Of all of the possible permutations for the first game of Division 1 cricket, facing the reigning League Champions, West and Middle Chinnock, away was probably not the one Ilchester had hoped would pop out of Robin’s fixture generating machine. But that is how it was; at least the fixture would provide a yardstick from which to gauge the standard required for the remainder of the season at this unprecedented level.

Winning the toss, new Ilchester Skipper JJ Green elected to bowl on what appeared to be a flat, but patchy wicket. Despite being two men short, JJ had hoped that the arrival of Doug and Doc (or Dog and Duck as some wag coined), would be imminent, and allow Ilchester to apply early pressure to a team who almost certainly had no knowledge of the visitors’ talents. Unfortunately, the enforced late arrival of the two allowed West and Middle Chinnock to race away almost from the first over, with hosts’ Skipper Nick Eckland (36) and P Lawrence (90) setting an early pace of 6 runs per over. Alex Pickford (5 – 0 – 26 – 0) bowled well with no success and, despite two wickets for Matt Laverton (8 – 0 – 43 – 2), Chinnock were showing why they have won this League many times in their short existence. Taking over from Alex, JJ Green (5 – 0 – 46 – 0) struggled with his line and length and, whilst Colin Smith (8 – 0 – 45 – 0) was enjoying greater efficiency, it was not until Paul Chalmers’ (8 – 0 – 25 – 1) fifth over that the 3rd wicket partnership, by now worth 129, was broken, Q Bell traveling some way to his right to pouch an edge. At 188 for 3 from 32, at least the run-rate had abated somewhat, but Ilchester were left to rue four or five dropped catches that would have been swallowed with relative ease last year. Continuing the fine form shown in the pre-season nets, Doc replaced Colin and bowled a two wicket maiden. Unfortunately his success ended there, and with 22 runs coming from his fourth and final over, his figures ended a rather tarnished 4 – 1 – 42 – 2. New boy Phil Collins was given an opportunity to release his unknown talent at the end; though wayward, he returned a respectable 2 – 0 – 8 – 0). Having given a team such as West & Middle Chinnock a start, it was never going to be easy to hold them back; with hindsight, 244 for 5 was a pretty good recovery.

There being no sense of expectation, Ilchester were relaxed as the second innings started, but Doc was in no mood to hang around. Keen to justify his opening slot to JJ, he went straight on the offensive with five fours and two sixes in a belligerent 40, before he became the first of four victims of the leg spin of M Walmsley (4 for 33). Colin Smith (25) and Paul Chalmers (12) had looked in good nick, before they too were undone by the leg spin of Walmsley. Had the cavalier 38 from Alex Pickford, including 20 from one over, not been cut short by – yes, that man Walmsley (8 – 1 – 33 – 4) – the story could have been different, the score being 132 for 5 from 27 when Alex’ wicket fell. But with Matt Laverton’s 25 and JJ Green’s 18 being the only other scores of note, the innings fell away, leaving Ilchester 65 runs short on 179 for 9.

West and Middle Chinnock Skipper Nick Eckland was magnanimous in victory, indicating that not many teams score as many runs against them, and indicting that, with the ability and attitude that was very much in evidence, Ilchester have nothing to fear from Division 1 cricket. Reflecting on the match, Ilchester were left to rue a number of dropped catches that could have made a difference. Nevertheless, there was a great deal of pride abounding, that we held our own in our first match in Division 1, and against the current League title holders. Bring on Long Sutton in a fortnight.

“Pie Eater”