Wendover Cricket Club – November 2020 update
Wendover Cricket Club enjoyed a successful season despite it not starting until July. We fielded 2 Saturday and 1 or 2 Sunday teams most weekends and such were the numbers wanting to play regularly, that we played 34 matches whereas in 2019’s full season we only managed 41. We won and lost 14, with 2 abandoned, but there were many close games. In a shortened Mid Bucks League programme, the 1st XI won 5 of their 7 games and finished top of Division 1. Notable performances in the 1st XI came from George Robinson (2 x 101 & 4-18), Tom McPartlan 61* & 81* in batting with the tail to set up victories, Jon Green 5-44 and Jonathan Seabrook 4-20; for the 2nd’s, Daisy Jackson had two 3-wicket hauls and took the most wickets, whilst Bob Glue, Harry Murray-Russell and Rahul Kedia each had a 3-for.
In the friendlies, 13 fifties were scored with Will Digby getting the best score of 92, others included Anshuman Pandit 91 (2×50’s), Kevin Jackson 84, Kalum Sapumannage 73*, Nick Morley 71, Kush Bhargava 70, Hector Charlesworth and James Harrington each hit 2 fifties, whilst Charlie Barrett 66*and Chris Hunt 52* both achieved their maiden fifties; 4 bowlers each took 4 wickets in a game – James Heafford, Will Cliffe, Kevin Jackson and Freddie Bateson.
The junior section began training in late June and held matches in 8 age groups from mid-July (when in a normal season they’d be finishing), and carried through to early September. So although there were no real leagues or competitions operating and we lost the first 12 weeks of the season, much cricket was still played. The Village Cup competition didn’t run, but there were plenty of games played between the teams.
Re HS2, they have confirmed the Ellesborough Road ground can be used for the whole of the 2021 season, although we hope there won’t be any occasional access issues which they say can’t definitely be ruled out. Our MP Rob Butler has helped us get to this stage and earlier than HS2 had probably intended. Our subsequent dealings with HS2 haven’t been as encouraging and we are still awaiting the time when we can effectively start the actual relocation.
Information on the club’s activities and match reports etc. can be found on their website https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/wendovercricketclub