Long live village cricket… or adversity causes some men to break; others to break records

Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records, reports Alastair Smellie.

The Bell Aldworth Cricket team

On Sunday, August 18, The Bell Inn Aldworth CC hosted Harwell International for a record-breaking bonanza. Offered the ‘proper’ format of traditional ‘friendly’ declaration cricket, Harwell were insistent upon playing the now ubiquitous limited overs arrangement – on this occasion, 35 overs a side. Barrington Granddad-Gardner, the long-serving Aldworth leader, conceded to the visitors’ wishes, won the toss and elected to bat.

The sun shone brightly. It was hot and humid, with little breeze for respite. The first ball was not bowled until nearly 2.30pm.

With potentially 70 overs ahead on a motorway of a track, it was going to be a long and gruelling afternoon with little prospect of rehydration at The Bell much before sunset. Opening the innings, Jonny Rigall and Sam Wardlaw made it look unnecessarily difficult. Thankfully, Jonny was bowled in the second over by a very tame ‘straight one’ that ‘moved a mile’.

For the record, it did nothing. Joined at the crease by older brother Angus, the Wardlaw boys continued to show uncharacteristic respect towards the Harwell attack. Very slowly, they began to find the measure of the truest and flattest wicket enjoyed at Aldworth for many years (expertly prepared by stalwart groundsman Malcolm Garrett).

They scratched to 100 for 1 after 15 overs, before Sam (trapped leg before to another perfectly benign delivery for 28) eventually made way for young Olly Gardner (Barrington’s grandson!). Olly had a careful look at his first few deliveries, before carving a sublime boundary though mid-wicket. Just a few balls later, he was unfortunately bowled by the only ball that ripped and turned out of the foot holes all afternoon.

Sterling support for The Bell Aldworth Cricket

And so, after 17.5 overs (just over half-way), Aldworth found themselves with 135 runs on the board for the loss of three wickets (the not out batsman, Angus Wardlaw on 83).

Anything could happen and everything could go wrong – Aldworth have a distinguished track-record of epic batting collapses. A confident looking Hamish Smellie strode to the wicket and wasted no time before unleashing his long levers. Harwell brought back their opening bowler to stem the flow.

But the runs kept coming – Hamish smashing 30 off a single over. “New balls please”, was the call from the middle. Angus also put his foot down, reaching his maiden century off just 57 deliveries. A very proud nonagenarian granny Wardlaw very nearly lost her head to a one bounce four smashed through deep backward square leg by her progeny. “Keep your eyes on the ball Granny”, the cry from the middle.

The Bell beer garden quickly located as rumours of victory rumbled

The beer garden at The Bell quickly relocated, eager to catch a glimpse of the Smellie Wardlaw run fest.

And, the growing gallery was not disappointed as the crash bang wallop of leather on willow continued to ring around the field of dreams. Club records were on the line. They would soon start tumbling.

The highest previous team total of 304 for 8 (versus The Wollies in 1984) had stood unchallenged for 40 years. Paul Richardson’s highest individual score of 158* (versus The Bussey XI on 19 September 2021) was now under threat. As was the highest partnership for any wicket of 191* by Paul Richardson and Hamish Smellie (also versus The Bussey XI in 2021).

In the 27th over, Angus cruised past 158. In the 30th over, the Aldworth total sped past 304. In the 31st over, the Smellie Wardlaw partnership sailed past 191.

Paul Richardson’s name would be erased from the honours board. He might think otherwise about taking a ‘family holiday’ in August next year.

By innings’ close, Aldworth had posted a record-breaking 396 for 3. Angus Wardlaw had amassed 212 not out, his second hundred from a mere 39 balls.

The Smellie Wardlaw partnership remained unbeaten at 261. Hamish Smellie’s undefeated 127 off 53 balls, including a pedestrian ton from 43 deliveries, is barely worthy of note. Shortly after five o’clock, over a hearty tea with lashings of ginger(?) beer, el capitan Barrington graciously thanked Harwell for their insistence upon playing 35 overs.

He told them, “With 250 runs on the board, we would have declared after 25 overs and we’d probably have been in The Bell by six o’clock”. With the option of Harwell grinding out a draw not on the table, Barrington ‘sportingly’turned to his second, third and fourth tier bowlers to “make a game of it”. Harwell needed to score at almost 11.5 runs per over, and more importantly needed a fast start.

They lost their first wicket after just two balls and without troubling the scorer. Then Aldworth started holding catches and that doesn’t happen often. Unbelievably, Barrington Gardner captured a stumping – at least that’s what it says in the score book.

The Harwell innings eventually drifted to 239 for 7 and Aldworth secured a most memorable victory by 157 runs. This was someway short of their largest winning margin of 247, but the tea was good. Meanwhile, back at the Bell, club president (and landlord) Hugh Macaulay generously contributed towards essential post-match imbibition.

James Macaulay’s ‘Five Giants’ ale (brewed behind the pub) has never tasted sweeter.

Cheers

Disclaimer: None of the characters or the feats cited in this report are fictitious. Remarkably, it’s all true. Long live village cricket.

Over and out…