MWVCL ResultLine tel:01483-837352 September 1999
Morrant Wey Cricket League News MWVCL

THE CRICKET DOES THE TALKING!

What a great season of cricket 1999 turned out to be with the emphasis this year firmly on the cricket. Congratulations to the winners of our three divisions: Olinda Vandals, Surrey Seamers & Old Woking respectively. Commiserations to runners-ups and everybody else who played cricket in our league.

Olinda Vandals have now won the championship three times in succession equalling Pyrford's record from the late 1980s. It is entirely fitting for the Vandals to win this year as they will become the first name on the new First Division trophy, The John Sturton Parnell Memorial Trophy, named in memory of the late League Treasurer and Vandals stalwart who was so tragically taken from us in December 1998. It seemed the Vandals were more vulnerable this year recording three losses as opposed to one in the two previous seasons but they dug deep and churned out the crucial results. From reading the results sheets the name of Mr Foreman , jnr, cropped up on many occasions doing sterling work with bat and ball consistently throughout the season, scoring 460 runs, taking 27 wickets, with best batting 106* and best bowling 9-5.

Surrey Seamers, champions of Division 2, rewrote the batting records by hitting the highest innings ever scored in the league, a cool 396 for 8 off 45 overs, a run rate of 8.8 per over. It should be noted that the previous record, Puttenham's 390-4 in 1989, was scored off 40 overs. On 5 occasions Surrey Seamers completed innings in excess of 300 runs. In total Seamers scored 3661 runs in fifteen innings at an average of 244 runs per innings….17 runs short of Bookham's 1996 record runs scored of 3678. Statisticians may be interested to note that Seamers scored their runs off 521 overs whereas Bookham took 627 overs. Surely a change of name is now in order……Surrey Strikers or something of that order!

Last but not least Old Woking II took Division 3 but the talking point is the unresolved match between Olinda Vandals and Old Woking which is currently subject to adjudication; Vandals were bowled out for 48 and thought they had bowled out Woking for 47. The players left the field believing a result had been reached when an error was found in the score book which showed Woking to have scored 48 runs. We should not lose sight of the fact that this was a serious cliff hanger of a game. The committee will consider this matter at its next meeting if the two captains are unable to reach an agreement about the result.

And on and on it went……….especial commiserations to Mr Smith of Olinda Vandals III who hit the highest individual innings of the season, 183, but still managed to be on the losing side! The same Mr Smith, I presume, returned bowling figures of 5-6 against Cheam in the return fixture but this time managed to be on the winning side. Mr Powell of Olinda Vandals I, with 7-10, and Mr Watson of St John's, with 7-12, presumably bored with the fishing (!), share the honours for most wickets in a league match. Mr Norris, jnr, of Farnborough returned the best all round performance on any day in the season, 96* with the willow and bowling figures of 6-33….the lad must have been well tired after that. Mr Mohammed of Stanwell hit a 17 ball 62 with the first four deliveries being dot balls. A mention too for Mr Blondell of Old Woking who hit the second highest individual innings of 151. Does anyone know of any hattricks, outstanding wicket keeping or fielding performances?

To add to this excitement we had three tied matches this season, surely a record, 8 matches which yielded 600+ run aggregates, 8 individual innings of 300 + runs, 2 bowlers taking 7 wickets in a match, one taking 6 and 25 taking 5 wicket hauls; 23 centurions with 2 in excess of 150……no mean achievement.

We are in the process of working out the leading averages for the season but can't finalise this until all results sheets have been received by The Fixture Secretary

Well done to everyone….players, umpires, groundsmen, tea ladies (and men!) and everyone else involved in running clubs and teams this season.

Enclosed is a news cutting from a recent edition of The Observer newspaper which, highlighting some of the serious disciplinary matters in other leagues, makes sad reading. We are delighted not to feature in this tragic roll call.

Awards Presentations

his season we are not organising an awards evening as it has been a leading loss maker in recent years, not even supported in some instances by winners. We plan to present the awards to clubs and players individually and will be writing to those concerned. The winners of every division will receive a trophy, a commemorative plaque and 14 shields. Runners up in each division will be awarded a commemorative plaque. There will also be awards to the best batsmen and bowlers in each of the three divisions. We are prepared to attend club functions to present the awards so if you would like us to do this please get in touch with me. If you would like additional shields in excess of the 14 to be presented to winners please contact me: you will have to pay for the excess costs.

Annual General Meeting

his is scheduled for Thursday 11th November 1999 at 7.30 pm at Old Woking. A separate notification is attached to this newsletter. Please ensure your club sends a representative because you will be liable to a £25.00 fine if you are not represented. All motions, nominations and other business to me no later than 27th October 1999…..we badly need a Treasurer and there are places for members of the Executive Committee: enquiries to me.

Fines & Money Matters

he summer management meeting passed a motion to the effect that all fines unpaid at 30th September 1999 will double: please ensure you comply with this and that your Treasurers are aware of this.

MWVCL Over 50s XI

midst the hurly burly of the league campaign the league over 50s XI pulled off a tremendous away win against Berkshire over 50s on 11th July 1999: sweet revenge following the earlier defeat by Berkshire in June. MWVCL scored 177 for 9 and bowled out Berkshire to win the match. League stars were Mr Imtiaz of Merton with 73 and Mr Chapman of St Johns, yes good old Ron who has played cricket in our league every year since it started, with 35. Mr Chapman took the heart out of the Berkshire batting with 3-24. A splendid effort given that the league managed to field a mere 9 players, two of whom, Messrs Everest and Gould, both junior, sons of Peter and John of Old Woking and Merton respectively, are just a few years short of 50! Apparently their youth proved to be a distinct advantage in the field with Everest jnr's fine low catch at wide mid-on to dismiss a Berkshire slogger, being the champagne ( lager?!) moment. Thanks to Messrs Everest snr (Old Woking), Gould snr, (Merton), Imtiaz (Merton), Webb (West Byfleet), Cutmore (Old Woking), Frith (Stanwell), Chapman (St Johns), Everest jnr (Old Woking) and Gould jnr (Merton) for their splendid efforts. The magnificent 7 plus 2! By the time you receive this the over 50s fixture versus Stanwell will have been played……details on the Internet.

o not a bad season all things considered. I started it in S E Asia and almost managed to get a game in the Bangkok sixes….yes they play cricket in Thailand with a very lively league of expatriate teams…..Indian, Sri Lankans, English, Australian, Malaysians, Singaporeans…. Alan Lamb brought out a celebrity team to play in the Hua Hin sixes…..and thanks to Peter's excellent internet service I was able to keep completely up-to-date with developments at home. I think Thailand might make an interesting destination for a cricket tour! I heard there are a lot of diversions but you might find it challenging playing cricket in the heat, humidity and pollution of Bangkok.


Best wishes and well done to everyone