In 2020 WCC equalled its best ever season: Played 8 vs external opposition, won 4, lost 4. Identical to 2019.

The much delayed season finally got under way on the 19th July with a fine 22 run victory over the Royston Dads. Royston posted a sort of competitive 147 in their 36 overs, with the wickets evenly shared among 8 bowlers. Special mention to Alex Humphrey for figures of 2-0-7-2. In reply a strong opening stand from HNB Birch and young Luke Townsend was then more than built upon by a very rare 32 from Jason “I bowl fast but rarely get wickets” Scott, and a 34 from Tim “I bowl fast and I take wickets” Vries. The WCC easily surpassed Royston, with 3 overs to spare, closing on 149 for 7.

This victory was followed by a 14-run victory in the 20/20 vs Sandon on a sunny cloudy day at Whaddon. Electing to bat first, the WCC put on 117 all out after only 19 overs, with Michael Benyan top scoring on 30, ably supported by the Townsend ladz, contributing a fine rearguard of 34 between them. Sandon started poorly, being 5 down for only 34 runs, swept away by the combined Benyans, but then recovered strongly, and things were on a knife edge, with Sandon needing 25 off the last two overs. The penultimate went for 10, but then in a fine last over we conceded only 1 run for 3 wickets, bowled by the captain and author.

Next up Bassingbourn, at their beautiful large ground, a match about which the less said the better. We were smashed, the only bright spots being a Huffmeister unbeaten 32, George Pinner 19 and an unbeaten 34 from Tim Vries. Bassingbourn had 5 batsmen retire, as they amassed 210 for 3. A particularly hard day for the Benyans as both father and son were first ballers. Shows you cannot be brilliant in every match.

Steeple were the next opponents, and this was a frustrating match. We should have won it, but local knowledge of the light meant we batted second into the blinding low sun in the gathering gloom. Set 128 to win in the allotted 20 overs, the WCC got off to a good start with Steve Look and Michael Benyan both reaching (almost) the retirement score of 30, but the usual England style collapse, spearheaded by James “Duck” Bridges, who failed to trouble the scorers for the third consecutive match, we fell short, achieving only 120. I’d like to know why RVP could not slash and burn at the death vs Steeple as he managed somehow vs Church Street later in the year. Highlight of the match was George Pinner’s 2 for 9 off 2 overs.

And so on to the habitual foes of the much vaunted Huffer XI. The series was nicely set at 3 wins and 3 losses over the years. Choosing to bat first once more, WCC equalled their second highest ever score, of 200 for 4, with 3 retirees (at 30): Bob Strawbridge, Michael Benyan (again) and Frank Huffer, back from his sojourn down under (well, NZ). Why Frank plays for us rather than his father is a mystery. Well, knowing Roger, maybe not. Another honourable batting performance from George Pinner at 29. He has been brilliant this year. To be fair to the H XI, they batter very well, achieving 176 for 6 off the 30 overs. Best bowling performance was your beloved captain, with 2 wickets for 11 off 3. Jason Scott finally managed to get a ball on the stumps and took his first wicket of the year. Well done Jason. Really well done. Another great effort was Steve Cross’s bowling, a very tight set of overs producing 1 wicket for a mere 42 runs off his 3 overs.

So after taking the lead in the WCC v Huffer, it was time for the most important match of the year: Church Street leading the series 5-3, Bridge were in need of some inspiration to turn around a sequence of 3 consecutive Church Street victories. And inspiration from unlikely quarters they got in spadefuls. Who would ever had put down RVP and Pete Nussey and Mark Newberry for unbeaten scores of 32, 17, 17? (Bob Strawbridge of course retired on 31, but that is boring, he always does that). But RVP scoring 16 off 5 balls facing Tim Vries? Anyway, Bridge Street won, with 185 for 10 (not all out…), with one ball to spare. Church Street were very magnanimous in defeat. And it is just as well Church Street did lose, or we would never have heard the end of it, as apparently there was some mess-up with a long over of 76 balls, off which Church Street scored a 6. Whatever. Church Street itself had 4 retirees (Tim Vries, Michael Benyan, Larry Lamb and your WCC captain), but the last overs off the innings were not spectacular, with only 6 runs coming from the 2 final overs. Personally I don’t blame David Short. Others might, but that would be beneath me.

The Steeple rematch up next, on a friendly (to Whaddon) pitch, ably prepared by our chief groundsman Mark Newberry, restricted Steeple to a mere 125 all out of 22.4 overs. Very happy to announce that James Bridges finally added some value, with 2 wickets off his 3 overs, conceding only 17 runs. The batting however was a thing to behold. No, not James, he was out cheaply again, even as opener. But returning from Leeds Uni, Tom Nussey and Frank Huffer put on 54 runs between them (oh and Michael Benyan scored yet another 32 not out). Alex Humphrey then guided us home with an unbeaten 18, with oodles of overs to go.

The penultimate match of the season was against Hare Street, in Buntingford on an enormous pitch, against whom we have the uninspiring record of Played 17, Lost 16, Called off 1. Needless to say the match was a forgone conclusion, the WCC reaching a creditable (for us) 158 all out, with the best opening two stands of the year between HNB Birch, Roger Huffmeister and your beloved captain, standing at 87 for 1. But then the rot set-in and only George Pinner managed double figures. The bowling was awful, only Henry “bomber” Burgess managed a wicket. Highlight of the game without doubt was Henry in the deep covers being made to run and run and run. The opposing bat even decided to switch-hit just to keep Henry running. Needless to say Henry was up to the task, but he was thirsty afterwards. Maybe one year we’ll get Hare Street, maybe.

And the final match of the year, again a frustrating loss to Sandon. We had so much time to get the paltry 137 runs required, but in a blaze of Ben Stokes-esque glory (or Bob Strawbridge, take your pick), we managed to flunk it, achieving 115 for 11 off only 23.4 overs, leaving 11.2 overs unplayed. Oh dear. The batting highlights were Tim Vries and Jason Scott (who only seems to score in the first and last matches of the year). The bowling highlight was the much improved Mark Beamer Green, who managed to keep the ball on the deck long enough to take 3 wickets off his 4 overs, for only 17 runs, including one very rare and precious maiden (which means no wides, which is amazing in itself).

Individual season stats:

• most runs: Michael Benyan 157; best batting average: 4 players with infinity (played once, not out once: Peter Nussey, Cosmo Benyan, Mark Newberry, Larry Lamb); other than that Michael Benyan on 157 (only out once, the miserable effort vs Bassingbourn). Honourable mention to Bob Strawbridge, average of 90.  
• most wickets Peter Haselden 8; best bowling average Alex Humphrey with 5.0, James Bridges with 8.3, Frank Huffer (what?) with 8.5 and Peter Haselden with 10.8.
• Jason Scott prize: best economy bowling, 3.6 runs per over off 26 overs. Alas alack, only 1 wicket.
• most catches Roger Huffer with 3
• Youth of the season: George Pinner
• Most improved of the season: Olly and Luke Townsend
• Player of the season: still to be decided…. we need a dinner to decide that.

Which brings me to the end: so another WCC comes to a close, a year of Covid, of terrible loss throughout the country, of yet another loss to Hare Street. Most sadly there was no cricket dinner with which to make ourselves feel better about losing so often. 

Peter Haselden (WCC Club Captain)

Whaddon 1st XI v Hare Street, Sunday 6 May 2018

Summer truly arrived in Whaddon today. A scorching day in the middle where BBC Weather's claim of 25 degrees felt at least 10 degrees too little. Hare St. Won the toss and decided to have a bat. Despite the heat, WCC started very tidily, Peter H and Bob keeping it at 3.5 an over for the first 6 and Peter removing Fitzgerald senior cheaply. Tom N bowled with real zip and looked threatening, particularly with his quicker stuff and was unlucky not to get his name in the wickets column. He also took a stunner of a catch to remove Fitzgerald junior off Steve C's second over, a wicket maiden!

Another bowling mention must go to our debutant Michael B who showed some fantastic turn and bounce with his leg breaks. Again hugely unlucky not to get in the wickets column after creating numerous chances. We look forward to him playing more matches in the future.

Mark G though was the pick of the bunch, getting the key wicket of Ward (who almost always has scored a 50 against us in previous years) and adding Figg lbw. He also delivered the throw for the McNamara run out. He finished with 3 overs, 5 for 2.

Hare Street have quality and depth though, and Newland and Scott Caine both batted well to keep the score ticking along. But our bowlers did a really great job holding them to 154 for 5 from 30 overs.

It only seemed to get hotter as WCC went out to reply, Mark G getting the nod after his great anchor role last match v Sandon. Steve C was unlucky to get one that ripped off the pitch. William H was looking very good with a couple of excellent wristy boundaries before slightly mistiming one and paying the price. Tom N played a little early on one that sat up for a well taken c&b, and Michael B was unfortunate to pick out a fielder taking us to 34 for 4.

Bob S and Mark G batted well and kept us in the hunt and the latter was very unlucky to fall to a fine C&B after a cracking 42, the Whaddon knock of the day. A rush of Welsh blood saw the end of the skipper very soon after for 39, flashing at a straight one.

Shot of the day came next via RVPs cover drive for 4. Straight out of the text books. He finished unbeaten on 15. Unfortunately though with Caine at one end bowling really well and Ward at the other keeping it very tight, we were always slightly behind the rate. We finished 15 short, but it was the closest we have come to beating them.

Roger H carried his bat to remain the only Whaddon player yet to be out this season.

A few good performances, but only one real contender for Man of the Match, Mark Green for both bat and ball. Well done to him, a great all round performance.

Many thanks from all of us to Mark N for all of his tireless work on the pitch without which we wouldn't play at all, and to Karen for tallying all day for us in the heat.

Whaddon 1st XI v Sandon Strollers 23rd April 2017

I love cricket. For me the cricket season starts around January the 2nd with winter nets, and draws to a close around Christmas Eve. Then a week off for the holidays of course, I wouldn’t want to be obsessive or anything…

This year Whaddon’s season started in January with a successful run of indoor nets up at Burloes farm. New and old faces alike have all made a real effort to attend, and together we have been honing our skills for the summer.

On top of the players’ practice, there has been a huge amount going on behind the scenes too. This year we have lost our groundsman and so all the hard preparatory work for the season has come from within the village. There has been much to do. The cutting back of the thicket at the golf centre boundary, the removal of the grass from the outfield, the purchase and mastery of the new mower, and the restoration and use of the old roller. A huge thank-you to everyone that helped out. Particular thanks to Roger Huffer, Richard Green and the boys and Mark Newberry for being instrumental in getting those jobs done, and ensuring cricket is alive and kicking in Whaddon for another year!

So… All the prep work? Done. All the practice? Done. How would new-look Whaddon 1st X1 fare in the first match of the season?

St. George’s Day 2017. A glorious day more suited to mid-June than to late April. Hardly a wisp of cloud in the azure sky. The square was looking fantastic. The stage was set. We awaited the arrival of the old foe, Sandon Strollers.

Bob Strawbridge had been given the nod to skipper, and winning his first toss, elected to put the visitors in.

Whaddon took to the field, and opted for an opening pair with youth on their side in the form of Edward Haselden and Mark Green. It was a great combination. Both young men have come on hugely in just 12 months. Edward bowled aggressively with real pace and bounce from the pavilion end, (which on such an early season wicket is no mean feat!) beating the bat on so many occasions he deserved to pick up a few. It’s always good to get the oppo hopping around a bit at the start – he did a fine job of unnerving them. Mark G at the Vicarage End showed how crucial nets can be in improving line and length. He bowled straight and true in this early spell, and was rewarded in only his 2nd over with the first wicket, Roper LBW for 0. His following over he picked up the crucial wicket of opener Singh (who had knocked 50 against us at our last meeting), Frank Huffer snaffling the sharp chance behind the sticks. 22 for 2 from 6.

Youth gave way to experience then with Peter Haselden entering the fray at the Vicarage End and getting amongst the wickets with his very first delivery. A mistimed lofted drive and Bob made up some good ground to take the catch in the deep. This wicket started what was to be a really cracking spell. His next over saw another wicket – Hughes, clean bowled for 11 and Sandon were 37 for 4 from 10. Things were looking good for Whaddon. Over 12 saw Peter taking his tally to 4, bowling Kay for 5 and then knocking Bandy’s stumps over with a superb in-swinging Yorker for just 8.

Despite it being very much a seamers day, Roger Huffer was the pick of the slow bowlers. His very tidy 6 for 1 from 3 overs built good pressure and his wicket was a very satisfying all family affair. A typically teasing Huffer delivery, given plenty of flight, lured the batsman into an ill-advised charge and son Frank whipped the bails off. Roper.T stumped for 3.

Things were looking fantastic for the hosts. Strollers were on the ropes at 53 for 7. It was starting to feel that nets had paid off and belief was filling the hearts and minds of the fielding side. Just one or two more jabs and the knockout blow and we’d have skittled them for fewer than 70.

But cricket is never that straight forward. It’s why we all love it so much. Just when you think you’ve got it in the bag, Old Father Time steps in shakes things up again. Bats 8 and 9 bought together the Strollers’ old guard of Inman and Fisher. And so began a period of frustration for Whaddon, as they set about repairing their ravaged innings, with two patient and predominantly chance-free knocks.

It got tougher in the field for Whaddon as we started to take on runs. Our bright start was starting to slip away as despite lots of tactical bowling changes, we just could seem to break the partnership. Some good fielding performances did help stem the flow somewhat, particularly debutant Jonathan B doing great work on the boundary. Steve C also deserves a mention for stopping one of the hardest cut shots I have ever seen with his shoulder! It sounded like a gunshot… Despite our efforts though, both batsmen went on to score 50s and it changed the complexion of the game immensely.

We didn’t get to bowl at a new face until strollers were 154 with only 5 overs remaining, and their tail just wouldn’t stop wagging! There was time though for 3 Whaddon “firsts” in the last few overs. Mark N took his first ever catch – a good sharp chance at point bringing Peter his first ever Michelle. And to round things off, an exceptional piece of fielding by Mark G to run out Heath in the final over from a laser accurate throw to the top of the stumps.

So there it was. Somehow Strollers had turned things around from 53 for 7 to 187 for 9. It was Wisden worthy. An historic achievement in the annals of Sandon’s cricketing history? Perhaps. Things had changed so dramatically, so quickly, it felt like an episode of Game of Thrones. There was certainly a tangible disappointment amongst the fielding side as we made our way off for tea. Was this the one that had got away? What a difference an hour makes…

Sometimes in life we all need a little boost when things seem bleak. When things feel hopeless we need a little something to remind us there is still hope. On this day it came in the form of cake. Ginger cake no less, incredibly moist and a thing of true greatness. Many thanks to John Newberry for his skill and morale boosting syrupy goodness. If Whaddon ever does to a cake bake-off, I’m on his side.

Emboldened and happy for having tea, Bob grappled with the first batting order of the year. This time Whaddon went for a mature start, with the left hand / right hand combination of Roger VP and Nick Lewis. Strollers had set us a run rate of 5.22 per over. So we had our work cut out for us. They started in a lively manner, 13 runs off the first three overs, with one particularly cracking off drive from Nick racing its way to the ropes. The following over however Nick was done to a well held catch at full stretch, and we were 1 down. Mark N was playing himself in nicely when he was bowled to a terrible grass cutter bouncing twice down the track. The laws state that to be a no-ball the ball needs to bounce 3 times before the crease, so unluckily for him and us, he had to go. Both Edward and William Haselden were dispatched to good deliveries without really getting started, and things were looking pretty dire for the home side at 37 for 4 from 11 overs. But now it was Whaddon’s turn to dig in, and Frank joined RVP at the crease and did just that. Both punished the bad ball and kept their running between the wickets tight and positive. Frank hit some great boundaries in one of his best innings for Whaddon to date. The pair brought the 100 up in the 22nd over, but the RRR was creeping up to 6.3, a combination of a slow outfield and canny field placing by the oppo skipper was taking its toll. Looking to push the pace RVP holed out in the following over for a very respectable 37. Peter stepped up to the plate to join Frank and to keep pushing the pace, but it was proving to be an uphill battle against a steep run rate. With nearly all the field pushed back to the fence it was tough going making ground with singles. Frank proved to be too good for the Strollers’ attack and brought his 50 up from just 60 balls in what was to be Whaddon’s innings of the day, retiring unbeaten in the 27th over. We wished we could have kept him in for longer. Bob took his place with the game in the balance – 124 for 5 from 27 overs. Whaddon needed 64 from the last 9 overs at a RRR of 7.1. The next 30 minutes was exciting cricket – nip and tuck. Both batsmen taking risks to keep the run rate up, and the bowling side were starting to get concerned. Was the tide starting to turn again? Overs 31 and 32 were key for Whaddon with 10 coming from each. An agricultural maximum from Bob. cleared the ropes of the golf centre boundary. 24 balls left, 30 needed. The next few overs were tense, scrappy affairs – top edges, running everything and the occasional boundary was like gold dust. Another good over for the home side in the penultimate (13 coming from it) left the game on a knife edge. 6 balls remaining, 3 runs to win… After 5 hours of cricket, it had come down to this.

Sandon threw the cherry back to Hughes to do the honours for the last over – right arm round coming between to the left hander. There was a hush around the ground and even in the middle. You could hear the creak of pads and gloves, even distant birdsong in the early spring evening.

The first ball was in the block hole and Bob could do little more than dig it out. Dot ball. The second, given more flight induced a blood rush in the skipper and the resulting mistimed on-drive found the top edge. Bob was caught and bowled for a quick fire 31 from 27. Also another dot ball…Did Old Father Time have one last cruel twist in this tightest of finishes? 3 needed from 4 deliveries…

Next in was a thrilled Roger H and after exchanging some kind words of thanks with the departing skip, he took his place at the bowlers end as the batmen had crossed. Next ball yielded a single, and the next another scampered between the sticks…The match was tied – 187 apiece with 2 balls remaining. The penultimate delivery left controversy hanging in the air. The ball rapped Peter square on the pads the whole fielding side went up in unison for the loudest LBW appeal heard to date at Whaddon CC. They were adamant they had their man but the umpire was shaking his head. Through all this commotion and waving of arms and the raising of voices, Roger H and Peter took the final run and took Whaddon over the line to a quite remarkable victory. We had done it. Chased down 188 for the loss of only 6 wickets. A truly fantastic achievement.

There were some great performances too. Edward and Mark G with the ball. RVP back to form with the bat. The two that standout however are Frank and Peter. Frank had superb day – unbeaten with the bat, a catch, a stumping and only 3 byes in the whole innings – on most days a sure fire MOTM award winner. (Don’t go back to Swansea Frank… Bloody Wales.) But it has to be Peter who receives the opening game’s Man of the Match award for a cracking all round performance.

36 not out
6O 0M 20R 5W

What a great start. Thank you to everyone for their help and continued support too. Helen for scoring, Karen for running the scoreboard, the Newberrys for a great tea, and did I mention John’s Ginger cake?

Whaddon CC - P1 W1 D0 L0

So it’s true. I love cricket. There is only one thing in the world I love more than cricket, and that is winning at cricket. The beers afterward taste that little bit sweeter…Roll on the next match on May 7th and a chance to make it 2 from 2.

BS.