Lady Mary Mumford’s XI

On an overcast morning the Martlets ‘won’ the toss and elected to field.

Kiwi Ben Speake and youngster Dom Keats took the new ball and bowled tidily, with Speake providing pyrotechnic stumps with the score on just 4.  However, Lady Mary’s XI built steadily and despite the introduction of Trubshaw, Talbot and latterly the wily campaigner Murray, the Martlets only yielded one further wicket before lunch.  Lunch was excellent, as ever, but brought rain and the afternoon session was delayed by 15 minutes.

Upon return to the fray, Trubshaw (2-74) and Murray (3-69) toiled away, steadily picking up wickets before the skipper introduced himself at the Castle end for what proved to be an entertaining 5 over spell.  A mixed bag of deliveries ensued proving hard to dispatch, with Chadburn claiming his just reward by clean bowling Warren, with the score on 240.

The declaration came at 251-7, the Martlets having bowled 56 overs at Lady Mary’s XI.

The Martlets innings started with a flourish of back foot strokes and a rapier like square drive from skipper Chadburn, before he departed tamely for 32 to the bowling of Carty.  Two further wickets fell before Tea, leaving Lady Mary’s XI ever so slightly ahead with the score at 73-3.

Wickets fell steadily but ex-Sussex man Toby Pierce held the innings together with an authoritative 55 before succumbing.  The stage was set for a mighty innings and in strode Trubshaw.  Wielding his bat like a battle axe, he proceeded to smite the Lady Mary XI attack to all parts, including burying John Barclay’s bowling into the sightscreen at the Castle end.  But even he fell tamely for 39.  Talbot quickly followed and the Martlets looked like they might snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.  There was a hush in the close, 9 to win and the last man, Speake at the crease.  But even he, off the back of a golden summer with bat, couldn’t drag the Martlets over the line and incredibly we ended the game with the scores tied on 251 and 9 down.

A dramatic end to a fabulous days’ cricket.

Cricket ground at Arundel Castle

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