Broadhalfpenny Brigands

SUSSEX MARTLETS vs BROADHALFPENNY BRIGANDS    –   Hambledon, 4^th August 2024

It is always a thrill to play at one of the oldest homes of cricket, where Nyren, père et fils, “Lumpy “ Stevens, “Shock” White and others played the original “first class” games in the 1760/70s and codified the sport before MCC was founded in 1787. Drawing on this inspiration, Chairman Paul Walker assembled a Martlet team of varying talents and diverse ages, ranging from his 15-year-old son James to the author, just 67 a couple of days before.

Losing the toss, Martlets fielded, and the evergreen Irishman Fergus O’Meara took the new ball to bowl 6 tidy overs for 16, clean bowling the left-handed Dingemans. At the other end, our Kiwi guest Hamish Duncan looked threatening but, even with Dave Mann’s voluble encouragement from behind the stumps, was unable to take a wicket. Ed Hands batted very sensible for an hour with Guy Ladenburg and only departed thanks to a nick on one of Michael Murray’s outswingers, expertly taken at the wicket by Mann – it was not an easy track to ‘keep on by any means. Ladenburg compiled a thoughtful half century over 65 minutes with six 4s, before being adroitly caught by the skipper at long-off. Henderson and Turner then batted brightly to take Brigands to 156-3 before they both fell, one to the ever-accurate Murray and the second bowled by Walker.

Peter Lamb generated more pace than anyone with about 10% of the Irish run-up, causing even the talented Mann to stand back, and he bowled one of the two maidens of the innings whilst somehow failing to take a wicket.  Despite Martlets’ best efforts, runs continued to accumulate on a fastish outfield (in most places!), even as wickets fell – Murray finishing with the best figures of 4-74 off 13 overs, Walks 2-32 off 5, including a wicket maiden!  Everyone had done their utmost in the field, young James impressing and Patrick Jackson also throwing with the arm of a youthful colt: perhaps 3 chances were missed, none easy, and generally it was a fun display for the “Bat and Ball” crowd, some of whom had been seriously threatened by a six which cleared the protective net!  With 38 overs bowled, Brigands declared at 7 down and set a target of 217.

After the customary sumptuous tea, the bell was rung and Willy Boulter and Luke Nelson began a fruitful partnership of 118 in 80 minutes, of which the former scored 20! Rightly avoiding playing the ball off the pitch when possible, Luke hit cleanly and very effectively through all the bowlers – striking five 6s and ten 4s in a very dominant innings of 93, causing Brigand heads to drop. Jamie O’Meara contributed a very bright 18 and, even with Luke gone (a shade unluckily some would say) at 158, odds were on a Martlet win. The required run rate was roughly one a ball.

Brigands cannily brought the nagging accuracy of Ladenburg into play, and he also caught the dangerous David Mann for 17: Peter Lamb batted breezily for 14 before one stuck in the pitch it seemed yet hopes for Hamish and young James to see us home were high with 18 runs needed off 18 balls.  However, the awkward left-armer Wood and unpredictable spinner Raffi bowled well at the death with the field spread, and some intelligent leadership salvaged a draw for Brigands. Hamish was unfortunately cleaned bowled with 2 needed off the last ball – but he had helped us out at short notice, and no one on either team could really feel unhappy after such a keenly contested game of cricket in this almost holy place.

Many thanks to the Broadhalfpenny Brigands, canny cricketers and generous hosts always, fine bearers of Hambledon’s sacred flame; umpires Richard Holden and Peter Tomkins; and not forgetting the single-handed and meticulous scorer of the old breed, Peter Danks.  The Nyrens can’t be far away.

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