Headley 225-9 (Pickering 46) beat RNVR 114 all out (Mason 4-12)

On a glorious Sunday afternoon at the Heath the visitors from RNVR arrived in good time from all quarters of the south of England. They looked keen to inflict a first defeat on Headley’s Sunday XI. Captain James Midmer wouldn’t let this worry him and on winning the toss chose to bat first despite limited opening options with the Chairman and his son fashionably late once again. 

Captain Midmer took it upon himself to don the pads and open the batting accompanied by new boy Gary Mason. RNVR’s opening attack was stronger than in previous years and despite regular short or full balls were able to worry the openers with movement through the air and slowly off the pitch. Both openers got themselves in and then fell forgetting that the Headley wicket doesn’t get any quicker the longer you are in. 

The middle order all did much the same as the openers in that they settled in and just as they were beginning to bore themselves and force the pace they fell to injudicious shots.

At 90 for 5 RNVR thought they were in with a chance of an early tea and the noise levels increased but the arrival of Chairman Pickering to join “Flash” Banks settled the innings with both batsman despatching the full tosses and working singles neatly. Flash, with his front foot firmly nailed to the crease, rode his luck on a number of occasions but contributed superbly to an important partnership. The departure of Flash saw the arrival of Waller who’s cameo innings gave the innings a huge impetus and with Pickering turning 2’s into 3’s , much to the chagrin of Waller, the partnership of 50 in no time took the total to near 200. Waller for 30 and Pickering for 46 departed and left it to Mearns to finish the innings off with a sparkling 18. 

Headley went into tea on schedule with 225 runs amassed for the loss of 9 wickets. The usual high quality tea went down well and there is nothing the Headley fielders like more than to enter the field with a belly fun of cream scones. 

RNVR’s innings started in curious fashion with the pace and venom of Clarke clearly upsetting the opening batsman who after two balls volunteered that he had snicked the ball to the keeper and walked. There was no persuading him and the Australians in the Headley side couldn’t believe what was going on as the only time they walk is when they run out of petrol. As play continued the real venom was being spat by Mearns from his favoured “Cock Inn” end. Despite the slowness of the wicket he proved a real handful and bagged himself a brace of wickets. With 7 overs complete Mearns decided the effects of the sun and tea were too much and slunk off to fine leg. 

RNVR tried manfully to keep up a reasonable rate but the introduction of Mason’s deceptive brisk medium pace proved to be their undoing. He proceeded to rip the heart of the innings with 3 clean bowled and a sharp catch by the awake Waller in the gulley. A return of 4 for 12 was just reward and it was Mitch Pickering leg spin at the other end who picked up the final wicket and robbed Mason the chance of a well earned “michelle” 

Headley were well pleased with the 111 run victory but will have a real challenge to their unbeaten season with the visit of Old Cranleighans in the next fixture. Selection is starting to prove difficult for new skipper Midmer but as always those offering to do teas will be an automatic selection.